mckay@pur-ee.UUCP (Dwight D McKay) (12/13/85)
NOTE: the following is a review of software for the 520ST. INTRODUCTION: Yesterday I purchased the long awaited VIP professional integrated spreadsheet for my 520ST. I've used both multiplan and a Visicalc-clone writen by VIP technologies before. I use a spread sheet for home budgeting and analysis of my stock portfolio. PRICE: $89.95 VENDOR: VIP Technologies SOURCE: Von's Computer's, West Lafayette, IN DESCRIPTION: The VIP professional is an integrated spreadsheet, database and graphics package, modeled closely after the popular Lotus 1-2-3. It comes with a 1/2 inch thick manual and a key-disk copy-protected disk. Also included is a "year" of telephone support (more on this later), an order form for adding longer support, an order form for an additional key-disk, a disk replacement order form, a GEM coupon (more on this later too), a registration card and a quick reference. The system boots off a backup copy but requires a look at the key-disk to start running. My initial impression was extremely good. The program loaded easily and with a few glances at the quick reference I was building a spreadsheet and popping up a quick pie chart or two. After running a Visicalc-clone on an 8-bit machine (a Radio Shack color computer) this was heaven! Very fast, and very easy to use. Keep in mind that I'm experienced with using spread sheets, beginners might find this package a bit complex at first. MINUS: First, the bad news. The VIP professional uses a lot of memory. So, much that it does not run with GEM-and-the-mouse as you may have seen in the demo. (I understand that is why it was delayed) The version you get now runs and looks like the IBM-PC version of Lotus 1-2-3. Text and cursor, no mouse. Also, to fit into the remaining memory, VIP removes GEM, forcing you to reboot via the reset switch when you leave the program. Crude. Finally, you are left with about 37k to biuld your spreadsheet in. For large two to three screen sheets that will not be enough (depends on what you do. My stuff *just* fits). Of course the copy-protection is not very nice either, but at least it's only a key-disk system. PLUS: It is exactly like Lotus 1-2-3. I typed in a small sheet in a third party Lotus 1-2-3 book last night; worked exactly as written. I intend to try downloading some of the spread sheet templates from the CompuServe Lotus 1-2-3 sig. The VIP manual claims they should work if they were saved in "worksheet" mode instead of native mode. I tend to believe them, but we'll see after I try it. Really nice manual; not good as a toturial (but you can use any of those Lotus ones (they list their favourites in the back of the manual)), but a good reference. You get a "year" of support which means 12 months or five solutions or 60 minutes of on the phone help. You can order more of that if you'd like (sorry I forgot the price for that). You can order additional key-disks, $15.00. You can order replacement disks, $20.00 (why the difference? I dunno.) When you upgrade to 1 Meg memory or you get TOS in ROM, you can upgrade to the new version, $20.00. (I'm going to order an upgrade board after Christmas...) Finally, they'll write about upgrading to new releases. You also get a graph-enhancing program (let's you add special fonts for titles, etc). COMMENTS: On the whole I'm very pleased with the package. Yes, it does have some serious problems, but after keying in my two and a half screen full budget, I find that the problems are not getting in my way. For a quarter of the price of Lotus this program is worth it, bugs and all. --Dwight Mckay, ECN Software Support [mckay@purdue-ecn]