[comp.sys.ibm.pc] Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 4

mike@dhw68k.cts.com (Michael J. Cleary) (01/19/88)

              Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 4
                                 (ESWP04.DOC)
                               January 16, 1988


    Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 4           Page  i


         -------->    T A B L E    O F    C O N T E N T S    <--------


         Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
         Products  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
         General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
         Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
         Cursor  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
         File  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
         Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
         Spelling  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
         Text  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
         Window  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
         Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
         License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
         Disclaimer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
         Comments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
         Questionnaire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
         Copyright . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16


    Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 4           Page  1


                    -------->    P U R P O S E    <--------


    The purpose of this document is to provide information about shareware
    word processors for IBM and IBM compatible personal computers.

        1)  General Information

            A)  Products
            B)  General

        2)  Specific Information

            A)  Block
            B)  Cursor
            C)  File
            D)  Printer
            E)  Spelling
            F)  Text
            G)  Window


    Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 4           Page  2


                   -------->    P R O D U C T S    <--------


         Product: Galaxy Version 2.3
         Date:    December 1987
         Vendor:  OmniVerse
                  Post Office Box 2974
                  Renton, Washington  98056-0961
                  Voice (206) 228-7627
                  Data  (206) 235-8760

         Product: MindReader Version 1.02
         Date:    November 1987
         Vendor:  Brown Bag Software
                  2155 South Bascom Avenue
                  Campbell, California  95008
                  Voice (408) 559-4545
                  Data  (408) 371-7654

         Product: New York Word Version 2.2
         Date:    June 1987
         Vendor:  Magma Software Systems
                  138 - 23 Hoover Avenue
                  Jamaica, New York  11435
                  Voice (201) 792-3954

         Product: PC-Type+ Version 1.0
         Date:    October 1986
         Vendor:  Buttonware
                  11058 Main Street - Suite 225
                  Bellevue, Washington  98004
                  Voice (206) 454-0479
                  Data  (206) 454-2629

         Product: PC-Write Version 2.71
         Date:    December 1986
         Vendor:  Quicksoft
                  219 First Avenue North # 224
                  Seattle, Washington  98109
                  Voice (206) 282-0452

         Product: WordMgr Release 1.4
         Date:    July 1987
         Vendor:  Arrow Associates
                  6401 152nd Avenue North East
                  Redmond, Washington  98052-4763
                  Voice (206) 882-3031


    Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 4           Page  3


                    -------->    G E N E R A L    <--------


                                    |     |     |     |     |     |     |
    Function                        | GAL | MR  | NYW | PCT | PCW | WM  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    BBS                             | Yes | Yes | No  | Yes | No  | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Command driven                  | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Comments                        | No  | No  | No  | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Drop to DOS                     | Yes | No  | Yes | Yes | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    EGA                             | Yes | No  | Yes | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Footers                         | Yes | No  | Yes | Yes | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Footnotes                       | No  | No  | Yes | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Graphics                        | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Headers                         | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Index                           | No  | No  | Yes | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Invoke program                  | Yes | No  | No  | Yes | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Macros                          | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Mail merge                      | No  | Yes | No  | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Math functions                  | No  | Yes | Yes | Yes | No  | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Memory requirements             | 192 | 256 | 256 | 256 | 320 | 256 |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Menu driven                     | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Mouse                           | Yes | No  | No  | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Online help                     | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Registration                    |49.95|49.95|45.00|69.95|89.00|79.95|
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Sort                            | No  | No  | No  | Yes | No  | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Table of contents               | No  | No  | Yes | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Word completion                 | No  | Yes | No  | No  | No  | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Word count                      | No  | Yes | No  | No  | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Wordstar (tm) commands          | Yes | No  | No  | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|


    Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 4           Page  4


                      -------->    B L O C K    <--------


                                    |     |     |     |     |     |     |
    Function                        | GAL | MR  | NYW | PCT | PCW | WM  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Copy                            | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Delete                          | Yes | No  | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Move                            | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Read from disk                  | Yes | Yes | Yes | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Write to disk                   | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|


    Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 4           Page  5


                     -------->    C U R S O R    <--------


                                    |     |     |     |     |     |     |
    Function                        | GAL | MR  | NYW | PCT | PCW | WM  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Block                           | Yes | No  | No  | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Column                          | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Display current location        | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    File                            | Yes | No  | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Line                            | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Markers                         |  9  |  0  | 26  |  1  |  2  |  0  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Non-ASCII                       | No  | No  | No  | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Non-blank                       | No  | No  | No  | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Page break                      | No  | No  | Yes | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Paragraph                       | No  | No  | Yes | Yes | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Period                          | No  | No  | No  | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Screen                          | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Word                            | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|


    Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 4           Page  6


                       -------->    F I L E    <--------


                                    |     |     |     |     |     |     |
    Function                        | GAL | MR  | NYW | PCT | PCW | WM  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Backup at specified intervals   | No  | Yes | Yes | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Backup when loading             | No  | No  | No  | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Backup when saving              | Yes | No  | Yes | Yes | No  | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Cancel updates                  | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Change directory                | Yes | No  | No  | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Copy                            | Yes | No  | No  | Yes | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Delete                          | Yes | No  | No  | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Encryption                      | No  | Yes | No  | No  | No  | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    List directory                  | Yes | Yes | No  | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Load                            | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Print                           | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Print to disk                   | No  | No  | Yes | Yes | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Rename                          | Yes | No  | No  | Yes | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Save                            | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Save as other name              | Yes | Yes | No  | Yes | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Wordstar (tm) files             | Yes | No  | No  | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|


    Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 4           Page  7


                    -------->    P R I N T E R    <--------


                                    |     |     |     |     |     |     |
    Function                        | GAL | MR  | NYW | PCT | PCW | WM  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Boldface                        | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Condensed                       | No  | No  | No  | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Double underline                | No  | No  | No  | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Elite                           | No  | No  | No  | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Emphasized                      | Yes | No  | No  | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Expanded                        | No  | No  | No  | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Italics                         | Yes | No  | No  | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Line spacing                    | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Lines per inch                  | Yes | No  | No  | No  | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Overstrike                      | No  | No  | No  | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Page length                     | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Pica                            | No  | No  | No  | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Proportional                    | No  | No  | No  | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Subscript                       | Yes | No  | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Superscript                     | Yes | No  | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Underline                       | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    User Defined                    | Yes | Yes | No  | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|


    Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 4           Page  8


                   -------->    S P E L L I N G    <--------


                                    |     |     |     |     |     |     |
    Function                        | GAL | MR  | NYW | PCT | PCW | WM  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Add phrases to dictionary       | Yes | No  | No  | No  | No  | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Add words to dictionary         | No  | Yes | No  | Yes | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Dictionary size (in thousands)  | No  |  10 | No  | 100 |  50 | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Guess at correction             | No  | No  | No  | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Interface (external/internal)   | Ext | Int | No  | Int | Int | Ext |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|


    Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 4           Page  9


                       -------->    T E X T    <--------


                                    |     |     |     |     |     |     |
    Function                        | GAL | MR  | NYW | PCT | PCW | WM  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Case conversion                 | No  | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Center line                     | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Copy text from other programs   | No  | No  | Yes | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Delete character                | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Delete line                     | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Delete word                     | Yes | Yes | Yes | No  | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Find / Replace                  | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Hyphenation                     | No  | No  | Yes | No  | No  | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Indentation                     | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Insert character                | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Justification                   | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Margins                         | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Move column                     | No  | No  | No  | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Overtype character              | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Reformat                        | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Repagination                    | Yes | No  | Yes | No  | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Restore deleted text            | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Tabs                            | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Tabs decimal                    | No  | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Word wrap                       | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|


    Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 4           Page 10


                     -------->    W I N D O W    <--------


                                    |     |     |     |     |     |     |
    Function                        | GAL | MR  | NYW | PCT | PCW | WM  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Close                           | Yes | No  | Yes | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Copy from one to another        | Yes | No  | Yes | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Maximum number                  |  2  |  0  | 12  |  0  |  2  | 0   |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Open                            | Yes | No  | Yes | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Switch                          | Yes | No  | Yes | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Un-Zoom                         | Yes | No  | Yes | No  | No  | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Variable length                 | Yes | No  | Yes | No  | Yes | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|
    Zoom                            | Yes | No  | Yes | No  | No  | No  |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------|


    Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 4           Page 11


              -------->    M O D I F I C A T I O N S    <--------


    Version 1 - 11/27/87 - Original version

    Version 2 - 12/20/87 - Corrections
                             Indicated PC-Write supports
                               Backup at specified intervals
                               EGA
                               Wordstar (tm) commands
                             Indicated Galaxy supports
                               Mouse

    Version 3 - 12/29/87 - Upgraded Galaxy from 2.2C to 2.3
                             Indicated Galaxy Supports
                               Invoke program
                               Macros

    Version 4 - 01/16/88 - Added MindReader


    Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 4           Page 12


                    -------->    L I C E N S E    <--------


    ESWP is protected by United States copyright law and international
    treaty provisions.  All rights are reserved.

    You are hereby granted, without charge, a limited license. This conveys
    to you the right to freely utilize, reproduce, and distribute ESWP
    with the following restrictions:

        1)  ESWP must not be modified in any way.

        2)  ESWP must not be related, either directly or indirectly, to
            the generation of fees, charges or compensation of any type.


    Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 4           Page 13


                 -------->    D I S C L A I M E R    <--------


    ESWP is provided on an as is basis without any warranty, expressed
    or implied. I will not be liable for any damages related directly or
    indirectly to the use of this document. By using this document, you
    agree to this.


    Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 4           Page 14


                   -------->    C O M M E N T S    <--------


    ESWP will be updated as needed.

    The following types of nonflammable communication are encouraged:

        1)  Identification of errors.

        2)  Information on shareware word processors not in this
            evaluation.

        3)  Input on other types of software to evaluate.

    The following means of communication are supported:

        1)  BBS       -  The Shareware Syndicate
                         Riverside, California, U.S.A
                         (714) 359-8489
                         2400/1200 - 8/N/1 - 24 Hours

        2)  InterNet  -  mike@dhw68k.cts.com

        3)  USPS      -  Michael J. Cleary
                         Post Office Box 8627
                         Riverside, California  92515-8627

        4)  UUCP      -  ...trwrb!felix!dhw68k!mike
                                      or
                         ...hplabs!felix!dhw68k!mike

    All of the evaluated products are available on The Shareware Syndicate.

    If this document assisted you in any way, please feel free to express
    your gratitude in the form of a financial contribution to:

                               Michael J. Cleary
                             Post Office Box 8627
                       Riverside, California  92515-8627

    Thanking you in advance for your support.


    Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 4           Page 15


              -------->    Q U E S T I O N N A I R E    <--------


    Please participate in the questionnaire about shareware word processors
    which is available on The Shareware Syndicate.  Responses communicated
    via other means will NOT be tallied.  Information obtained from this
    questionnaire will appear in all future incarnations of this document
    and will also be forwarded to the product developers.

    To facilitate your preparation, the questionnaire is included below:

        1)  What shareware word processor are you currently using ?

            A)  Galaxy
            B)  MindReader
            C)  New York Word
            D)  PC-Type+
            E)  PC-Write
            F)  WordMgr
            G)  Other than those listed above
            H)  I do not use a SWP

            If selection G:

        2)  I have not evaluated your SWP, can you tell me the name ?

            __________________________________________________________

        3)  Are you satisfied with your SWP ?

            A)  Yes
            B)  No

        4)  Would you ever consider changing to a different SWP ?

            A)  Yes
            B)  No

        5)  What feature would you like added to your SWP (1 of 3) ?

            __________________________________________________________

        6)  What feature would you like added to your SWP (2 of 3) ?

            __________________________________________________________

        7)  What feature would you like added to your SWP (3 of 3) ?

            __________________________________________________________

    Thanking you in advance for your participation.


    Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 4           Page 16


                  -------->    C O P Y R I G H T    <--------


    This document is:         Copyright (c) 1988
                               Michael J. Cleary
                             Post Office Box 8627
                       Riverside, California  92515-8627