Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!cmcl2!brl-adm!umd5!ames!ll-xn!mit-eddie!uw-beaver!fluke!moriarty From: moriarty@tc.fluke.COM (Jeff Meyer) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac Subject: Re: Software for the Mac -- recommendations wanted. Message-ID: <2930@fluke.COM> Date: 20 Feb 88 00:19:51 GMT References: <953@pbhyc.UUCP> <42125@sun.uucp> Sender: news@tc.fluke.COM Reply-To: moriarty@tc.fluke.COM (Jeff Meyer) Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA Lines: 112 No yelling, but a few addenums to Chuq's comments: In article <42125@sun.uucp> chuq@sun.UUCP (Chuq Von Rospach) writes: >Word Processors Almost word-to-word agreement here; I am a FullWrite booster (I'm using the pre-release version), but until I see the released package, no recommendations. It sure looks good from here, though. Quick notes: I am *extremely* skeptical about Word 4.0 (did your rumor mention a thesaurus?); Microsoft Works has a nice low-end WP (especially when used with that Spelling DA that runs with Works); does anyone have comments on Ashton-Tate's previous Macintosh documentation -- i.e. will they re-write the AA docs (I liked the reference manual quite a bit). They'd have to go quite a ways to screw the FullWrite manuals up as much as the Word manuals... >On to others: presentation packages. Who cares? This is a market in search >of a reason, a great hype with little substance. Powerpoint does some nice >things, but how many people REALLY need something that can't be done in >their Word Processor? Seriously, now.... Actually, Chuq, there is a *BIG* demand for these things, if several big corporations in the Seattle dBUG group are any measure. These guys just love color slides and presentation transparencies, with color. So far, they do it on IBM PC's -- BUT WITHOUT A GRAPHIC INTERFACE! They have to give the coordinates to POLYGONS to draw the darned things! And the turn-around time is incredible... I don't know if they haven't investigated the PC field very well, but the Mac II interface in WYSWIG with Cricket Presents or (rumored inferior) MS PowerPoint, which does all sorts of color dithering effects, combined with an in-house slide proccess like the Mirius box, gives them a greater turn-around time... and these people would greatly prefer to create the slides themselves (presentations before the Executive Board are nerve-wracking enough). There are also packages which allow you to transform PICT images into slides, and do touch-up there, but Cricket Presents does have some nice touches for slides. Admittedly, though, you have to be mid-to-large size company to make this profitable -- smaller companies might if they skip the Mirus box and use the "send-by-modem" companies each product has affiliated with them. >Spreadsheets: if you need power, buy Excel. If you don't, buy Works. >Microsoft finally does some product right. And does it twice. If you want a REALLY cheap shareware spreadsheet, take a look at BiPlane. I'm not a spreadsheet guru, but it looked very good to me ($40, lots of features, has a DA which accesses the spreadsheets in other applications). Now is as good a time to mention it as any: for most people getting a Mac+ or higher for home, who are going to be using it for general papers, finances and records, I strongly recommend MS Works (which Chuq did also). Sometimes I think the darned thing should be bundled with the Mac. It's not perfect, but the spreadsheet and word processor are very adequate (get the spelling checker DA though), the communications package is much improved and now viable, and the database is fine for simple databases (no relations, and everything on a page) -- kind of very-low-end, but a lot of people don't go beyond that. >Terminal packages: I use Red Ryder. I love it. I hate it. Typical reaction >to the program. It's butt ugly, but it works. Multifinder compatible >(although Word won't let it download in the background. foo!). I used to use >MacTerminal, but outgrew it. Microphone? Supposed to be okay. I use VersaTerm. I *LOVE* VersaTerm. I used to say, "The best communications package when hooking up to a Unix or mainframe system", but so many of my friends have bought it for telecommunications work that I now make no apologies -- they found it very easy to learn. Just dynamite, and THE machine for hooking up to Unix. MicroPhone's new version looks very powerful, but complex -- not for the neophyte. OTHER SOFTWARE: We missed graphics packages. My vote: SuperPaint. Yeah, it's outclassed some by Canvas at this point, but their new version is out in a few months, and you can count on Silicon Beach for good work. The easiest interface for general-purpose paint/draw tools (though the draw tools are inferior to MacDraw (current version) and MacDraft at the moment. If you REALLY need fancy object-oriented graphics, get the new version of MacDraw, especially if you have color. OOh-AAh. Utilities: I always recommend that people get used to the Mac before they buy utilities. Get frustrated with a few of the slow points, and then spring Font/DA Juggler (yes, just bought it, better than SuitCase (but for how long? For HOW LONG?), and with several GREAT utilities), DiskTop 3.01, SmartScrap and PictureBase on them. There are people who view me unto a god when I showed them DiskTop 3.01. Utilities are great for guru status... Hard Disk Software: We've beat backup software into the ground (I like DiskFit, but frankly, I'm waiting for a videotape back-up); optimizers are a must for me (on a 20 MB, you notice the clutter faster). DiskExpress isn't as fast as PowerUp, nor as easy, but it seems to make things more optimal. It's a toss-up on that. I could mention games, but it sounds like you're talking about serious software... (some of the best stuff is PD and shareware -- nothing makes my pulse pound like Air Traffic Controller). And AWAYYYY we go.... "Well, I read somewhere that to kill a vampire, you have to behead it and fill its mouth with holy wafers." "Really?" "I knew you'd like that." Moriarty, aka Jeff Meyer INTERNET: moriarty@tc.fluke.COM Manual UUCP: {uw-beaver, sun, allegra, hplsla, lbl-csam}!fluke!moriarty CREDO: You gotta be Cruel to be Kind... <*> DISCLAIMER: Do what you want with me, but leave my employers alone! <*>