Re: Version confusion.

["Michael Edwards" mje@xxxxxxxx]

                         Michael Edwards.

----------------------------------------
[Carl Distefano:]

>Why not test before you buy? You can download fully-functional trial
>versions of both 3 and 4 from publicly-available sources. Go to
>http://users.datarealm.com/xywwweb/#xylite to learn how. Play with both
>versions for a while, then decide for yourself.
----------------------------------------

   I was vaguely aware that there was a trial version available, but I hadn't
yet found it, and was wondering if I was mistaken. I didn't know that trial
versions of both versions 3 and 4 were available.
   Just looking at the page you referred to, it does look rather complicated,
but I'll examine it closer and see if it helps me. Thanks.

----------------------------------------
>... if you like XyWrite at all...

>What brings you to these Arctic climes? Why *are* you considering XyWrite?
----------------------------------------

   You sound doubtful that I really will like XyWrite. Are there things I
should know about it which might put me off if I knew them?

   To answer your questions: I learned computers on DOS about 11 years ago,
and got used to using DOS programs. I don't seem to change to new things
easily, especially those based on a totally different underlying philosophy
(such as Windows), and don't feel inclined to change my software every few years
just because something new comes out and everyone else changes to it. However,
the word-processor I have used up to now, MultiMate, is inadequate in various
ways, and is actually unreliable in certain operations. (Just try repaginating
a document using the automatic function in one of the more recent versions, and
you can kiss your file goodbye if you don't have an unrepaginated backup. It
has to be done manually, page by page.)
   Because of these shortcomings, I want to change to a new word-processing
program - but because of all the trouble in converting file formats (I have
hundreds of MultiMate files, and I only want to convert them once), I want to
make sure I choose a new program well, so I can stay with that, and keep
everything in that program's format. The program itself has to be one I feel I
can live easily with; it has to allow me to work the way I want to - not tell me
how to work. When I try to use Windows or its programs and constantly curse the
way it does things, or the way it tries to dictate to me how my work should be
organized, that is not a good omen for living happily with it for years. Since
I seem to like the general organization of DOS programs (the better ones, at
least), I thought a DOS word-processor might be more suitable. In all truth, I
have never really grown out of the DOS era.
   To call XyWrite the best word-processor in the world may be a superficial
judgement, but I've read it a few times, and it is what initially attracted me
to this program. For years I've been thinking of changing programs, but I
couldn't decide which one, so I put off the decision altogether and continued
using MultiMate.
   So I was in a good position to be interested in XyWrite when I heard of it.
I found the list by searching for "XyWrite" in a search engine, and then
e-mailing Nathan Sivin, whose e-mail address this search led me to - and I
joined the list, just to see what I could learn about XyWrite; and, to the
extent that I follow discussion, it does sound like a program I might like.
(That many users of XyWrite appear to dislike Windows is a good sign to me too.)
   That is essentially why I have ventured into the Arctic climes of XyWrite.
I assume that, these days, it is no more Arctic than MultiMate, or indeed DOS
programs generally.

   I hope list members are not starting to tire of questions from me which no
doubt seem very elementary, and I thank people who have been generous with their
advice and opinions. Ideally I like to respond to all such letters, but time
catches up with me and I can't always; but your advice is appreciated.

             Regards,
             Michael Edwards.