| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 1839.1 | two places; no VAX DOCUMENT | SAUTER::SAUTER | John Sauter | Mon Oct 31 1988 14:04 | 15 |
| The two places in New England I am familiar with are Memory Location
in Massachusetts, and System Eyes in New Hampshire. I bought my
2000 at Memory Location, and they have been very supportive since
then, but I have high hopes for System Eyes.
There isn't anything on the Amiga with the power of VAX DOCUMENT,
but it is possible to come close, depending on what you are looking
for. I use two packages: AmigaTeX, from Radical Eye Software, has
all the flexibility of VAX DOCUMENT (since VAX DOCUMENT) is based
on TeX, but not the convenience. ProWrite is WYSIWYG, etc, but
not as flexible; for example, ProWrite doesn't support double-column
layouts. It does have right margins (but they cannot vary within
a paragraph, as TeX can), double spacing, spell checker, graphics
within the text, etc.
John Sauter
|
| 1839.2 | | STAR::ROBINSON | | Mon Oct 31 1988 14:07 | 49 |
| > But before I plunk my $$ down, I was wondering what the
> best price/service/?? deals are.
> Is there a place in NE?
I think you can't go wrong with the Memory Location in Wellesley,
Ma. The owners are VERY knowledgeable and the prices are fair, if
not cheap. They motto is something like "Only what works".
In other words, if you buy something and it doesn't do what you
wanted it to do, bring it back. But more important, I find that
they know what the various products do ahead of time.
>> or is mail order the way?
I bought an Amiga 500 with extra memory and an extra drive.
The dealer installed the memory before I left the store, and I
am sure he would have let me try the whole setup before I left.
I was impatient. When I got home I found the extra drive would
not release disks correctly. I brought it back and immediately got
a new one that was tested in front of me. If I had gone mail order
I would have been forced to pack up the drive and wait weeks to get
the system up and running.
Now that I have had the Amiga for 6 months, I can imagine ordering
extra hardware mail order. And assuming I know what software I want,
I think mail ordering software is fine too. I think new Amiga
buyers should go to a good dealer for their initial hardware/and
software.
> A second question I have has to do with serious document
> processing tools. Is there a tool or tools with the power
> of DOCUMENT for really nice formatted output.
> I am an experienced DOCUMENT user and want that capability
> if I can find it.
You can buy AmigaTex by Radical Eye software. It is a package, which I
have not used, that uses Tex to format documents. The DOCUMENT you are
familiar is also based on Tex, which by itself is in the public
domain. DOCUMENT is essentially layered on, or is an enhancement of Tex.
I know AmigaTex supplies tools to "enhance" Tex as well. As to their
similarities to DOCUMENT I don't know. I have read comments such as
"very powerful" which of course sometimes means "hard to use".
Others will comment on word processing/desktop publishing.
We have a pro amongst us in this conference. ;-) Paul?
Dave
|
| 1839.3 | OmniTek in Tax free NH | ROMULN::MYEE | Boycott Styrofoam cups, save the ozone. | Mon Oct 31 1988 14:49 | 18 |
|
I got my Amiga 500 from OmniTek in Salem NH.
Packaged deal
Amiga 500 - $599
1/2 meg expan - $100
---------
$699
Get a Prodrive(NEC) external drive from mail order and a Sony KV1311
monitor and 200 floppy disks for PD software and you're all set for the
Amazing world of Amiga. BTW, I got all of the above except the
ProDrive (I got a AirDrive instead, just as noisy as the A1010).
I wished I got the ProDrive(quiet) instead....
_M
|
| 1839.4 | | MTWAIN::MACDONALD | WA1OMM 7.093/145.05/223.58 AX.25 | Mon Oct 31 1988 16:00 | 6 |
| RE: .0 Copy down MTWAIN::USER:[MACDONALD.PUBLIC]NARC-NOV88.PS
and print it on a PostScript printer (LPS40 or LN03R). It was created
using Professional Page on an Amiga 2000. It'll give you an idea
as to some of the features available for document processing.
