AUGD: RE: AppleWorks and Spreadsheets
AUGD: RE: AppleWorks and Spreadsheets
- Subject: AUGD: RE: AppleWorks and Spreadsheets
- From: Fred Showker <email@hidden>
- Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2006 07:58:05 -0500
Surrogate programs?
It would be interesting to see the MUGS who read this list
survey their memberships for software use statistics and pool
the data into an overview snapshot of the community.
That would be interesting, indeed.
I give a hearty second to Jim Chaffin's endorsement of Mariner Pak,
(Mariner Write and Mariner Calc bundled for around $75.)
It's the wordprocessing program AppleWorks *should* have been.
IMHO: The DRAW module is AppleWorks only redeeming value,
Once you get some of its idiosyncrasies, the layman can make
limited *measured* drawings, that are fairly accurate and
print well. On the road recently I had to knock out a quick
dimensioned drawing for a condo floorplan being discussed
at a meeting. Using the "Size" function, and some on-the-fly
scale transitions, I was able to produce a drawing,
to scale, with dimensioning in about 20-minutes. (Points and
picas make a fairly easy inch-to-foot scale)
Jim's comment about "limited drawing" capabilities of PS Elements
is correct, however the program is completely adequate for 'home,
school and limited business work not requiring measurements or
accurate 'scale'. GraphicsConverter is indeed a very good
program but again, a fairly cryptic feature set , without
layers or drawing.
The real void in the Mac marketplace is measured drawing with
vector tools. Poor MacDraft never had a chance -- yet is still
available at an unbelievably bloated price. Nothing available
for drafting or even simple diagramatic drawings under $400
and even at that price they're not industry standard.
Canvas (once my most recommended drawing program) has become a
nightmare of over-bloating and clunky interface. The last version
I reviewed was Canvas 8. It's here on my shelf if anyone would like
to have it. I haven't heard from Deneba in so long, I don't even
know if they're still in business. Odessa also has a measured
drawing program, but it's seriously flawed with an unusable
interface. Nowhere to turn.
My son has to scrap the Mac and move to Windows to run Autocad
probably next semester. I'm dreading that. The industry runs
on Autocad. Those people should make a Mac version.
(My fingers are crossed that they'll get Windows programs running
up to snuff on the Intel Macs in time.)
But still, 99% of the people don't need such features.
Frank said :
> It wold be nice, however, if both programs would
> add some automated functions. Then we'd be set.
I have not yearned for automation in Elements. Only Photoshop
users will miss some of the more obscure automation features.
Besides, there are plug-ins for a certain amount of automation in
the programs. QuicKeys fills the void making any program
far more automated than any single product on the market.
If you've got QuicKeys, then EVERYTHING is automated. :-)
Apple's "Automater" should take a few lessons.
Thanks for reading.
--
Fred
http://www.user-groups.net -- SKYPE or iChat by appointment
daily 7 am to 4 pm, Eastern
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