🚀 go-pugleaf

bochner@lange.harvard.EDU (Harry Bochner) writes:

>In article <1991May28.082241.22523@canon.co.uk>, laukee@canon.co.uk (David Lau-Kee) writes:
>> The thing that really bugged us was the way the promotional literature
>> misled us into assuming that it would run fine under OpenWindows.  In fact,
>> what we got was a SunView implementation of an OpenLook conformant-ish
>> interface, which would kind-of run in that kind-of SunView compatibilty mode
>> which OpenWindows kind-of has.

>The real X-based version for OpenWindows has been out for about 6 months.
>Despite several version updates, however, IslandWrite still seems to be buggy and
>unreliable. (I don't have enough experience with I-Draw or Paint to comment on
>them.) I can't recommend it. My experience with FrameMaker is much more positive:

I have owned the Island suite for over six months now, starting with
1.3 (the Sunview/OL version), and now have 2.3 (the Xview Open Look
version).  I am seriously considering upgrading to 3.0.  (I also have
extensive experience with Interleaf 2 and 3, and Frame 2.1X, for what
it's worth.)

When I bought it, I arranged that they would upgrade me to 2.3 for no
extra cost.  Based on their sales literature at the time, I also got
the T/Maker clip art package that they were bundling at that time, and
another upgrade when their I/O filters were released.  I did this by
carefully asking questions, and then extracting promises from my sales
critter.  Everything they promised, I eventually got, although there
was occasionally some teeth pulling involved (usually having to do with
them mailing 1/4" tapes instead of floppies - a moot point now that
they no longer support floppies, but instead prefer to ship it on
CD-ROM).

btw, the filters in 2.3 are really bad.  They claim to have improved
them in 3.0, but I am still working with their tech support on the
problems.  They didn't write them - they licensed them from
Blueberry(?).

Note that I received 3 version of software and some tech. support (bug
fix support, not "how do I do this" support) without purchasing their
(badly overpriced) maintenance contract.

Now for a technical comparison of Island 2.3 OL vs. Frame 2.1X.  This
is not between Island 3.0 and/or Frame 3.0, since I haven't used either
one yet, but I may throw in some comments about futures without it
effecting the comparisons.  The comparison column is one man's
opinion.  A "=" means the two are similar, a "<" or a ">" means that
one side is "less good", and the other is "greater".

Island 2.3 Open Look		Comp.	Frame 2.1X
------------------------------	-----	------------------------------------
Somewhat buggy			=	Somewhat buggy, especially when used
					with Open Windows

Open Look			>	Motif

Paragraph capability good	<	Paragraph capability great

Weak on large documents		<	Excellent on large documents

Table of Contents		=	Table of Contents
(I haven't tried this)

No multi-file book TOC		<	Multi-file book TOC

No Cross References		<	Good X-Refs

No figure/table autonumbering	<	Good figure/table autonumbering

No footnotes			<	Mediocre footnotes
(Being added in 3.0)

No endnotes			=	No endnotes
(Being added in 3.0)			(Being added in 3.0???)

No math capability		<	Excellent math package

No table package		=	No table package (but 3.0 will have
					a good one from the previews).

Drawing package very good	=	Drawing package very good
(Has bezier curves)			(Has "Distribute" and "gravity")

Paint package very good		>	No paint toolkit
(I haven't used this much)

No color capability		<	Mediocre color
(3.0 adds great color)

$995 List (seen for $895)	>	$2500 List (seen for $2395)

$495 Annual support+updates	>	$700 Annual support+updates
			  (actual cost)

50% Annual support+updates	<	28% Annual support+updates
		(as a percentage of purchase price)

Many filters included		>	Filters cost $995
(Some are weak)				(For this I can buy Island!)

No military-style support	<	Good Mil support
					(Change bars, freeze numbering, etc.)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I dson't need math or large documents, so I chose Island.  I used Frame
at work.  I am happy with Island for my home needs (but it just won't
do at work!).

I expect to buy Island 3.0 and an HP Paintjet if the evaluation goes
okay.  I also am buying a VideoPix card so I can grab imagery and
put it in island.

-- 

	David L. Markowitz
	Solaris Systems Division - Genisco Technology Corporation
	dav@gtc.com