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From: lch3e@holmes.acc.Virginia.EDU (Lauren C. Howard)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Another Atari write-in campaign...
Message-ID: <1991Jun21.181638.21970@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>
Date: 21 Jun 91 18:16:38 GMT
Sender: usenet@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU
Organization: University of Virginia
Lines: 44
Originator: lch3e@holmes.acc.Virginia.EDU

OK, folks, it's time for yet another write-in campaign.  Believe it or 
not, they ARE effective (when a reasonable number of people write); and
this is one of the most important issues I've seen in the ST world.

 WORDPERFECT FOR ATARI
 Z*Net announced weeks ago that WordPerfect was going to end its Atari
 support after a cancellation of a major order by Atari Germany.  The
 story continues to develop.  The German order was for version 5.1 of
 WordPerfect, which is not yet completed and may now never be.

 WordPerfect programmers had prepared the code and had grafted major
 parts of the NeXT computer version of 5.1 into what was to be the Atari
 version.  Full FSM GDOS management and compatibility was also
 integrated, making the Atari WordPerfect 5.1 perhaps the most advanced
 version that would have been available on any platform.  

 However, after
 Atari Germany canceled their advance order of 10-15,000 units under
 pressure of German developers, WP contacted Atari in Sunnyvale.  Reports
 vary somewhat, but the result of that talk seems to be that Atari Corp
 will not at this time back WordPerfect by assuring a minimum order. 

 WP has left the matter open-ended, and does plan to
 continue the periodic bug-fixes and minor tweaks of the 4.1 version that
 is available for the Atari.  Some Atari officials are working to reverse
 the situation and persuade all parties to take whatever measures needed
 to assure production of WordPerfect 5.1 for the Atari. 

 Ataris' developer man, Bill Rehbock, has asked Z*Net to clarify what he
 is looking for in support for a new revision of WordPerfect.  The
 company is hesitant to release version 5-point-something because of
 fears of insufficient sales.  Bill has been actively soliciting reports
 from users as to their actual reasons for buying/ not buying WordPerfect
 to date, including bug reports. 

 So far, Bill tells Z*Net that his mail has
 been primarily negative, bashing him and Atari for flubbing the WP deal.

 What he NEEDS are letters to take with him to WordPerfect in July.
 Those letters should say what YOU think about WordPerfect, both in the
 current incarnation for the Atari and what would make you buy a new
 version.  Reasons you didn't buy the existing version are important too.
 Atari Corp, Bill Rehbock, 1196 Borregas Blvd, Sunnyvale, CA 94088.  And
 /or direct to WordPerfect, 1555 North Technology way, Orem, UT 84057.