iltis@ucsbcsl.UUCP ( ) (02/09/85)
First let me address some initial responses to my original posting about MS-Word. Disk Space: The suggestion was made that I keep Word on a non-system disk (i.e., put a disk containing the system file only in the internal (external) drive and another disk containing Word and other applications in the second drive.) The problem with this technique is that it is inconvenient to put data on the system disk and keep it organized. I prefer to keep my applicaton and system on one disk and all of my data on a second. If data and applications have to share the same non-system disk, then I lose a lot of storage. The solution is double-sided drives or a hard disk/new finder combination. I would like to make some more criticisms relative to difficulties encountered doing technical w.p. using MS-Word Line Spacing: The Princeton font for example allows one to build up large brackets, integral signs, etc. using different pieces of these symbols on multiple lines. In the "auto" line-spacing mode it is possible to form continuous vertical lines (useful for matrices) assuming that there are no subscripts/superscripts on any of the lines. However, subscripts cause the vertical lines to separate leaving 1-2 pixel spaces between them. I tried using narrower line spacing using the paragraph format command. Unfortunately, I found that the tops of the letters were now cut off. Unlike VM Macwrite in the 6 lines/inch mode, the tops of the letters did not reappear when printed. Subscripting and Superscripting: Word automatically decreases the font size of sub-superscripted text. On the surface this seems like a good idea. Unfortunately, many fonts such as Princeton and Omnisci are currently being distributed in only 12 pt and 24 pt formats. Thus writing in 12 pt and using subscripts forces Word to interpolate to generate the 9 pt subscripted font. A better option would be to allow default settings for subscript/superscript sizes. i.e., assume that I select subscipts from the menu while writing in 12 pt. font. If I now go to the character format menu and change the currently selected font size from 9 pt. back to 12 pt., all further subscripts should remain in 12 pt. In the current version of word, if the subscript font size is changed to 12 pt., upon returning to plain text the font size is now increased to 14 pt. Bug (feature?) If a file is saved using Word, it is removed from whatever folder it was originally in when returning to the desktop. This happens with both save and save as. General Performance of Word: Word seems pretty fast opening, closing and saving files. Speed limitations are inherently due to the hardware limitations of the Macintosh, mainly slow disk access. The flashing noted here and elsewhere on the current line seems very severe when footnotes are used and when the current insertion point is moved back from the diamond cursor position. Scrolling through pictures seems much slower on Word than in VM Macwrite. Good points about Word: Word seems like a very solid program, I have not lost a file yet which is what really counts on the Mac. Also, unlike Apple, Microsoft offers the "rest of us" TECHNICAL SUPPORT. As a registered owner, I am given a phone number to call about technical problems, and a bug report sheet. While working with IBM PC Microsoft products in the past, I have found technical support to be quite good, Microsoft personnel to be quite courteous (a real surprise in the computer industry) and very knowledgeable. From past experience, I feel that Microsoft treats me like a professional, whereas Apple seems to believe that I need to be led by the hand. (anyone see the cartoon about Apple in PC Week (Feb 4th))? All opinions are my own and not necessarily those of my employer. -- Ronald A. Iltis UCSB Dept. ECE