Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!rutgers!cbmvax!cbmehq!cbmger!peterk From: peterk@cbmger.UUCP (Peter Kittel GERMANY) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.applications Subject: Re: Mac's Microsoft Word Message-ID: <752@cbmger.UUCP> Date: 16 Jan 91 15:57:39 GMT References: <1991Jan15.031444.5@csc.canterbury.ac.nz> <1991Jan14.222837.20284@mintaka.lcs.mit.edu> <662@tronsbox.xei.com> Reply-To: peterk@cbmger.UUCP (Peter Kittel GERMANY) Organization: Commodore Bueromaschinen GmbH, West Germany Lines: 74 In article <662@tronsbox.xei.com> bleys@tronsbox.xei.com (Bill Cavanaugh) writes: >In article <1991Jan14.222837.20284@mintaka.lcs.mit.edu> rjc@geech.ai.mit.edu (Ray Cromwell) writes: >[stuff about MS Word deleted] > >Um, I don't know if anyone else has bothered to point it out, but there >are those of us "smart enough to learn a language" who don't have time >to learn a new one for every application. ESPECIALLY when that >application is word processing. > >> Basically, everything you've stated is either already in an Amiga >>WP, or in TeX. Some people argue TeX is hard. I disagree, some people are >>just intimidated or frightened that they may actually have to learn >>something about their computer and the workings of computer languages. > >Why is it that every time someone on the net posts >anything< that even >LOOKS like they want a user interface that's made for the user, crys of >"You're not smart enough/You're too lazy to learn to do it the hard way?" > >I may be commiting a sacrilege here, but why >should< someone have to >"learn something about their computer and the workings of computer >languages" in order to put their thoughts on paper in an attractive and >effective format? I agree fullheartedly. Obviously this is a point where people and their character differ strongly. I myself am doing always very hard to learn the cryptic keystrokes necessary in some odd programs. (I'm typing this in vi, which sadist ever thought out those brain-dead command keys???) So, for my daily letter writing, I'm stuck with a rather aged word processor, that also has a user interface that's a bit crude, but I have gotten accustomed to it (ok, it's at least a *little* logical). You won't know it, I think it's not internationally available, called SuperDesk. I can type with it rather fast and it does the things I need in letters (no fonts, only bold and underscore). And when I need something special, then I grab out my old self-programmed (in Basic) word processor, change some lines for that special task, and then I'm done. (Watch: modifying an own program is NO difficulty for me.) Point is, programs like Wordstar and most of other current word processors are real hell for me. I simply can't remember all those double-key control sequences! So when I read somewhere that the editor of some integrated package is Wordstar compatible (they think this is a positive argument, haha), I immediately stop considering that software. And MS Word also has a rather ugly interface for my taste. Its menu structure is in my eyes very intransparent, and the way some functions work from the keyboard is very awesome. If you haven't got a mouse on your PC or AT, you MUST have that strip above your function keys, else you (read: I) are lost. And I hate situations where I'm lost. (Remember when I first fell into vi on accident and didn't find the way out: PANIC! No Esc or function key, no Ctrl-C or other normal key sequence worked, then somebody told me to use colon quit! I really thought he was going to fool me. Still today I shiver when I remember that.) So until now I was speaking totally about my own view of these items. But I know there are many people outside built just the other way, as cited above: they LOVE to learn new interfaces every day and get their satisfaction from the conscience that they mastered some new software again. I feel extremely jealous in neighbourhood of such guys. But I have not the slightest idea whether I or these people represent "Joe Average User". Does anybody have? And for such partly limited people like me (:-), a well-designed GUI is a big help. E.g. that PD text editor AZ makes up a real nice text editor, but I don't think you can call it a word processor. But surely MS Word isn't satisfying here, too, at least for me. -- Best regards, Dr. Peter Kittel // E-Mail to \\ Only my personal opinions... Commodore Frankfurt, Germany \X/ {uunet|pyramid|rutgers}!cbmvax!cbmger!peterk