New spreadsheets are turning a page toward easier use

Article Abstract:

Borland International Inc's $320 Quattro Pro for Windows, Microsoft Corp's Microsoft Excel 4.0 and Lotus Development Corp's Lotus Improv for Windows spreadsheet programs are reviewed and compared for ease of use. Excel is both easy to use and powerful. Quattro Pro has many of the same user-friendly capabilities as Excel and adds unique, simplified features of its own. Quattro Pro organizes spreadsheets into files arranged as notebooks. Notebook pages include tabs for users to label their data. However, Excel offers spell checking and outlining features, unlike Quattro Pro. Lotus' forthcoming Improv for Windows is easier to use than Excel or Quattro Pro, although it requires as much as 6Mbytes of memory. Improv for Windows is expected to be available in early 1993.

Computer integrated systems design, Product development, Microsoft Corp., MSFT, Lotus Development Corp., Spreadsheets, Spreadsheet software, Borland International Inc., LOTS, Comparison, User-Friendliness, BORL, Microsoft Excel 4.0 (Spreadsheet software), Borland Quattro Pro for Windows (Spreadsheet software), Lotus Improv for Windows (Spreadsheet software)

---

Small scanner makes fast work of hard copy

Article Abstract:

Caere Corp's Typist hand-held scanner allows users to scan text directly into any word processing program, on either the IBM PC-compatible or Apple Macintosh computers. Users can simply roll the scanner over text and let the Typist integrate the processes of reading, interpreting and loading the printed text into the program at the place where the cursor lies. The product costs less than $500 and comes with software that can also read graphics. Some practice is required to set the brightness and other factors involved with making the scanner read light and dark type. The Typist is ideal for users who need to scan text quickly from the same magazine, book or newspaper into a running word processing program.

Usage, Computer peripherals industry, Scanning devices, Optical scanners, Image scanners, Scanning software, Information storage and retrieval, Caere Corp., CAER, Image Scanner, Caere Typist (Scanning device), Caere Typist Plus Graphics (Scanning device)

---

Notepad PCs struggle with one small task: deciphering writing

Article Abstract:

In spite of all that has been said about their enormous potential, 'pen-based' systems that are available now do not actually work very well. Products that are being marketed do not understand block printing very well, and they cannot deal with cursive writing at all. Pen computers are useful for some specialized applications. For example, software that generates electronic forms only requires that a pen be used to check a box or select from a list, which is easily accomplished. For this column, an NCR portable computer running Go Corp's PenPoint program was tried. The results of the test, which involved printing, indicate that pen-based computing is not yet ready for prime time.

Product/Service Evaluation, Operating systems (Software), Equipment and supplies, GO Corp., Pen-based computers, Operating System, Handwriting, PenPoint (Operating system), NCR 3125 (Pen-based computer), Pen-based I/O

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Databases are plagued by reign of error. PCs start sweeping away business forms
• Abstracts: How to stop worrying and get the most from your computer. PCs get easier to use, but it's an uphill battle. Sharing documents in electronic form, with middling ease
• Abstracts: Metals and mining (diversified) industry. Metals & mining (diversified) industry
• Abstracts: Focused scheduling in proportionate flowshops. The single machine early-tardy problem. Sequencing rules and due-date assignments in a job shop
• Abstracts: Arbitrage, nontrading, and stale prices: October 1987. Anomalies in financial economics: Blueprint for change?

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.