chuq@sun.uucp (Chuq Von Rospach; Lord of the OtherRealms) (11/10/86)
Thought this might be of interest to people. Here is the press release for Word 3.0, which I got from the MSOFT SIG on CompuServe. Enjoy. chuq --- [76703,4235] MAC300.TXT 03-Nov-86 7440 28 Keywords: MACINTOSH WORD 3.00 ANNOUNCEMENT PRESS RELEASE This is the long-awaited press release announcing Microsoft Word 3.00 for the Apple Macintosh. One feature this press release doesn't mention is that you now have an option to keep any combination of the program and/or the document in memory. More info will be available soon. (R D M) !r - MICROSOFT WORD VERSION 3.00 FOR THE APPLE MACINTOSH - NEW YORK, NY -- October 27, 1986 -- Microsoft Corporation today announced Microsoft Word Version 3.0 for Apple Macintosh systems, with revolutionary new features that make it the best document processor or any personal computer. Microsoft Word advances word processing on the Macintosh in the way Microsoft Excel advanced financial analysis a year ago. Microsoft Word for the Macintosh is extremely fast. In addition, features unique to Microsoft Word for the Macintosh include flexible menus, Quick-Switch, Page Preview, and the ability to place graphics and text side by side. According to Microsoft chairman, Bill Gates, "Microsoft Word for the Macintosh has lightening speed. I think this is the fastest word processor ever on a personal computer." This new version of Microsoft Word offers an impressive list of features in a graphics-based environment which are accessible even to the novice user. Word's functions work together, are consistent, and can be easily accessed by someone without dedicated word processing experience. When combined with an Apple LaserWriter, Microsoft Word Version 3.0 produces the highest-quality output available from any personal computer-based system. "Our four years of intensive experience with developing software for the Macintosh gives us the technological edge to produce fast, sophisticated applications programs," said Gates. "Microsoft Word 3.0 uses the superior graphics capabilities of the Macintosh to give users the flexibility to easily generate a great-looking document from start to finish." Microsoft Word 3.0 for the Macintosh combines features of high-end personal computer-based word processing programs with the ease of use and graphical user interface of the Macintosh. The result is high-speed software that makes it very easy to prepare professional-looking documents ranging from memos to long reports that combine text and graphics. The new version of Word for the Macintosh includes such advanced capabilities as: Faster Execution-- Most commonly used functions like scrolling, saving, and printing are significantly faster than previous versions of Microsoft Word. Flexible Menus-- Short Menus list only the basic word processing features, very similar to MacWrite. The learning process is accelerated, because the more sophisticated functions are not apparent. As novice users progress, one keystroke offers access to Full Menus and more advanced functions, including outlining, style sheets, and Quick-Switch. Finally, the ability to customize menus gives experienced users the power to build the menu of choice for a valuable shortcut to their most-used commands. Compound Documents and Quick-Switch-- Microsoft Word 3.0 for the Macintosh supports documents that include data in the form of text, but-mapped graphics, object-oriented graphics, formatted numerical tables, and equations. Word makes it easy to edit these other types of data using Quick-Switch. the users need only remember one command key to access and return from other appropriate software. Word performs the necessary data manipulation. Users can change text, draw lines, formulate equations and resize or crop graphics from within Microsoft Word 3.0. Page Preview-- To eliminate surprises at final output, users can view on-screen headers, footers, margins, and page breaks of two entire pages, exactly as they will be printed. These then can be interactively adjusted, which saves time and effort by eliminating repeat printings. Page Layout Flexibility and Desktop Publishing-- Microsoft Word allows text and graphics to be laid out in multiple snaking columns or in independent (side-by-side) columns. Graphics can be moved with text within the same paragraph. Embedded PostScript gives the user the ability to tap the full potential of the Apple LaserWriter. Microsoft Word for the Macintosh is designed to work seamlessly with Aldus PageMaker for those individuals requiring the advanced features of page layout program. All character and paragraph formatting in Word is maintained when the text is "poured" into a page layout. Integrated Outliner-- A integrated outliner allows writers to organize ideas, get a fast overview of work-in-progress, and reorganize lengthy documents. When headings are restructured in Outline view, the accompanying text is automatically moved. Integrated Style Sheets-- Documents can be formatted quickly and consistently using integrated style sheets, which make it easy to maintain a consistent look throughout all documents. Styles can be defined or modified as thent is created to effect changes instantly throughout the document. Data Exchange-- Version 3.0 includes a conversion utility for the IBM Document Content Architecture (DCA) format. It also supports built-in two-way data conversion with other leading software packages or standards in other environments including Microsoft Word for the PC, Rich Text Format (RTF),ASCII files, MacWrite, and Microsoft Works. Column Manipulation-- Microsoft Word 3.0 includes traditional column manipulation functions such as column move, delete, five function math (=,-,%,x,/), and sorting. Spelling Corrector-- An 80,000-word spelling corrector is integrated in Microsoft Word 3.0. With its increased graphics capabilities and flexible formatting, Microsoft Word 3.0 for the Macintosh complements today's desktop publishing systems. Version 3.0 integrates many of the formatting features traditionally found in desktop publishing systems and, with PostScript support, provides users with more sophisticated features required for complex page layout designs. The advanced document processing capabilities of Microsoft Word 3.0 help position the Macintosh on the desks of business users by providing a powerful program designed for serious business tasks. The increased power, graphical user interface, and improved keyboard of the Macintosh Plus combined with Microsoft Word 3.0 produce the highest-quality professional documents possible on a personal computer. Office environments that utilize both Macintosh and IBM personal computers will benefit from the data conversion capabilities of Version 3.0, as well as complete utilization of the Macintosh Plus keyboard. Microsoft Word 3.0 users can perform cursor movements and selection from the keypad. Microsoft Word for Apple Macintosh systems requires a minimum of 512K memory. The program is delivered on an 800K disk, but owners of the 512K Macintosh who have not upgraded to an 800K double-sided disk drive can obtain a copy on two 400K disk free of charge by completing the coupon included in the Word 3.0 package and returning it to Microsoft. The product is expected to ship in January 1987, will have a suggested retail price of $395, and will not be copy protected. Current registered users can upgrade to Version 3.0 for $99. In mid-November registered users will be notified by mail of the upgrade process. Users who purchase a license for Microsoft Word 1.05 after October 1, 1986, and submit proof of purchase, will receive the Version 3.0 for $50.
tim@hoptoad.uucp (Tim Maroney) (11/14/86)
Word 3.0 sounds great in most ways, but there is a major blunder in the PC compatibility. A conversion utility is just not good enough! File transfer is the past. Transparent file access is the present and the future. Microsoft Excel is a lovely program largely because it understands the Lotus 1-2-3 file format directly. No conversion utility is needed. This allows a database to be shared between Mac and PC users over a transparent remote file system, like TOPS, NFS, RFS, etc. If a conversion step were required, only Mac users or only PC users could access the database. Why didn't Microsoft follow the same philosophy with Word as they did with Excel? They didn't have to use a common Mac and PC file format, just make each program capable of understanding the other's format. If the programs are as similar as Microsoft is claiming, this should have been straightforward. But programmers just are not making the conceptual leap to multiple-vendor low-end workstation networks very fast, even though this is obviously becoming the usual configuration at most schools and businesses. Okay, okay, so I'm flaming. Just don't get me started on microcomputer programs that use fixed temp file names and configuration files in the same directory as the program.... -- Tim Maroney, Electronic Village Idiot {ihnp4,sun,well,ptsfa,lll-crg,frog}!hoptoad!tim (uucp) hoptoad!tim@lll-crg (arpa)