🚀 go-pugleaf

Seeking some advice here ...

I'm several years out of the loop on trends in publishing,
and am asking this on behalf of a small press which
publishes paperback outdoor guides - canoeing, kayaking,
bicycling, hiking, etc. 

Traditionally, they have done design & type specs
in-house, and used local type shops for typesetting.
About 6 months ago they acquired (at no cost; it's
a long story) a Mac II, Word, PageMaker & Freehand.

They've experimented with
both design specs and page layout, and successfully
produced a couple of books (PageMaker files sent to local
type shop for LaserWriter proofs & final Lino output, using
screen fonts from the type shop).

They have some complaints about the typographic controls
(among other standard typesetting omissions) & format
inflexibility in PageMaker,
and are considering switching to Quark Express. Neither of
the two people who primarily use the Mac are particularly
computer literate, and have faced steep learning curves
already with the software they have.

Any recommendations? Does PageMaker 4.0 match Quark in features?
Is there better software/hardware at about the same price?
(I've been consulting with them on an informal basis with
PageMaker, and have a typesetting background - but I use
Macs & Mac apps at work (state gov't, and NC is having a
budget crunch, so alas, no money for PM 4.0, so I haven't
seen it, nor used Quark, and 'publishing' is a relatively
small part of my current job)).

A related question: what's their future with the Mac II?
They're considering pricing used Mac IIs to get an additional
machine, but I don't know what the implications of
System 7 might have on suitable (read cost-effective)
upgrades for the Mac IIs. Cost is *definitely* a factor
in any of their decisions.

Thanks for any info you might supply. Please e-mail; I doubt
there is general interest in this topic.

 Jane Smith, Information Services, UNC Educational Computing Service
 Research Triangle Park, NC
 Internet: jds@uncecs.edu