nether@wpi.WPI.EDU (Joel C Belog) (04/20/91)
Hello all, I'm looking to buy either a DTP or graphics package. Could those of you who have used any of them (Adobe Illustrator, Create!, TopDraw, Frame 2.0, Wordperfect ... or any other package that I haven't mentioned) e-mail me the strengths and weaknesses or just overall usefullness? Or if this has been discussed at length, could you e-mail me on about how long ago it was discussed so I can go dive into the archives. Thanks in advance for all you help... Joel Belog Internet: nether@wpi.wpi.edu
nether@wpi.WPI.EDU (Joel C Belog) (04/24/91)
Hi all, A week back I posted a request on reviews of DTP and graphics packages. I received only two replys ... Please e-mail me if you have anything else to add to this list ... ######## This is my original post: >Hello all, > > I'm looking to buy either a DTP or graphics package. Could those >of you who have used any of them (Adobe Illustrator, Create!, TopDraw, Frame >2.0, Wordperfect ... or any other package that I haven't mentioned) e-mail >me the strengths and weaknesses or just overall usefullness? > Or if this has been discussed at length, could you e-mail me >on about how long ago it was discussed so I can go dive into the archives. > Thanks in advance for all you help... > Joel Belog > nether@wpi.wpi.edu ####### From: Michael D. Callaghan <mikec@wam.umd.edu> I have TopDraw and Frame. TopDraw has a wonderful tendency to crash at odd moments, but for the moment, it's the only real drawing program out there. I like Frame a whole bunch! I am used to using PageMaker 4.0 on the Mac, but Frame puts it to shame! Illustrator isn't out yet. Diagram! is kinda limited, but what it does, it does very well! I haven't really played with Create! too much, but it looks extremely promising. Freehand 3.0 is currently being ported by Altsys, and they told me that they will be releasing in the Fall under a different name. That's my pick for most powerful drawing tool. And I've heard that Quark Express is being ported. I don't even want to discuss WordPerfect. I've never been a fan of that company, or its products. -- MikeC _________________________________________________________ Michael D. Callaghan, MDC Designs, University of Maryland mikec@wam.umd.edu #######From: kehoe@fortuity.sf.ca.us (Daniel Miles Kehoe) Joel, FrameMaker is ugly but powerful. Its interface is not intuitive and it's not easy to remember where things are and what they do. In this regard it is similar to Ventura on the PC. But it is more powerful than Ventura or Pagemaker for long structured documents (it numbers pages automatically, builds Tables of Contents, and does other "book-oriented" things). I curse it but I use it for almost everything (brochures, software documentation, proposals, even letters). There's not much else available. Illustrator won't ship until May or later, I hear. It will be good for design-intensive documents of up to 4 pages (brochures, posters, art). As with the Mac or PC version, it will take much effort to become truly a proficient user. WordPerfect is a little shaky yet and some users are not happy that it is less than fully robust. I haven't yet used it. I haven't yet used Create! or TopDraw. LightHouse Design's Diagram is a hit with my associate Seth Ross. And RightBrain's Touchtype gets raves from some people. The WELL online service has had debates over the qualities of WordPerfect and FrameMaker. You can reach the WELL at 2400 baud at 415-332-7217. If you sign up as a user (which costs $10/month), type "g next" to go to the NeXT discussion group. I'd appreciate seeing a summary of the replies you receive to your query. Regards, Daniel Miles Kehoe *********************** end of reply's .... Thanks to both Mike and Daniel for their reply's. Again, if you have anything to add (either good point or bad points) please let me know... Joel Belog nether@wpi.wpi.edu