
             BACKGROUND
  A word-processing program helps you write and edit sentences 
and paragraphs. Whatever you're writing and editing (such as a 
business letter, report, magazine article, or book) is called the 
document.
  Remember that a word-processing program is mainly for 
manipulating sentences and paragraphs. To manipulate pretty 
drawings, get a graphics program; to manipulate a table of 
numbers, get a spreadsheet program; to manipulate a list of names 
(such as a list of your customers), get a database program.
  To use a word-processing program, put your fingers on the 
keyboard. Type the sentences and paragraphs that make up your 
document. They appear on the screen. Edit them by using special 
keys on the keyboard. Then make the computer send the document to 
the printer, so the document appears on paper. You can also make 
the computer copy the document onto a disk, which will store the 
document for many years.
                                       How ``word processing'' was invented
                                         The first computers ever 
invented were used mainly to manipulate lists of numbers, names, 
and addresses. Those manipulations were called data-processing 
(DP).
                                         Computer centers were 
called data-processing centers (DP centers). Each center was run 
by a team of programmers and administrators called the 
data-processing department (DP department).
                                         Most of those old 
computer systems were complicated, expensive, and unreliable. 
They needed large staffs to provide continuous repairs, 
reprogramming, and supervision. They were bureaucratic and 
technological nightmares. The term ``data-processing'' got a bad 
reputation.
                                         Secretaries who wanted 
to write and edit reports preferred to use simple typewriters, 
rather than deal with the dreaded ``data-processing department''.
                                         When easy-to-use 
word-processing programs were finally invented for computers, 
secretaries were afraid to try them because computers had 
developed a scary reputation. The last thing a secretary wanted 
was a desktop computer, which the secretary figured would mean 
``desktop trouble''.
                                         That's why the term 
``word-processing'' was invented. Wang, IBM, and other 
manufacturers said to the secretaries, ``We know you don't like 
computers and data-processing equipment. But don't worry: the 
machines we want to put on your desks are not computers; they're 
just souped-up typewriters. You like typewriters, right? Then 
you'll like these cute little machines also. We call them word 
processors. Don't worry: they're not data-processing equipment; 
they're not computers.''
                                         The manufacturers were 
lying: their desktop machines were computers. To pretend they 
weren't computers, the manufacturers called them word processors 
and omitted any software dealing with numbers or lists.
                                         The trick worked: 
secretaries acquired word processors, especially the Wang Word 
Processor and the IBM Displaywriter.
                                         Today, secretaries are 
less afraid of computers. Most secretaries use IBM PC clones, 
which they know are computers, and use word-processing programs 
for those computers.

                                      Three definitions of ``word processor''
                                         Strictly speaking, a 
``word processor'' means ``a computer (usually desktop) whose 
main purpose is to do word processing''. But some people use the 
term ``word processor'' to mean ``a word-processing program'' or 
``a typist doing word processing''.
                                         In advertisements, an 
``$800 word processor'' is a machine; a ``$300 word processor'' 
is a program you feed to a computer; a ``$12-per-hour word 
processor'' is a typist who knows about word processing.
        Which program to buy
  Which word-processing program should you buy? The answer 
depends on your personal needs and desires. Here are the major 
competitors. . . . 

           Microsoft Word
  Microsoft Word is the fanciest word-processing program. It 
includes more features than any other word-processing program. 
You'll be amazed at all the fancy tricks it can perform!
  It's available for the Mac and the IBM PC.
  Nearly everybody who uses a Mac uses Microsoft Word. It's 
become the standard in the Mac community. The Mac magazines all 
recommend Microsoft Word, without exception.
  If you have an IBM PC, you can buy either a DOS version or a 
Windows version. The Windows version runs better. The DOS version 
should be ignored.
  The Windows version of Microsoft Word will probably thrill you. 
Though it's officially called ``Microsoft Word for Windows'', 
it's nicknamed Winword. The newest version, Winword 6a, is called 
``the best word-processing program'' by nearly all the IBM and 
Windows magazines. (Version 6a eliminates the errors that 
occurred in version 6.) But though version 6.0a gets glowing 
reviews, it annoys folks like me for the following reasons. . . . 
  Though it runs in 4 megabytes of RAM, it needs 8 megabytes of 
RAM to run quickly. It consumes 25 megabytes of your hard disk if 
you want to use all the fancy features the critics rave about. It 
also wants about 10 extra megabytes of free space to store 
temporary files, where the program makes notes to itself about 
what you're doing. Since the program consumes too much RAM and 
hard-disk space, it's called fatware.
  If you have just 4 megabytes of RAM instead of 8, the program 
tries to make 4 megabytes of your hard drive pretend to be 4 
megabytes of extra RAM, and the program spends most of its time 
waiting for the hard drive to spin.
  The program runs too slowly on a 386 CPU. For the program to 
run well, you need a 486 or Pentium.
  The program requires that your AUTOEXEC.BAT file contain a line 
saying ``lh share /L:500 /f:5100''. Alas, that line slows down 
every access your computer makes to your hard disk, so your 
computer runs slow as molasses even when you're using different 
programs and even when you're not using Windows. What a drag!
  Windows runs slowly, and Winword runs even slower. Winword runs 
about the same speed on a 386 as a non-Windows word processor 
would run on an 8088. Winword runs about the same speed on a 486 
as a non-Windows word processor would run on a 286. Winword runs 
about the same speed on a Pentium as a non-Windows word processor 
would run on a 386.
  Cynics say the definition of ``Winword'' is ``a program that 
turns a 386 into an 8088.'' As the computer-philosopher Herb 
Grosch remarked back in the 1970's, ``No matter how fast the 
hardware boys go, the software boys piss it away.''
  Magazine reviewers praise Winword and don't mention its fatware 
problems, since the reviewers are rich folks who have 486 or 
Pentium computers, 8 megabytes of RAM, and huge hard drives.
  Many offices still use Winword 2 instead of Winword 6a. Though 
Winword 2 isn't as fancy as Winword 6a, it has the advantage of 
running fine on a 386 with just 4M of RAM and a small hard drive.
                                         The problems of Winword 
6a also apply somewhat to Microsoft Word's Mac version. Though 
most Mac lovers are content using Microsoft Word for the Mac 
version 5.1 (which resembles Winword 2), they'll be upset when 
they upgrade to the forthcoming Microsoft Word for the Mac 
version 6 and discover it wants more than 4 megabytes of RAM and 
more hard disk space.

