A Windows-like graphic environment - A powerful Epson 386, two cordless mice, and the Macintosh Typist - GeoWorks Inc.'s Ensemble graphical user interface program - Software Review - evaluation

Home Office Computing, July, 1991 by Henry Beechhold

AT A GLANCE: Attractive Windows-like DOS shell that falls short of being a complete electronic office--lacks spreadsheet and database.

DOCUMENTATION: Nearly 500 pages of detailed, clearly written explanations; extensively illustrated.

ERROR HANDLING: Program well protected against disasters. Beeps and explanatory dialog boxes keep you on track.

EASE OF USE: Simple, straightforward. Descriptive icons and clear menus guide you through all functions.

SUPPORT: Very good, primarily because of the unlimited free technical support (but you pay the phone bill, and you may have to stay on hold for a while).

VERSION REVIEWED: 1.0

LIST PRICE: $200

STREET PRICE RANGE: $120-$150

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: 512K IBM compatible; hard-disk drive; CGA, EGA, VGA, Hercules; mouse required; modem optional; DOS 2.0 or higher; 5.25- and 3.5-inch

PUBLISHER: GeoWorks, 2150 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94704; (415) 644-3456

TERMS TO KNOW: GUI (graphical user interface, pronounced "gooey"). A GUI is a graphics-based computing environment designed to be friendlier than DOS, a text-based environment. Uses mouse-activated icons (symbols) to represent many of the facilities available to the computer user. Example: Clicking on the wastebasket icon will erase a selected file. GeoWorks is a GUI.

Multitasking. Working on two or more tasks (for example, printing out and word processing) at the same time. GeoWorks can do this.

You can't pick up a computer magazine without reading something about Microsoft Windows, the immensely popular graphical user interface (GUI) that seems to be taking over the world of IBM-compatible 386- and 486-based computers. almost every type of application is now or soon will be available for use within the Windows environment. But what would you say to a GUI shell that is visually smashing (a couple of cuts above Windows, in fact), relatively modest in its disk and memory requirements, suitable for a reliable old XT (but compatible all the way up the line), and loaded with an extensive set of utilities and applications?

If this sounds good to you, you should consider GeoWorks Ensemble, a program that could be the runaway winner but for the fact that all we're hearing these days is "Windows, Windows, Windows." Once a great idea starts to snowball, it seems next to impossible for a competitor to have any appreciable effect on the marketplace. As a result, the lack of a software inventory from outside developers will cause many potential GeoWorks users to come down on the side of Windows.

The included productivity applications, found in the Professional category, consist of a calculator, GeoComm (telecommunications), GeoDex (card file, autodialer), GeoDraw, GeoPlanner (calendar, scheduler), GeoWrite, Notepad, Scrapbook (for storing graphics and text), and a handsome-looking game of solitaire. The software required for PC America Online, an interactive telecommunications service, is also part of the package. If you like what you see, you can sign up. A category of applications called Appliances gives you access to a banner maker as well as the calculator, card file, planner, notepad, and solitaire. The third category opens GeoWorks to your collection of DOS programs, all of which you can run in the normal fashion.

Spelling and searching. Despite the fact that it provides a number of sophisticated desktop-publishing capabilities (including a selection of scalable fonts), GeoWrite comes with neither a spelling checker nor a search-and-replace feature--puzzling and significant omissions. According to GeoWorks, a spelling checker will be sent out free to registered owners, but as of press time, the spelling checker was not available. Without these features, you'll still find GeoWrite a good, general-purpose WYSIWYG text-processing program capable of turning out impressive-looking newsletters and other desk-top-publishing efforts--especially if you print them out on a laser printer. GeoDraw is less impressive, though it's more than adequate for quickie graphics design and production.

GeoWorks Ensemble needs only a spreadsheet and a database manager to bring it up to full-scale productivity. But GeoWorks will let you use your current software right through its own window to DOS. The program should be though of more as a shell with goodies than as a self-contained office.

Intuitive action. The purpose of a DOS shell is to take the stress out of using a computer. I find it hard to imagine how such, a program could make things any easier than GeoWorks. I can do just about anything the program offers without getting frustrated or digging around in the manual. Mainly, it's a matter of point, click, and type. Of course, to maximize your understanding of the capabilities of, say, Geo-Write, it's best to work through the printed tutorial.

Multitasking performance. Although GeoWorks takes a bit of time to load, it hops among its utilities and applications quickly. As you add concurrent tasks, processing time increases--but whatever delays occur tend to be brief and nt at all bothersome.