🚀 go-pugleaf

No yelling, but a few addenums to Chuq's comments:

In article <42125@sun.uucp> chuq@sun.UUCP (Chuq Von Rospach) writes:
>Word Processors

Almost word-to-word agreement here; I am a FullWrite booster (I'm using the
pre-release version), but until I see the released package, no
recommendations.  It sure looks good from here, though.  Quick notes:  I am
*extremely* skeptical about Word 4.0 (did your rumor mention a thesaurus?);
Microsoft Works has a nice low-end WP (especially when used with that
Spelling DA that runs with Works); does anyone have comments on
Ashton-Tate's previous Macintosh documentation -- i.e. will they re-write
the AA docs (I liked the reference manual quite a bit).  They'd have to go
quite a ways to screw the FullWrite manuals up as much as the Word
manuals...

>On to others: presentation packages. Who cares? This is a market in search
>of a reason, a great hype with little substance. Powerpoint does some nice
>things, but how many people REALLY need something that can't be done in
>their Word Processor? Seriously, now....

Actually, Chuq, there is a *BIG* demand for these things, if several big
corporations in the Seattle dBUG group are any measure.  These guys just
love color slides and presentation transparencies, with color.  So far, they
do it on IBM PC's -- BUT WITHOUT A GRAPHIC INTERFACE!  They have to give the
coordinates to POLYGONS to draw the darned things!  And the turn-around time
is incredible...

I don't know if they haven't investigated the PC field very well, but the
Mac II interface in WYSWIG with Cricket Presents or (rumored inferior) MS
PowerPoint, which does all sorts of color dithering effects, combined with
an in-house slide proccess like the Mirius box, gives them a greater
turn-around time... and these people would greatly prefer to create the
slides themselves (presentations before the Executive Board are
nerve-wracking enough).  There are also packages which allow you to
transform PICT images into slides, and do touch-up there, but Cricket
Presents does have some nice touches for slides.

Admittedly, though, you have to be mid-to-large size company to make this
profitable -- smaller companies might if they skip the Mirus box and use the
"send-by-modem" companies each product has affiliated with them.

>Spreadsheets: if you need power, buy Excel. If you don't, buy Works.
>Microsoft finally does some product right. And does it twice.

If you want a REALLY cheap shareware spreadsheet, take a look at BiPlane.
I'm not a spreadsheet guru, but it looked very good to me ($40, lots of
features, has a DA which accesses the spreadsheets in other applications).

Now is as good a time to mention it as any: for most people getting a Mac+
or higher for home, who are going to be using it for general papers,
finances and records, I strongly recommend MS Works (which Chuq did also).
Sometimes I think the darned thing should be bundled with the Mac.  It's not
perfect, but the spreadsheet and word processor are very adequate (get the
spelling checker DA though), the communications package is much improved and
now viable, and the database is fine for simple databases (no relations, and
everything on a page) -- kind of very-low-end, but a lot of people don't go
beyond that.

>Terminal packages: I use Red Ryder. I love it. I hate it. Typical reaction
>to the program. It's butt ugly, but it works. Multifinder compatible
>(although Word won't let it download in the background. foo!). I used to use
>MacTerminal, but outgrew it. Microphone? Supposed to be okay.

I use VersaTerm.  I *LOVE* VersaTerm.  I used to say, "The best
communications package when hooking up to a Unix or mainframe system", but
so many of my friends have bought it for telecommunications work that I now
make no apologies -- they found it very easy to learn.  Just dynamite, and
THE machine for hooking up to Unix.  MicroPhone's new version looks very
powerful, but complex -- not for the neophyte.

OTHER SOFTWARE:  We missed graphics packages.  My vote: SuperPaint.  Yeah,
it's outclassed some by Canvas at this point, but their new version is out
in a few months, and you can count on Silicon Beach for good work.  The
easiest interface for general-purpose paint/draw tools (though the draw
tools are inferior to MacDraw (current version) and MacDraft at the moment.
If you REALLY need fancy object-oriented graphics, get the new version of
MacDraw, especially if you have color.  OOh-AAh.

Utilities:  I always recommend that people get used to the Mac before they
buy utilities.  Get frustrated with a few of the slow points, and then
spring Font/DA Juggler (yes, just bought it, better than SuitCase (but for
how long?  For HOW LONG?), and with several GREAT utilities), DiskTop 3.01,
SmartScrap and PictureBase on them.  There are people who view me unto a god
when I showed them DiskTop 3.01.  Utilities are great for guru status...

Hard Disk Software: We've beat backup software into the ground (I like
DiskFit, but frankly, I'm waiting for a videotape back-up); optimizers are a
must for me (on a 20 MB, you notice the clutter faster).  DiskExpress isn't
as fast as PowerUp, nor as easy, but it seems to make things more optimal.
It's a toss-up on that.

I could mention games, but it sounds like you're talking about serious
software... (some of the best stuff is PD and shareware -- nothing makes my
pulse pound like Air Traffic Controller).

And AWAYYYY we go....

                        "Well, I read somewhere
                         that to kill a vampire,
                         you have to behead it
                         and fill its mouth with
                         holy wafers."
                                                  "Really?"
                        "I knew you'd like
                         that."

                                        Moriarty, aka Jeff Meyer
INTERNET:     moriarty@tc.fluke.COM
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