Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!ogicse!uidaho!hermens
From: hermens@groucho
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.apps
Subject: Re: TurboCASE  (was Re: 'CASE' software on Macs)
Message-ID: <1990Oct26.214330.19276@groucho>
Date: 26 Oct 90 21:43:30 GMT
References: <3644@stl.stc.co.uk> <1990Oct24.151523.5290@mtcchi.uucp> <1051@mdavcr.UUCP>
Reply-To: hermens@ted.cs.uidaho.edu (Leonard Hermens)
Organization: University of Idaho, Moscow
Lines: 74

In article <1051@mdavcr.UUCP> ewm@mdavcr.UUCP (Eric W. Mitchell) writes:
>In article <1990Oct24.151523.5290@mtcchi.uucp> fjo@mtcchi.uucp (2667-Frank Owen(ZG90210)0000) writes:
>>There is a package called "TurboCase" (why do they have to use such
>>glitzy names?) by a company called StructSoft. (phone 206-644-9834)
>
>I am more familiar with the various problems with the tool than with the
>advantages.  I was handed the job of collecting all the bug reports and
>sending them to StructSoft (the authors).
>
>This "review" is therefore somewhat one-sided.  Do not get the
>impression that the product is all bad.  We have found it quite useful,
>and intend to continue using it.
>
>Problems:	A sample of some of our problems follows
>========
>
>-	Crashes frequently (version 2.02).  Users found that it went down
>	sometimes several times per session.  Data files on disk were often
>	left corrupted and in an unusable state after a crash.  Does not
>	make backup of file when it is opened, so you really should leave
>	the program frequently and manually back up your file.
>
>	This was definitely the most serious problem we had with the tool.
>
>	Note: We just recently received an upgrade to 2.05, so the 
>		  reliability may have improved.
    
 
     LATEST VERSION IS NOW 2.10 AND MANY CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE.


     (other comments from original post deleted here)


>
>Summary:
>=======
>
>The product is a pretty good buy for the money when compared to other
>products on the market.  It is not as powerful as Teamwork, but it also
>doesn't cost $15,000.
               

         (TURBOCASE ISN'T AS SLOW AND COMBERSOME, EITHER.)


>In general, I haven't seen anything (on the Mac anyway - I don't use PCs
>much) that beats the product for features.  The user interface could use
>some real reworking.  Right now, the product does not have a
>professional feel (there are even some menu items spelled incorrectly!).


                  SPELLING IS ONE THING THAT I NOTICED WHEN I REVIEWED
                  TURBOCASE, IT WAS SOMEWHAT ANNOYING. 
                  BUT THERE ARE CHANGES IN THE WORKS.


>
>We have brought the various problems above, and others, to the attention of
>StructSoft.  They appear quite responsive to our concerns.  It has only
>been a couple of weeks since we talked to them, however, so it remains
>to be seen how much improvement we will see.

               STRUCTSOFT IS *VERY* RESPONSIVE TO USER NEEDS AND
               HAS ENCOURAGED INPUT FROM ALL FRONTS.  IT IS GOOD TO
               SEE CONSTRUCTIVE COMMENTS LIKE THESE TO MAKE PRODUCTS
               BETTER!  (sure beats the flaming that has taken place recently).


-- 
Leonard Hermens
Department of Computer Science
University of Idaho
Moscow, ID 83843