                                                      Ami Pro
                                         The French word for 
``friend'' is ami. It's pronounced, ``Ah, me!'' For a word 
processor that's friendly and professional, get Ami Pro for 
Windows. Sucking you into the world of desktop publishing, it 
lets you wiggle your mouse to easily create multiple columns, 
headlines, drawings, and bar & pie charts. Use it to create 
eye-popping ads, blaring front pages of newspapers, and whatever 
else you want to make hot and spicy. Admirers say that ``Ami'' 
stands for ``Amazing Marvelous Interface''. After you master it, 
you'll be saying, ``Ah, me: pro!''
                                         It's hassle-free. The 
current version (3.01) runs fine on a 386 with just 4 megabytes 
of RAM and a small hard disk. It does not need a ``share'' line 
in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
                                         Ami Pro was invented by 
a company called Samna. Since Ami Pro was so impressive, Lotus 
bought Samna, so Lotus sells Ami Pro.
                                         Back in 1993, the 
computer magazines all declared Ami Pro the best word-processing 
program ___ better than Winword 2 in practically every way! When 
Winword 6 came out, the reviewers said Winword 6 was better than 
Ami Pro, since Winword 6 included extra-fancy word-processing 
features, and since the reviewers didn't notice Winword 6 was too 
fat.
                                         When Lotus finishes 
developing Ami Pro 3.1 (in late 1994) and Ami Pro 4 (in 1995), 
probably the reviewers will come back to recommending Ami Pro. 
Reviewers are so fickle!
                                         If you use Ami Pro, you 
must put up with one peculiar nuisance: while you're typing, the 
characters on the screen quiver slightly to the left and right 
(by a few hundredths of an inch), as they try to move themselves 
into perfect position. Their quivering resembles a troupe of 
drunk belly dancers.
                                         If you want to put a 
mathematical formula in the middle of your document, Ami Pro lets 
you do so, but Winword 6 lets you do so more easily.

                                                   Word Perfect
                                         Though Microsoft Word is 
fancy and Ami Pro is pleasant, I used neither to write this book. 
Instead, I used Word Perfect. That's the word-processing program 
used in most businesses.
                                         Back in 1990, when 
Microsoft Word and Ami Pro hadn't been fully developed yet, there 
really wasn't any choice. Word Perfect was the only 
word-processing program that worked well on IBM-compatible 
computers. The choice was simple: if you wanted a full-featured 
word-processing program and your computer was IBM-compatible, you 
bought Word Perfect; if your computer was a Mac instead, you 
bought Microsoft Word.
                                         After 1990, Word Perfect 
faced serious competition from Winword and Ami Pro, which both 
require Windows. If your computer does not have Windows, Word 
Perfect is still your only choice for a good full-featured word 
processor. For example, if your computer's CPU is an 8088 or 286, 
or your RAM is less than 4 megabytes, you can't run Windows well 
so you should buy Word Perfect.
  The version of Word Perfect used by most businesses (and mine!) 
is called Word Perfect 5.1 for DOS. It runs on any IBM-compatible 
computer having a hard disk and 512K of RAM. If you have a least 
a 286 CPU with 640K of RAM, that version of Word Perfect runs 
fast. If you have at least a 386 CPU with 2M of RAM, that version 
of Word Perfect runs very fast. Even if you have a 486 or Pentium 
with lots of RAM so you can run Windows well, you should still 
consider getting Word Perfect 5.1 for DOS instead, since it runs 
so much faster than any Windows program.
  Users have two complaints about Word Perfect 5.1 for DOS:
Since its commands are hard to remember, you need to keep peeking 
at a cheat sheet (a sheet of paper containing a list of 
commands).

