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From: steved@hrshcx.csd.harris.com (Steve Daukas)
Newsgroups: comp.text
Subject: Help with choosing a "word processor"
Keywords: Desktop Publishing Packages vs Typesetting With TeX
Message-ID: <1134@hrshcx.csd.harris.com>
Date: 18 Jun 91 16:50:05 GMT
Organization: Harris Computer Systems - Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
Lines: 71

Greetings and Salutations!

I posted this to comp.text.tex and comp.text.desktop, but I havn't received
any responses (a few days now) so I thought I'd try here...

I have just begun researching various DOS and OS/2 based "editors" or
"word processors" or "type setters" and have finally been made aware of 
these groups.  I hope you will indulge my questions if they are old hat...

I am seeking some inputs and advice on getting a "word processor" that
will run on DOS, DOS with Windows 3.0, and/or OS/2 (Rel. 2.0).  I am not
necessarily looking for all variants at once, just some indication
as to availabilty in each environment.  I am currently running DOS 4.1, 
Windows 3.0, have a 386sx, a 85 Meg disk, and 1 Meg of Ram (I know - I'm 
getting more memory in a week or so). I am interested in OS/2 if it really 
pans out in the sense of running multiple windows at the same time.

What I want to be able to do is:

	1) run multiple copies of the "word processor" along with other 
           applications (compilers, spread sheets, etc.) at one time...

	2) run them all in a windowed environment where I can cut and paste
	   from various applications into the "word processor" (e.g.,
           a spreadsheet here, a picture there, some prose, and maybe a
           piece of example code).  The cut and paste doesn't need to be as
           obvious as dragging with a mouse - I just need a straight forward
           way to access the other data I want to include...

	3) have it WYSIWYG if possible, or at least a previewer of some sort...

 	4) and it would be nice if I had access to the underlying "code"
           of the "word processor" along the lines of TeX.  Being an engineer,
           I have this need to be able to have a fine grain of control.  I am
           specifically interested in setting up macros to do the things I
           always do, like headers, footers, etc..  I am used to troff under 
           Unix using Vi as the editor so this kind of "environment" is OK.

I would use this "word processor" for school (MBA) and work (proposals, 
diagrams, etc.).  I am interested in the desktop publishing sort of package
because of the nature of MBA programs - flash is cash, as well as the GUI.  
I also don't have alot of time to come up to speed on something like TeX in 
the short term (specifically charts, graphs, etc. - non-prose stuff), but would 
like to be able to customize whatever I am using in the long term.  The 
disadvantage here is money.  I'm not looking to spend $400 dollars for a package
that I can't customize to some extent.

Something like TeX has its appeal because I am using troff now, I can define
anything I want, and TeX is free.  The disadvantage is time.  I don't have 
very much so I don't want to have to read an entire manual before I can 
produce something that looks reasonable.  Also, getting pictures and/or charts
into TeX (as I understand it) is painful.

The kind of finished product I will be producing is a very professional
looking document with charts, graphs, tables, columns of text as well as
regular "double-spaced" formats, equations, and perhaps an image or two.
This finished product will be seen by professors, the various big shots
where I work, and customers.  So, it really must look professional.

I am open to all suggestions and comments!  Integrated packages (word processor,
spread sheet, graphics, et. al.) are also under consideration (and would be
considered preferable if I decide against TeX), so fire away! Any advice would 
be greatly appreciated!  I will summarize for anyone interested.

Thanks!
Steve
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| Stephen C. Daukas ||  sdaukas@csd.harris.com |
| (617) 221-1834    || uunet!hcx1!misg!sdaukas |
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