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Date: 8 Mar 94 16:23:23 GMT
From: dbatterson@ATTMAIL.COM(David Batterson)
Subject: File 6--DOS is not dead yet. . . .

               Is DOS dead?  Definitely not, says SPC

     While millions of PC users own and use Windows regularly, many of
us grouse about its idiosyncrasies. Meanwhile, innumerable users
continue to use DOS applications, especially word processing programs.

     The DOS flavors of WordPerfect (versions 5.0 and later) have
their legions of fans, along with Microsoft Word, WordStar and
Professional Write. Although I use Ami Pro for Windows, I also
occasionally use Professional Write (Ver. 2.2) which has been around
for several years.

     Although WordPerfect users often turn up their noses at
Professional Write, I have always preferred ProWrite to
Word(not-so)Perfect. In fact, I never could understand why Software
Publishing Corp. (SPC) didn't update the program. They did come out
with a Windows version (Professional Write PLUS), but it didn't sell
very well.

     Professional Write 3.0 is finally here, and should be in software
stores soon. "This new version was primarily driven by the large
number of customers who requested it," said Chris Randles, SPC's vice
president of marketing. It seems a bit overpriced (at $249 list) for a
program that has had only a modest facelift/update, though.

     Randles said that "DOS word processing is one of the most widely
used applications in rapidly-growing niche markets such as small
business and the home office."  In that market, PC users don't want to
mess around with memory problems, Windows GPFs (General Protection
Faults), or word processing programs that have become monster
applications akin to desktop publishing software.

     Professional Write 3.0 is pretty much the same program, so the
learning curve is nil.  There are some improvements that reflect the
changing PC arena.  Now you can use a mouse; I missed having that
feature in Ver. 2.2.  And SPC realizes that LANs are routine now, so
made it network-ready.  The program supports Novell, IBM, Banyan,
Artisoft's LANtastic and Microsoft LAN Manager.

     Marlise Parker of Ad Hoc Associates, a Denver-based computer
training and consulting firm, noted that "people are going back to the
belief that the finest things in life are the most simple, and for
many of us, that also applies to the software we use.  Professional
Write is one of those rare software gems that keeps getting better,
without losing its simplicity," Parker added.

     Want to import .PCX graphics into a document?  Sorry, you can't
do it. You CAN include graphs produced with the DOS versions of
Harvard Graphics (2.0 or higher). Want to make fancy newsletters and
DTP documents? Forget it! SPC wisely decided to forego the "bells and
whistles," says Parker, because most users don't want or need them.

     Software Publishers Association (SPA) reported recently that DOS
word processing software sales increased a bit in 1993 over 1992.
This occurred while sales of other DOS applications declined, as the
Windows Juggernaut continued.

     So as far as word processing is concerned, rumors about the death
of DOS are greatly exaggerated. Remember, the most popular offline
mail readers are Blue Wave, Silver Xpress and OLX--all DOS programs.
Professional Write 3.0 should do well, I think. I would have liked to
have seen it at a $150 list price, however.


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