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Article #1048Use of ``vi'' for business office word-processing
From: Larry Lippman
Date: Thu, 04 Sep 1986 05:11
Date: Thu, 04 Sep 1986 05:11
33 lines
2789 bytes
2789 bytes
On occasion I get asked for my opinion on computer systems for small
business applications. Since 100% of my computer applications are scientific
in nature (which is pretty far afield from business applications), I try to
avoid giving business applications advice (except to go UNIX :-) ). However,
sometimes I cannot avoid getting involved...
In addition to programming, I do an extensive amount of document
preparation. On UNIX systems I use ``vi'' _exclusively_ for document editing,
and use nroff and troff for formatting when required. If I am using a letter
quality printer with justification capability, often I will imbed justification
commands and other printer commands in the text file and not use nroff or troff.
In my humble :-) opinion, I cannot think of any editor more universally
useful than ``vi'' (yes, I know about Emacs, but I still prefer ``vi'').
So my question is: Am I WRONG in advising people to stay with ``vi''
and not spend money for "word-processing software" in the BUSINESS APPLICATION
environment?
In my travels I have taken a cursory look at various word-processing
packages for UNIX machines, and do not find their operation or command set any
more intuitive than ``vi''. I am certain that some people will disagree with
me on this issue; so, tell me, what are the ADVANTAGES of word-processing
software (like Lyric, Wordstar, etc.) over the standard UNIX editing/formatting
utilities in the business-only environment?
At the moment I am being compelled to offer an opinion on a computer
system for a medium-sized law office; they want to start out small, and do
not want to spend the money for a law office automation system (like a product
of Barrister Information Systems). For three or four secretaries (and to allow
for growth), I am inclined to recommend a 3B2 or NCR Tower XP as the most
COST-EFFECTIVE means of implementing a multi-user system. Comments, anyone?
==> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, New York
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Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!utzoo!mnetor!seismo!rochester!rocksvax!rocksanne!sunybcs!kitty!larry From: larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman) Newsgroups: net.text,net.unix Subject: Use of ``vi'' for business office word-processing Message-ID: <1246@kitty.UUCP> Date: Thu, 4-Sep-86 01:11:22 EDT Article-I.D.: kitty.1246 Posted: Thu Sep 4 01:11:22 1986 Date-Received: Sun, 7-Sep-86 20:21:50 EDT Organization: Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, NY Lines: 33 Keywords: ``vi'' word-processing non-programmers