| Re .0:
> I have an older version of Prowrite 2.04... I'm wanting to
> upgrade to something better. I have read articles on Prowrite
> 3.2 and I'm considering an upgrade versus Excellence or possibly
> Propage 2.1.
I started with ProWrite 2.5 and have upgraded to 3.0 and most recently
to 3.2. I'm also a PageStream 2.1 user. I find that I use ProWrite
for the bulk of my written work and reserve PageStream for those items
where special requirements dictate much finer control over the final
output. I'm quite happy with each product, in its own space.
> Would it be better to go with DTP and utilize their word processor
> etc, or should I seperate the two, that is DTP from a good word
> processor?
WP and DTP *are* separable. For most purposes (such as correspondence
and schoolwork), a good Word Processor is the right tool. The added
capabilities of a good DTP package are wasted in such cases, and merely
inflict the user with an extra learning curve.
> How does the latest version of Excellence compare to Prowrite
> in the following catagories?
>
> . On screen display WYSIWYG
Both products provide true WYSIWYG.
> . Output to dot matrix/laser in postscript.
ProWrite 3.2 has added a "high quality" mode that can use the outline
fonts capability of AmigaDOS 2.04 and can scale down larger (e.g. 24pt)
versions of bit-mapped fonts to produce "jaggie-free" output that is
FAR superior to what you're used to in earlier versions. Excellence!
doesn't do this (for now, anyway). Both produce PostScript output (you
no longer need to buy ProScript separately). Both support the built-in
NLQ fonts in many printers.
> . AREXX support
ProWrite uses ARexx for macros. It also provides an ARexx port for
external control.
> . Spell, thesarusus, definitions etc
Both will check your spelling as you type, one selected words, or all
at once. Each includes a thesaurus. Excellence! has a grammar/style
checker. (Proper Grammar, from Soft-wood, will check either type of
document.)
> . speed/ others
Earlier versions of Excellence! were SLOW. Typing speed is no longer
an issue in either product.
> Does Professional Page simply blow the others away in its word
> processing abilities in the catagories indicated above?
What do you need to do that ProWrite or Excellence! can't? The
advantages of a DTP package include such things as integrated drawing
tools, shading, fine control over font pitch/density, "flowing" of
multiple text streams, and all the other features you'd need to crank
out a publication or other format-sensitive document.
> If professional page is simply the best because of word processing
> and DTP abilities, How steep is its learning curve? Can my 10
> and 12 year old learn them quickly?
Your 10 & 12 year-olds would do better to stick with ProWrite or
Excellence! (So might you. 8^) Expect that a DTP package will be MUCH
more resource-bound than a WP package, and editing will be MUCH slower.
(I type articles in ProWrite and import them into PageStream documents
for final adjustments and proper "flowing" among multiple text blocks.)
Similarly, initial setup of the document is MUCH more complex. With
ProWrite you're used to being able to specify all your defaults (font,
margins, indentation, etc.) so you can simply start typing once the
program's loaded. With a DTP package, you need to have established a
format complete with text blocks, et al, and then select an edit mode
to enter text.
If you need an example of a product that's overqualified for its most
common usage, talk to any DECwrite user. There you have a product
that's MORE than a WP package, but doesn't quite make it the rest of
the way to being a DTP package. It inflicts the complexity of "text
blocks" and other DTP concepts upon the user without providing the rest
of the benefits thereof. For most users, a simple word processor (sans
"blocks", s.v.p.) would suffice very nicely.
|
| Another note for Prowrite is the net.presence of technical
support. Mark Thomas (?), the technical support person for
New Horizon and Central Coast Software products, is very
active on Usenet's comp.sys.amiga.applications and responds
to questions and problems with Prowrite.
An example of this support is the regular posting of fixes
to the net by Mark. This is somewhat intangible but I tend
to feel much better about a product knowing that support is
available by mail AND that problems reported will be fixed
with patches available (as opposed to going into a fix-bin
until the next release or update).
George
|
|
If the license is transferable...
I have a copy of ProWrite 3.1 that you can have for the
low price of $25 + shipping from Boulder, CO.
New Horizons will upgrade this to 3.2 for another $25.
If your interested.
-- Steve Roy, DENVER::ROY, 303-444-7044, no DTN
|
| Re .6:
> A US phone no for New Horizons would also be useful.
From the Winter '92 issue of AC's Guide/Amiga:
New Horizons Software, Inc.
206 Wild Basin Road, Suite 109
Austin, Texas 78746
Tel: (512) 328-6650
FAX: (512) 328-1925
|
| Re .6:
The address for upgrades to Prowrite v3.2 is:-
New Horizons Software, Inc.,
Attn: Prowrite 3.2 Upgrade
PO Box 164260
Austin, Texas 78716, USA.
(allow 4 to 6 wks for delivery)
The cost (outside the USA) of going from v3.0 or v3.1 is $30 inc
shipping. Payment is by money order in U.S. funds or by Visa/Mastercard.
You need to include original program disk & payment.
NB. if paying by Visa/Mastercard also include your card no, name on the
card, expiration date, address of card holder and your (or card holder's)
signature.
Originally I had Prowrite v2.0 & wanted to upgrade to v3.2 but as
you probably found out, nobody in the UK handles upgrades. About a
month before Xmas ('91) I paid $70 by Visa (probably the safest method)
and 3 weeks later my package arrived (v3.2.1); However, I'm still
waiting to see my Visa statement to find out what exchange rate they
used.
|