
             BACKGROUND
  Any table of numbers is called a spreadsheet. For example, this 
spreadsheet deals with money:
           January   February
Income   $9,030.95 $12,486.99
Expenses $7,000.55  $9,210.75
-----------------------------
Profit   $2,030.40  $3,276.24
  A spreadsheet can show how many dollars you earned (or spent or 
plan to spend), how many goods you have in stock, how people 
scored in a test (or survey or scientific experiment), or any 
other numbers you wish!
  A spreadsheet program helps you create spreadsheets, edit them, 
and analyze them.

              Visicalc
  The first spreadsheet program was invented in 1979. It was 
designed by Dan Bricklin and coded by Bob Frankston. (That means 
Dan Bricklin decided what features and menus the program should 
have, and Bob Frankston wrote the program. Dan and Bob worked 
together closely and occasionally switched roles: Dan sometimes 
did some coding, and Bob sometimes did some designing.) They 
called the program Visicalc, because it was a ``visible 
calculator''.
  The original version of Visicalc ran on the Apple 2 computer 
and required 64K of RAM. Later versions of Visicalc ran on the 
Radio Shack TRS-80 and IBM PC.

              Supercalc
  The next spreadsheet program was called Supercalc because it 
was superior to Visicalc. It was invented by a company called 
Sorcim (which is ``micros'' spelled backwards). Eventually, 
Sorcim became part of a big conglomerate called Computer 
Associates.
  The original version of Supercalc ran on computers using the 
CP/M operating system. The most popular CP/M computer ___ the 
Osborne 1 ___ came with a free copy of Supercalc.
  CP/M computers have become obsolete. New versions of Supercalc 
have been developed for the Apple 2 and the IBM PC.

              Multiplan
  The first spreadsheet program to handle multiple spreadsheets 
simultaneously ___ and the relationships between them ___ was 
Multiplan.
  Invented by Microsoft, it runs on a greater variety of 
computers than any other spreadsheet program. Versions of 
Multiplan have been invented for CP/M computers and also for the 
Radio Shack TRS-80, Commodore 64, Texas Instruments 99/4, IBM PC, 
Apple 2, and Apple Macintosh.
                                                    Context MBA
                                         The first spreadsheet 
program that had ``extras'' was Context MBA, invented in 1981 by 
Context Management Systems. Besides handling spreadsheets, the 
program also handled graphs, databases, word processing, and 
telecommunications.
                                         It ran slowly. Its word 
processing abilities were severely limited: it couldn't center, 
and it wouldn't let you set tab stops. The first version used a 
strange operating system (the PASCAL P System) instead of MS-DOS. 
An MS-DOS version, called Corporate MBA, didn't come until later. 
Those problems prevented it from becoming popular.

                                                    Lotus 1-2-3
                                         Today's most popular 
spreadsheet program was invented in 1983. It was designed by 
Mitch Kapor and coded by Jonathan Sachs for the IBM PC. They 
called the program 1-2-3, because it ran fast and was supposed to 
handle three things: spreadsheets, graphs, and word processing. 
But when Jonathan examined Context MBA, he realized that putting 
a good word processor into 1-2-3 would consume too much RAM and 
make the program run too slowly. He omitted the word processor 
and replaced it by a stripped-down database processor instead. So 
1-2-3 handles spreadsheets (well), graphs (okay), and databases 
(poorly).
                                         Mitch and Jonathan 
called their company Lotus Development Corporation, because Mitch 
was a transcendental-meditation instructor who got entranced by 
contemplating lotus flowers.
                                         Versions of 1-2-3 The 
original version of 1-2-3 was called version 1 (or release 1). It 
required 192K of RAM. Then came fancier versions, called version 
1A, version 2, version 2.01, version 2.2, and version 2.3.
                                         The newest popular 
version is called version 2.4. It lists for $495, but you can get 
it for just $289 from discount dealers (such as Harmony in New 
York, phone 800-441-1144 or 718-692-3232). It runs on any IBM PC 
clone having a hard disk and 384K of RAM. If you want to use 
version 2.4's advanced features, you need 512K of RAM. If you 
don't have a hard disk, get version 2.2 ___ or better yet, get a 
hard disk!
                                         You can also buy a 
stripped-down version, called the home version, for just $99! Get 
it from dealers such as PC Connection (phone 800-800-0004).
                                         Lotus has also invented 
an extra-fancy version called version 3.4A, but it's unpopular 
because it requires a megabyte of RAM, requires a fancy CPU (286, 
386, or 486), is incompatible with some old 1-2-3 routines, 
temporarily modifies DOS in a way that sometimes causes conflicts 
with Windows, and costs too much ($595 list, $339 from Harmony).
                                         Lotus has also invented 
Windows versions, which run more slowly. The newest Windows 
version is called version 4.
  Symphony After inventing 1-2-3, Jonathan Sachs began inventing 
a program called 1-2-3-4-5. Like Context MBA, it handled five 
tasks: spreadsheets, graphs, databases, word processing, and 
telecommunications. While he was developing it, he realized that 
the program was becoming too large and confusing to be pleasant, 
so he quit developing it and then quit the company. Other Lotus 
employees finished that program and renamed it Symphony.
  Jonathan was right: the program is too large and confusing to 
be pleasant, and its word processor is awful. Most businesses buy 
just 1-2-3 instead.
  Changed leadership Like Jonathan, Mitch began feeling that 
Lotus Development Corporation and its products were becoming too 
big and confusing, so Mitch quit too.
  Now Lotus Development Corporation is run by Jim Manzi. He's 
young, rich, vain, egotistical, and nasty. The rest of the 
computer industry hates him. Fortunately, his employees are nice.

