Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!sundc!pitstop!sun!tow@parcvax.xerox.com From: tow@parcvax.xerox.com (Robert Francis Tow) Newsgroups: comp.text.desktop Subject: Re: Ready Set Go! 4.0 -- first look Message-ID: <33984@sun.uucp> Date: Mon, 16-Nov-87 14:24:03 EST Article-I.D.: sun.33984 Posted: Mon Nov 16 14:24:03 1987 Date-Received: Wed, 18-Nov-87 04:24:19 EST Sender: news@sun.uucp Distribution: comp Lines: 62 Approved: desktop-request%plaid@sun.com >I've had my upgrade to Ready, Set, Go! for a couple of days now, gone >through the manuals, and started working with it to get a feel for how the >program works. This is an initial, off the cuff review, not something >in-depth or definitive. I'll probably have more to say as I get further and >further into things. >The general opinion: They've done a very good job upgrading and enhancing > the program. It'll give PageMaker 2.0 a good run for the money, and > for longer or repetitive works, I think it blows it away. it isn't > perfect (what program is?) but it does the job quite nicely. > ReadySetGo 4.0 is a vast improvement. I have been using it, in combination with Illustrator, Canvas, LaserWriters, a Linotype model 100, and a Dest scanner for about a month, and I have had a few problems, however. On a 1meg SE with the new finder/multifinder/system stuff from Apple (as developers, we've had that for about a month, too) RSG 4.0 will crash the system when trying to print a one page document composed of simple type all of one size, using three New Baskerville faces (Roman, Bold, Italic). The same document will print from an SE equipped with more ram. This was running Finder, not multifinder. Of course, this may be due to the new system software, not RSG per se. If one enables fractional character widths, and then attempts a tab with a leading character, the calculation of the number of such character and their extent is screwed up - it makes an excursion to the right beyond the proper boundry. So one cannot tightly kern a body of text with such tabbing. On the subject of kerning, it is irritating that even in a program that now supports fractional character widths, kerning is still restricted to increments of a screen pixel! (Other missing features: support for indexing, ability to tie the position of a graphic *relative* to a text position (try editing a dictionary with embedded pictures to see what I mean - add an entry in 'a' and then see how you have to touch every follwong entry!), non-integer point sizes). I tried importing 635dpi and 1270 dpi bitmaps from Canvas version 1.02 and printing them. This worked to a LaserWriter, but had problems to a Linotype model 100. The 635dpi bitmap printed, but improperly. The 1270dpi bitmap (the natural resolution of the Linotype) refused to print, after several hours of Linotype time - which is curious as it was the same amount of data as the 635 dpi image, but simply reduced in size. A final plaint: the spelling checker does not account for ligatures. I use "fi" and "fl" ligatures in the faces that support them: the spelling checker gags every time. On a long document this becomes *very* irritating. I like using RSG. In combination with Illustrator, Canvas, a scanner (but I want a true gray scale scanner!), and a Lintotype one may due *almost* everything one would desire. I am looking forward to the acquisition addition of ImageStudio and a gray scale scanner. Rob Tow ParcPlace Systems Internet: rob@ParcPlace.com ---------------------------------------- Submissions to: desktop%plaid@sun.com -OR- sun!plaid!desktop Administrivia to: desktop-request%plaid@sun.com -OR- sun!plaid!desktop-request Paths: {ihnp4,decwrl,hplabs,seismo,ucbvax}!sun --- Chuq "Fixed in 4.0" Von Rospach chuq@sun.COM Delphi: CHUQ