Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!mephisto!ncsuvx!news
From: rnf@shumv1.uucp (Rick Fincher)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Re: AWGS 1.1 (long)
Keywords: continuo, spumoni, photogenic, postwar
Message-ID: <1989Dec9.075706.17344@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu>
Date: 9 Dec 89 07:57:06 GMT
References: <1989Dec8.013631.24290@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu> <10726@claris.com> <PNAKADA.89Dec8131039@pnakada.oracle.com> <WOMBAT.89Dec8170304@claris.com>
Reply-To: rnf@shumv1.ncsu.edu (Rick Fincher)
Organization: NCSU Computing Center
Lines: 3

8

In article <WOMBAT.89Dec8170304@claris.com> wombat@claris.com (Scott Lindsey) writes:
>In article <PNAKADA.89Dec8131039@pnakada.oracle.com> pnakada@oracle.com (Paul Nakada) writes:
>
>> I think that Microsoft Works has already more than adequately filled
>> this niche in the Mac world.  The sad thing is that even with a better
>
>"more than adequately"?  Sorry, but have you ever tried to use MS-Works to
>really accomplish anything?  My choice of words would have been "barely."

I agree with Scott (but everyones needs are different).  I think a Mac version
of AppleWorks would do well.  It would also help the IIgs if it is file
compatible by allowing the IIgs and Mac to coexist in the business environment.
This would allow the IIgs to challenge the MS-DOS machines for a share of the
low end market.

I think the effects of this could be synergistic.  I know of many companies
that would like to get Macs but they need a mix of low end machines and
high end systems.  Although there is a lot of conversion software for DOS
machines and a few programs that run on both the Mac and DOS and are at 
least partly file compatible, the mixed DOS-Mac office is less than ideal.
The Mac Plus and SE are not even all that "low end", and are ruled out by
many because of the small screen and lack of a cheap color option.  The IIgs
would be ideal in this environment.  Its interface is the same as the Mac's
and AppleWorks running on both systems would make integration very smooth.
Let's face it, you don't need a $5000 plus Mac II to write letters.  Maybe
you do need one for CAD, sophisticated data bases, or high end page layout,
but computers in offices are used 80% of the time for word processing. AWGS
does 95% of what businesses use micros for, they can get a Mac II for the
other 5%.  Instead they buy model 30's (yeeech) for word processing and 50's
60's, 80's and clones for the high end stuff with VGA graphics, and end up
with a lot of headaches on the high end systems trying to use more than 640K
and on the low end systems trying to train clerical staff to use arcane
MS-DOS commands.  Secretaries end up using few of the features in their 
word processors because they are too hard to learn and remember.

Rick Fincher
rnf@shumv1.ncsu.edu