GILLMANN@USC-ISIB@sri-unix.UUCP (08/19/83)
From: Dick Gillmann <GILLMANN@USC-ISIB> I just got a brochure from Microsoft on their new word processor "MultiTool Word". It is part of a new series or package of integrated VisiOn-like programs. MTW is a what-you-see-is-what-you-get editor, with multiple typefaces (normal, bold, underline, double underline, italic, strike through and small caps). No formatting commands or characters appear in the text. If you insert a word in a paragraph, it is automatically reformatted. MTW supports footnotes, multiple columns, super- and sub-scripts, "UNDO", etc. MTW is best run with a graphics display. It will run on a monochrome, but can only display on the screen within the monochrome display's limitations. MTW supports the Microsoft mouse for cursor positioning and menu selection. (I don't know if the mouse is polled or interrupt driven.) You can have multiple windows (8 max) that can be scrolled both vertically and horizontally (up to 132 columns wide). There is a general purpose cut-and-paste facility between windows or within a single window. The list price for all this is $475 including the mouse (which uses a serial port). Mail order dealers are listing the package for about $350. I called one of them and found out that MTW isn't really available yet. They expect to receive their shipment sometime in September. MTW looks like a reasonable version of the poor man's VisiOn or Star. If anyone's gotten a copy delivered, I'd be eager to hear of some first hand experience. /Dick -------