[comp.sys.mac] Word Processor/Page Layout Wars

norman@a.cs.okstate.edu (Norman Graham) (09/17/89)

OK, there appears to be a lull in the word processor and
page layout wars so let's see if I can stir up a discussion.

When can we expect some new versions to play with? Are all 
the software houses waiting for system 7.0 with it's 
outline fonts, line layout manager, and new script manager?

What will Pagemaker 4.0 give us and when will we get it?
Can we at least expect verticle column justification,
more intelligent hyphenation, and separate printing of 
even/odd pages? 

Will the introduction of system 7.0's InterApplication
Communications Architecture (IAC) signal the end of the 
huge, do-everything programs like Fullwrite (and, to a 
lesser extent, Word)? Will we begin to see the unbundling
of spelling checkers, thesauruses, hyphenation engines
and dictionaries, glossaries, etc.?

Will FullWrite 2.0 ever get out the door?

Will Microsoft ever give Word an elegant user interface?

Where does NISUS fit in to the word processor/page layout
picture?

Cheers,
Norm
-- 
Norman Graham                            Oklahoma State University
  Internet:  norman@a.cs.okstate.edu     Computing and Information Sciences
      UUCP:  {cbosgd, rutgers}           219 Mathematical Sciences Building
              !okstate!norman            Stillwater, OK  74078-0599

mr2t+@andrew.cmu.edu (Michael Tod Rose) (09/19/89)

Oh boy oh boy oh boy.  Big questions.

Layout manager -- who knows?  It's a sure goin' to be interestin, tho.

PageMaker 4.0 -- no such beastie; PageMaker Professional is coming soon (maybe
November, I hear) w/ color extensions included, integrated spellcheck/search-
and-replace, text and object rotation, an endless array of fun stuff; keep
those eyes open.

Other software; Letraset's DesignStudio (RSG! 5.0) is scheduled for release
soon (Seybold?) and its got loads of fun features; color stuff, rotation,
incredible text handling, tracking graphs, "annexes" (equivalent of Quark
Xtensions), drag/spec graphic sizing, the whole bit.  Also, ColorStudio
is going to blow the roof off of Mac image proc and retouching software;
the only problem is that its *too big*, too many features -- still, it'll
do until Lumena comes along.

Of course, we have ATM, 7.0's font technology, Interleaf's price reductions...
I don't see why you think there's nothing to talk about. :->

-mike
mr2t@andrew.cmu.edu