While you're typing and editing, the screen does NOT show exactly 
what will appear on paper. For example, if you give a command to 
make a big, tall headline, the headline WON'T look any bigger or 
taller than the rest of the text while you're typing; it will 
look bigger just on paper (or when you tell Word Perfect to show 
you a print preview, which is an uneditable screen view of what 
will appear on paper). If you try to put graphics in the middle 
of your document, you won't see the graphics until you print them 
out on paper (or stare at the print preview).
  But those complaints aren't so serious. After using Word 
Perfect a few days, you get used to typing the commands and don't 
need to peek at the cheat sheet as often. Though a newspaper's 
front page would be ridiculously difficult to create in Word 
Perfect (since you can't see the appearance of headlines, photos, 
and captions conveniently), Word Perfect is quite adequate for 
typical business letters and books having simple layouts (like 
mine).
  Those two complaints prove Word Perfect 5.1 for DOS is 
old-fashioned. Word Perfect Corporation has invented Word Perfect 
6 for DOS and Word Perfect 6 for Windows, which are more modern 
___ but they run slowly, require more RAM, and still aren't quite 
as modern as Winword and Ami Pro.
  Word Perfect 6 for DOS needs at least a 386 with 2M RAM. Word 
Perfect 6 for Windows needs at least a 486 with 8M of RAM to run 
well (though you can limp by with a 386 and 6M of RAM if you're 
very patient).
  Many secretaries who've used Word Perfect 5.1 for DOS complain 
when their bosses decide to upgrade to Word Perfect 6 for 
Windows, since that new version runs slower and uses totally 
different keystrokes, which the secretaries must relearn.
  Though Word Perfect Corporation hopes you'll buy version 6 (for 
DOS or Windows), the company still sells version 5.1 for 
secretaries and old fuddy-duddies (like me) who are too lazy to 
switch. The 5.1 version that's still sold is called version 5.1+. 
(The ``+'' means it includes a few features from version 6.)
  Versions of Word Perfect are also available for the Mac and for 
many other environments: Apple 2e, Apple 2GS, Commodore Amiga, 
Atari ST, Next, OS/2, Unix, Dec Vax, Data General minicomputers, 
and IBM mainframes.
                                              Little word processors
                                         The word processors I've 
discussed so far ___ Microsoft Word, Ami Pro, and Word Perfect 
___ are all big and fancy. Discount dealers sell them for about 
$250 apiece. (Ami Pro and the Mac version of Word Perfect cost 
slightly less than $250; Microsoft Word and the IBM versions of 
Word Perfect cost slightly more than $250.)
                                         They're more than the 
average person needs. If you wish, get a word processor that's 
smaller, cheaper, and easier to learn how to use.
                                         For example, Windows 
comes with a free word-processing program called Windows Write. I 
explained how to use it in my Windows chapter.
                                         The Mac comes with a 
free word-processing program called Teachtext. I explained how to 
use it in my Mac Systems chapter. The next step up from Teachtext 
is a word processor called Write Now; it understands more 
commands than Teachtext, is as easy as Teachtext, and requires 
less RAM than Microsoft Word.
                                         My favorite database 
program, Q&A, includes a simple word-processing program called 
Q&A Write. If you buy Q&A, make sure you get the DOS version of 
it; the Windows version is disliked by everybody. You can get the 
DOS version for $189 from discount dealers such as Harmony (phone 
800-441-1144 or 718-692-3232).
                                         Another way to get a 
simple word processor is to buy an integrated program such as PFS 
First Choice (for DOS), Microsoft Works (for DOS, Windows, or the 
Mac), Claris Works (for Windows or the Mac), or Appleworks (for 
the Apple 2). Each of those integrated programs costs about $80. 
Some computers (such as Packard Bell's) come with one of those 
integrated programs at no extra charge.
                                         But if you get one of 
those cheap programs, you'll eventually long for a fancier one 
and buy Microsoft Word, Ami Pro, or Word Perfect anyway.

                                                   Old classics
                                         During the early 1980's, 
many folks used Wordstar (which was the first powerful 
word-processing program ever invented for microcomputers), 
Multimate (which was the first program making the IBM PC imitate 
a Wang word-processing machine), Displaywrite (which made the IBM 
PC imitate an IBM Displaywriter word-processing machine), 
PC-Write (which was shareware that you could try for free, before 
sending a donation to the author), and Xywrite (which ran faster 
than any other word processor). But by 1990, most of those users 
had switched to Word Perfect 5.1.

                                                What's in this book
                                         This edition of The 
Secret Guide to Computers explains how to use the following word 
processors:
Word processor                                     Operating 
system                                                           
Pages
Teachtext                                          Mac           
141-142
Windows Write                                      Windows       
152-154
Ami Pro                                            Windows       
162-166
Microsoft Word                                     Windows & Mac 
167-171
Q&A Write                                          MS-DOS        
172-182
Word Perfect                                       MS-DOS        
183-205
                                         I expect the next 
edition will include a bigger word-processing section by 
including more word processors, more versions, and more commands. 
To find out about all that, get on my mailing list by using the 
coupon on the back page.