Microsoft introduces personal organizer that's unorganized
Article Abstract:
Microsoft's $95 Outlook 97 personal productivity software has great potential, but is poorly executed. The desktop information manager is burdened with a difficult interface and a disastrous Internet e-mail client. Outlook offers integration between its contact, calendar and e-mail modules, allowing drag-and-drop functionality. The interface on the whole is extremely confusing, with customization options located under different, vaguely named menus. The program also includes a plethora of icons, many of which are for overlapping or mysterious functions. The Internet e-mail client requires configuring the notoriously difficult Microsoft Exchange, which is designed for corporate network administrators. To compound the problem, the Outlook functionality built atop Exchange is badly designed. In testing, Outlook repeatedly dialed up, even after reporting that the line was busy, until the function froze altogether. Microsoft is known for producing weak first versions of their products, so Outlook may yet live up to its promise.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1997
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CD-ROMs celebrating city of Jerusalem don't do it justice
Article Abstract:
Future Vision Multimedia's $50 Pathways Through Jerusalem CD-ROM provides more comprehensive information on the city than Simon & Schuster Interactive's $30 Jerusalem, an Interactive Pilgrimage, but both suffer from a lack of organization. Pathways offers nine different tours, five of which are narrated by actors posing as historical figures, while the rest are conducted by young, modern-day guides. The tours are supplemented by a photographic map of the city, a comprehensive database of articles and a timeline. A time morph feature permits users to choose between different guides for a particular site. Pathways lacks a true index, and moving between the two disks is annoying. Pilgrimage's focus is on the Christian aspects of the city, and it lacks a unifying theme to lend structure to its presentations and to its selection of sites. The index is not helpful.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1995
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Computerized book opens new chapter for high-tech readers
Article Abstract:
A number of companies in recent years have announced personal computer-based versions of books for adults. The first real success, however, is Addison-Wesley's 'From Alice to Ocean,' a $50 travel book that comes with two compact disks holding pictures, video and text. One disk plays on an Apple Macintosh equipped with a $400 CD-ROM drive; the other plays on a $400 Eastman Kodak PhotoCD player. The CD version of 'From Alice to Ocean' was conceived and produced by photographer Rick Smolan through his company, Against All Odd Productions, with funding from Kodak and Apple. Users can call up maps and companion articles on such subjects as kangaroos. The photographs reproduce well on a Macintosh screen. A regular CD player will play the sound portion of either disk.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1992
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