From: evan@telly.on.ca (Evan Leibovitch)
Subject: Re: WordPerfect 5.1 for Unix is available
Organization: Somewhere just far enough out of Toronto
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 05:28:17 GMT

In article <1992Dec18.165010.22359@cs.odu.edu>
	davis@chrysanthemum.cs.odu.edu (Mark Davis) writes:

>OK, I just talked to WordPerfect again.  They just started shipping WordPerfect
>for Unix, Version 5.1  *Last Night*.  Don't know about anyone else, but our
>purchase order should be on their desk tomorrow!! (We're upgrading from WP4.2)

There are only two reasons anyone would want to upgrade to 5.1 over 5.0:

- You want the same differences as exist in the DOS versions 5.0 and 5.1.
  The only things in 5.0 that are different from the (text-based) 5.1
  are tables and math equations;

- You have ODT and you want a GUI-based word processor.

WordPerfect 5.1 comes in a package as two almost totally distinct sets
of binaries, for the text and graphics-based versions.

>FYI:  WordPerfect 5.1 is a complex and powerful word processing program which
>originally became popular under MS-DEAD.  It has been ported to a number of
>operating systems.

Actually, WP carved out the lion's share of the DOS word processing
market when it was at release 4.2. If anything, its portion of the
market is slightly smaller now; while it's still dominant, WP is being
challenged by Microsoft Word and (to a smaller extent) by Lotus' AMIPro.

And, FYI, WP did not get its start under DOS. It was first developed for
the proprietary Data General architecture.

Currently, WP runs on DOS, OS/2, Macintosh, NeXT, Amiga, Apple ][,
Atari ST, many UNIX variants, DG, VAX, and IBM System 370.

WordPerfect 5.1 is presently shipping for Sun SPARC, SCO, and is being
tested for future release for the RS/6000, HP 9000 and 88open.

>The Unix version seems to be slated tword the SCO platform,
>but I think it will work under most flavors.

Warning! Warning! Danger Will Robinson!

It has already been reported that the GUI version is unstable on any
Intel UNIX platform except SCO's. While the text-based version was solid
pretty well across the board (version 5.0 included a special terminal
definiton for the console used by most R4 vendors), there have been big
problems. The GUI version apparently crashes and burns on any of the R4
servers, including Destiny.

WP is aware of this. It is one of the companies on Univel's list of
endorsements, so I imagine they're working on a version that will work
with the standard Desiny X server. Until then, you may be advised to
stay away.

Be aware that WP is still shipping 5.0, and probably will be for a
while. Be sure you have one of the requirements stated above in order to
justify the purchase. The price is a significant boost compared to 5.0,
the upgrade is steep too, and they've changed the way the product is
sold. (A 20-user licence is just a piece of paper and a code to upgrade
the binary to allow more simultaneous users -- no extra docs).

>The new version not only
>supports text terminals (like 4.2) but also runs with full GUI/WYSIWYG
>under X Windows (console, X-terminals, etc).

I believe the look-and-feel is Motif's.

>WordPerfect has VERY good upgrade pricing and policies to take care of their
>customers.  Out total upgrade for a 20 user floating licence from 4.2 will
>be around $1384 COMPLETE.

That's pretty hefty for an upgrade. The price for a full (non-upgrade)
20-user version of 5.0 is about $2,500, but the list price for a 20-user
licence 5.1 with media is a whopping $5,841. For a system which doesn't
use the GUI, that's a damned huge premium to obtain two features which
aren't that important to most users.

I hope the company plans to maintain 5.0, or offer a cheaper version of
5.1 for text-only systems, which leaves out the GUI stuff for those who
don't need it. The price of the combined package is going to be, IMO, too
much for even loyal WP users to swallow.

>I have also heard that if you have any MS-DEAD
>version lying around, this can be upgraded the the a Unix version for not
>much $$$.  (Although, WP for Unix CAN be expensive for a first-time buyer :< )

The company has class in that the 1-user price for WP on UNIX is the
same (roughtly) as for a 1-user licence for DOS. I hope more vendors do
the same. Even that disgusting $5,841 20-user UNIX licence fee quoted above
is the same as the cost of installing 20-user WP on a DOS network.

>We are in the process of a hardware upgrade to an Altos 15000, so it won't
>be loaded immediately.  But if there is interest, send me E-Mail and I will
>give you an overview of our experience with the new software.  If there is
>enough interest, I will post it to the net.

You may want to seriously consider saving big bux and upgrading to 5.0
instead.

PS: We are an authorized WP reseller; (some of) the above information
is from the WordPerfect Reseller Report, Vol 3, Issue 8.

-- 
 Evan Leibovitch, Sound Software Ltd., located in beautiful Brampton, Ontario
         evan@telly.on.ca / uunet!utzoo!telly!evan / (416) 452-0504
         "IBM's three letters are probably EBCDIC for CYA" - Nik H.
Newsgroups: comp.unix.sysv386