Word processors to the wise - evaluation of seven word processing programs - Software Review - Evaluation

Home Office Computing, March, 1996 by Rick Broida

The word processor is the cornerstone of your business. Whether you're writing letters, memos, business proposals, or reports, you use your word processor every day--if not every hour. Even if you perform only rudimentary writing tasks, today's word processors have more features than your computer's operating system.

This is the Golden Age of Word Processors. Microsoft and WordPerfect set high standards for their programs and the competition not only answered the challenge but surpassed the trendsetters in some cases. We took a long, hard look at the current Windows, Macintosh, and DOS offerings from DeScribe, Lotus, Microsoft, Novell-WordPerfect, and The Technology Group and discovered that they're all competent, powerful packages. Unlike other software categories where vast differences can exist between two products, there's little difference between word processing packages because most of the applications share the same feature set. So it's the details that will help you make your purchasing decision.

Which features beyond the basics are important to you and your business? Are you looking for a word processor that'll correct your spelling while you type? Support for the World Wide Web's hypertext markup language (HTML)? Extensive desktop publishing. features? Wizards? Some of these packages have all those enhancements but may cost hundreds of dollars more than your budget allows.

More than ever, your hardware will help you determine which feature-packed word processor you should choose. The Windows-based word processors from Microsoft, Lotus, and Novell-WordPerfect require at least 8MB of RAM to launch and operate but need 16MB for comfortable operating speed. The Windows applications devour copious amounts of hard-drive space as well. A typical Word Pro installation uses 41MB; WordPerfect for Windows wants 32MB; and a full installation of Word requires 32MB of hard-drive space. Before you upgrade to these powerhouses, be certain that you have the room and resources on your computer to operate them.

Finally, your operating system will play a part in determining what word processor you can use. Like it or not, Windows has emerged as the de facto word processing platform. Microsoft Word for Windows, Lotus Word Pro, and DeScribe are 32-bit applications, which means that these word processors were specifically designed to take advantage of Windows 95. WordPerfect and XyWrite remain 16-bit applications that run under Windows 3.1 and Windows 95. At press time, pickings were slim in the Macintosh word processing orchard. Only Word and WordPerfect have changed since we last looked at word processors, nearly two years ago. The other main contenders, Claris MacWrite Pro and SoftKey WriteNow, remain at versions 1.5 and 4.0, respectively. It's worth noting, however, that Claris recently reduced the price of MacWrite Pro from $249 to $49.

DeScribe 5

Rating: * * 1/2 WIN / WIN 95 / OS/2

DeScribe Inc.'s eponymous word processor is this roundup's bargain, but its inelegant interface costs it a recommendation. With a list price of $49, DeScribe ships with a 500-page manual and a CD that contains DeScribe for Windows 3.1 and the 32-bit versions for Windows 95, Windows NT, and OS/2 Warp. Regardless of your operating system, your documents are compatible with any version of DeScribe. We tested the software under Windows 95 and found a robust set of tools trapped beneath a confusing interface. If an application's interface is important to you, consider another word processor.

By employing frames to contain and arrange all text, graphics, and tables, De-Scribe does double-duty as a desktop publisher. Learning to manage these frames takes time. DeScribe's clever Frame Manager makes easy work of modifying frame attributes, such as altering a frame's margins, borders, shading, and even print/nonprint status. Furthermore, DeScribe's excellent unlimited-undo feature makes it easy to recover from word processing blunders. A pop-up slider bar displays what your document looked like in previous states, allowing you to see the results of the undo before you actually choose it.

DeScribe's crudely illustrated toolbars are loosely grouped by function, such as editing and layout, but only one can appear onscreen at a time. Toolbars that are too long to fit onscreen don't wrap around to a second line; rather, they stay partially hidden, requiring you to scroll to reveal what's offscreen. To reveal a button's function, you must click on it with the right-button. DeScribe allows you to customize its toolbars, but the process isn't nearly as easy as in, say, Word Pro.

If you have a tight budget but have plenty of time to deal with an awkward interface and a thick manual, DeScribe could certainly fit your bill.

Word for Windows 95

Rating: * * * * WIN 95

Comparisons between Word for Windows and, vintage wine are unavoidable. Word improves with age and the latest version is no exception. Rather than strive for a marketing coup by adding grandiose new features, Microsoft has wisely focused on enhancing and fine-tuning existing ones. Sure, there's some new stuff, but Word for Windows 95 is largely Word for Windows 6.0 in snazzier duds.