Msg: Re: What was Sprint

When the Kaypro was new (mid-70s ? or certainly not earlier than the late 70's -- remember, this was CPM, with 8" floppies "), I think it cost around 6 grand, or perhaps even more ? I had friends who could write that off for their business, but as a then struggling and very poorly paid, mostly freelance journalist, I could not afford it. I was still using the Coronamatic electric typewriter I had had in college. It wasn't until Zenith came out with their version of the XT (also available as an assemble-it-yourself kit) in late '84 or so that I first got a computer. I think I must have started with XyWrite. I still have the II+ demo floppies somewhere, so that could have been it.

Jordan

From: John Paines
To: "xywrite@xxxxxxxx"
Sent: Monday, September 5, 2016 12:29 PM
Subject: Re: What was Sprint

The link below claims FinalWord (aka Sprint, eventually) was designed to emulate Perfect Writer (bundled with the Kaypro, no?), so it can't be all *that* old.... early 80s?

http://www.atarimagazines.com/startv1n2/WordProcessors.html

I myself date to the IBM Mag Card (early 70s, as a student), so am unimpressed....

From: Carl Distefano
To: xywrite@xxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, September 5, 2016 2:30 PM
Subject: Re: What was Sprint

Reply to note from Daniel Say mailto:say@xxxxxxxx Mon, 5 Sep 2016 11:11:09 -
0700

> Sprint was Final Word, etc.
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprint_%28word_processor%29

Who writes the "History" section of an encyclopedia article without
mentioning a single DATE?! Grrrrr....

I started with XyWrite in 1985, so I'm wondering where FinalWord/Sprint
falls on my timeline. It sounds like it would have grabbed me had I
been aware of it.

--
Carl Distefano
mailto:cld@xxxxxxxx