            Cheap clones
  To save money, you can buy a cheap imitations of 1-2-3. The 
cheap imitations are called 1-2-3 clones or 1-2-3 twins.
  The first 1-2-3 twins were The Twin (published by Mosaic 
Software) and VP-Planner (published by Paperback Software). Lotus 
sued both of those publishers and put them out of business.
  The only 1-2-3 clone that remains is called As-Easy-As because 
it's as easy as 1-2-3! Since it's shareware, you can copy it free 
from your friends or your local computer club; if you like it, 
you're encouraged to mail a $50 donation to the author.

          Apple's influence
  In 1983 ___ the same year that Lotus invented 1-2-3 ___ Apple 
invented Lisa Calc. It was the first spreadsheet program to use a 
mouse. It ran just on the Lisa computer, which was expensive 
($8,000).
  When Apple began selling the Macintosh computer the next year 
(1984), Microsoft began selling Multiplan for the Mac, which ran 
on the Mac and combined the best features of Multiplan and Lisa 
Calc.
  Excel The next year, 1985, Microsoft invented a further 
improvement, called Excel because it's excellent. Like 1-2-3, 
Excel handles spreadsheets, graphs, and databases.
  Apple wanted to sue Microsoft for inventing the Windows 
operating system, which makes the IBM PC resemble a Mac. To avoid 
the suit, Microsoft agreed to put Excel only on the Mac for a 
year. Exactly one year later, when that agreement expired, 
Microsoft put Excel on the IBM PC.
  So now Excel runs on both the Mac and the IBM PC. Each version 
lists for $495 ($295 at discount).
  The newest IBM version is called Excel 5. It requires that you 
buy Windows.
  Excel's dead competitors Several companies tried to compete 
against Excel; but when Microsoft kept improving Excel so 
dramatically, those competitors gave up trying to sell their 
spreadsheets. Excel won!
  The spreadsheets that lost were Wingz (published by Informix) 
and Resolve (published by Claris, which is a software company 
owned by Apple).
                                         Appleworks In 1983 ___ 
the year of Lotus 1-2-3 and Lisa Calc ___ Apple invented a 
program called Appleworks. It was a primitive, mouseless program 
that ran on the Apple 2 computer and handled three tasks: 
spreadsheets, databases, and word processing.
                                         Although Appleworks was 
originally published by Apple, now it's published by Apple's 
spin-off company, Claris. The current version, Appleworks 3, 
lists for $249 ($170 at discount).
                                         Claris also publishes a 
program called Appleworks GS, which is quite different. Designed 
by Kevin Harvey, it requires an Apple 2GS, uses a mouse, and 
handles 7 tasks: spreadsheets, graphs, databases, word 
processing, telecommunications, graphic painting, and desktop 
publishing. It lists for $299 ($200 at discount).

                                                      Quattro
                                         The newest great 
spreadsheet program is called Quattro, because it's what comes 
after 1-2-3. It was invented by Borland.
                                         After inventing Quattro, 
Borland invented an improved version called Quattro Pro. It 
combined the best features of 1-2-3 and Excel. Then came further 
improvements, called Quattro Pro 2, Quattro Pro 3, Quattro Pro 4, 
and Quattro Pro 5.
                                         In 1991, Borland 
invented Quattro Pro Special Edition (Quattro Pro SE). It's a 
stripped-down version of Quattro Pro 3.
                                         Prices have dropped. Now 
discount dealers (such as Egghead) sell Quattro Pro 5 for just 
$40; and while supplies last, you can get Quattro Pro SE for just 
$16 (plus shipping) from a liquidator called Surplus Software in 
Oregon (phone 800-753-7877 or 503-386-1375).
                                         In 1994, Borland sold 
all Quattro rights to another company, Novell; so future versions 
of Quattro will be published by Novell instead of Borland. 
Unfortunately, Novell has a history of charging high prices.

                                                    What to buy
                                         If you have an Apple 
2GS, get Appleworks GS. If you have a different Apple 2, get 
Appleworks 3.
                                         If you have a Mac, get 
Excel.
                                         If you have an IBM PC 
(or clone), get 1-2-3 version 2.4, 1-2-3 home version, Excel 5, 
Quattro Pro 5, Quattro Pro SE. 1-2-3 version 2.4 is what most 
businesses buy; it's the ``standard''. If your job requires you 
to learn 1-2-3 but you can't afford the full version, buy the 
home version. Of all the spreadsheet programs, Excel 5 is the 
most modern and most fun; but it requires you to buy Windows. 
Quattro Pro 5 for Windows is similar to Excel 5; if it's still on 
sale for $40, grab it! If you don't have enough hardware to run 
Windows pleasantly (at least a 386 with 4M of RAM), get Quattro 
Pro 5 for DOS, which has some of the thrills of Quattro Pro 5 for 
Windows. If you're on a tight budget, get Quattro Pro SE, since 
it's available for $16 and is much nicer than cheap clones such 
as Twin, VP-Planner, and As-Easy-As.