geller@tfd.UUCP (David Geller) (09/06/90)
I picked up Ventura Publisher for Microsoft Windows 3 this weekend. I couldn't wait for the upgrade plan to kick in. Here's a nutshell review of the product running on my 20Mhz 386 w/8Mbytes RAM and a Moniterm Viking I display running Windows in protected mode. Installation: If Windows works Ventura will install effortlessly. Pull down the Run... command from the File menu under the program manager and enter a:install. There are only TWO!!! applications discs for Ventura. What a dream! NOTE: You really must install the new Bitstream screen fonts that accompany the product on an additional two discs. Without them your display will be terrible and the program will be prone to system failures. However, once installed you are on easy street. Also, the current release offers no info on network installation and cannot be used by more than one person on a NovelL network at the same time. I guess they want to make money off of this release... FEATURES: This is Version 2 made to work under Windows. Basically its the base package + the extended edition + the networking pack. The tie in to the Windows hyper/text/active help facility is good. It could be a bit better. Want to do some reverse type using above-line rules? Don't bother looking in the help index (online) for the keyword "reveresed." Not there. Delve into the rules area. You'll find it. That's gripe 1. Pretty much everything works as expected. Didn't need to crack the printed documentation even once! Xerox should offer the product at 75% off for those of us who don't need the manual. If you're good with version 2 I don't think you'll ever need the manual. That can count as high-praise #1. SPEED: Hey - Windows isn't as fast as GEM - but then again, it's a nicer environment. Line-art, in particular, is noticably slower in Windows than under GEM. So that 'ol nozzle or shuttle will take it's time to be drawn. This isn't Xerox's fault - it's Windows. Other than that - the product worked very well. I was using it with another virtual DOS window running Harvard Graphics and Corel in another Window at the same time. PACKAGING: stupid - see for yourself. Hey - I'm not kidding about the printed material - you really won'y need it. BONUS For most everything you get the Windows-user interface. That means all the menus and dialog boxes let you select type and simply start typing replacement text. One area where the blew it - in correct text within a document. Can't have it all. RATING: For me it's an 8 out of 10. I've always liked Ventura and now appreciate the flexibility I'll have running it in a nicer environment capable of switching between several applications quickly. I'd give it a 9 if DDE support were provided - but hey, I'm not into DDE use yet. Maybe I should. Who knows. Version 3.1 should have DDE support as well as support for Windows 3.1 use of Truetype. David Geller Electric Logic, Inc. Washington, DC