Paul
|
| 1839.5 | TeX is PD, AmigaTeX isn't | TLE::RMEYERS | Randy Meyers | Mon Oct 31 1988 16:23 | 18 |
| Re: .2
Just to clear up a possible point of confusion:
> You can buy AmigaTex by Radical Eye software. It is a package, which I
> have not used, that uses Tex to format documents. The DOCUMENT you are
> familiar is also based on Tex, which by itself is in the public
> domain.
Although TeX itself is public domain, many of the implementations of TeX
are not. AmigaTeX costs bucks (about $200, I believe). AmigaTeX
has been optimized for the Amiga, has been extended to hooks to allow
interprocess communication, and comes with a version of microemacs
and a previewer that allow you to edit a document and see the finished
output quickly.
Any decent computer section in a bookstore should have "The TeXbook" by
Knuth. That'll give you an idea of what TeX is like.
|
| 1839.6 | Try The Memory Location | ANT::GERBER | Robert Gerber | Mon Oct 31 1988 16:31 | 7 |
| Re:.2 The Memory Location is a very good store. They let you
try any software *before* you buy it. But if you take their
time up, you should buy it there. They have four Amigas
(2 500's and 2 2000's) set up for people to play with.
(Tell them you work for DEC...this may help a little, as
they already know a bunch of us...)
|
| 1839.7 | Show Key/Full DEALERS | BOMBE::MOORE | Secure Systems - you can trust us | Mon Oct 31 1988 20:42 | 16 |
| If you want a dealer who's willing to provide as much "hand holding" as
you might need, Memory Location (Wellesley, Ma) is easily your best bet
in the area. You'll pay a bit more for that peace of mind.
If you're just looking for the best price, check Omnitek (Tewksbury,
Ma. and Salem NH.). I don't know how good the staff at the Salem store
are, but Dick Snyder (the owner) can usually be found in the Tewksbury
store. You'll find him quite willing to answer questions and discuss
"deals", etc.
Software Shop in Worcester is another possiblilty. They run full page
ads in Amiga World. It may be my imagination, but their prices *seem*
to have gotten a bit higher since they moved into the new store.
Look for notes with the keyword "DEALERS" for more info, phone numbers,
addresses and directions.
|
| 1839.8 | ... | LEDS::ACCIARDI | Dukakis should pluck his eyebrows | Tue Nov 01 1988 08:20 | 20 |
|
Excellence! from MicroSystems Software is, at a glance, similar to
ProWrite, but has column capabilities, thesaurus, grammar checker,
and PostScript output. Excellence! also features full-page preview.
New Horizons Software is now shipping ProScript, a PostScript utility
for ProWrite.
Both these programs allow any font (ProWrite even supports color
fonts) but Excellence has better formatting capabilities, in my
opinion! However, ProWrite seems to do a better job in converting
colored images into black and white. They actually dither the density
of black and white dots, ala Macintosh, to simulate shades of grey.
Prowrite also allows you to flow text around a graphic, whereas
Excellence! prevents you from typing on the same rows as a graphic.
All things considered, ProWrite is a better color graphics/font
system, but Excellence! has better document formatting capabilities.
Ed.
|
| 1839.9 | OMNITEK!!!! | CRISTA::FICHERA | | Tue Nov 01 1988 12:22 | 14 |
| I just got an A500+1meg expander and 1084s moniter from Omnitek
for $995. I dealt directly with Dick Snyder the owner, you'll find
him very easy to deal with and he's willing to deal on the software
as well. I just puschased a genlock and he treated me well on the
price. If there are any prons and cons on why other businesses may
be better than Omnitek,Dick would appreciate the input. If your
in the Tewksbury Ma, area stop in and talk to him,make your deal
and pick your system up in Salem NH,you'll save about $50 sales
tax.
FVF
|