st0o+@andrew.cmu.edu (Steven Timm) (02/15/90)
Has anyone out there tried Microsoft Word For Windows on the IBM PC as yet? If so, I have these questions: The literature suggest 1-2 MB of EMS memory is recommended (but not required) what happens if you don't have it? Can the program run stand-alone without Windows (or is that question immaterial because the program comes with Windows) Is extended memory usable as EMS memory? Are there any significant differences between the academic version and the full version?
st0o+@andrew.cmu.edu (Steven Timm) (02/20/90)
Thanks to everyone who responded to my query about Word for Windows. I have decided to buy. A summary of the answers to the questions I asked: >The literature suggest 1-2 MB of EMS memory is recommended (but not >required) what happens if you don't have it? Apparently Windows will swap to disk. >Can the program run stand-alone without Windows (or is that question >immaterial because the program comes with Windows) The program comes with run-time Windows (and must be run with it.) >Is extended memory usable as EMS memory? Apparently yes if you have the right driver, and a better fix is coming in Windows 3.0 >Are there any significant differences between the academic version and the >full version? Academic version probably has only users guide, not full reference manual. But form is available if you want to order manual. Thanks again for the help!
spolsky-joel@CS.YALE.EDU (Joel Spolsky) (02/20/90)
In article <digest.EZrhcsK00Ukc80VVB9@andrew.cmu.edu> you write: >Has anyone out there tried Microsoft Word For Windows on the IBM PC as >yet? Yep. Just got my copy in the mail today. It's spiffy. >If so, I have these questions: > >The literature suggest 1-2 MB of EMS memory is recommended (but not >required) what happens if you don't have it? Things get real slow as overlays are swapped out. There might be some serious limitations on how many fonts and font sizes you can have active at once, though: I must say I'm really not sure because I haven't tried it out. The manual says that you can shoehorn WINWORD into 500K *available* memory (what chkdsk reports as available). >Can the program run stand-alone without Windows (or is that question >immaterial because the program comes with Windows) It comes with a run time version of Windows. You can use WINWORD, the clipboard, and the windows control panel, but nothing else. One major irritation: if you don't have the full-blown windows you will not be able to "shell out" to another program. In short, for this program to be useful, you definitely will want about 2 meg and a 386. A fast 286 might be tolerable but some things are even slow on a 386 (scrolling for example). But this really is the greatest word processor the PC world has ever seen... try it, you'll like it... +----------------+----------------------------------------------------------+ | Joel Spolsky | bitnet: spolsky@yalecs.bitnet uucp: ...!yale!spolsky | | | internet: spolsky@cs.yale.edu voicenet: 203-436-1538 | +----------------+----------------------------------------------------------+ #include <disclaimer.h>
grs@hpcvca.CV.HP.COM (Gordon Stevenson) (02/20/90)
There are three answers to your first question: Slow; Slower and Slowest. As an example, running the tutorial an an AT Clone with ONLY 1 megabyte of memory takes three to four times longer than the lesson says it should ! I believe this is an accurate figure-of-merit since the Word 5 tutorial runs in about the same time it says it should.