From: arash@sunee.waterloo.edu (Arash Jahangir)
Subject: Re: Question about Persian Word processors?
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Sun, 12 Apr 1992 17:59:48 GMT

In article <1992Apr8.174013.20199@pbhyg.PacBell.COM> mxahmad@pbhyg.PacBell.COM (Mehdi Ahmadi) writes:
>
>
>
>	SalAm bar dostan:
>
>	I am looking for a word processor in Farsi. I know several exists.
>	I have an IBM 486 with windows and 4 meg ram. I know there are several
>	for IBM type computers. I have heard about Parsnegar and Vazhehnegar.
>	I have not seen any one them. I like to know what else is there and
>	which one is better. I also like to have a price list and where
>	one can get them. I like a "LEGAL" copy and I am willing to pay for it.
>
>	Thanks
> 

From what I have heard, Vazhenegar is the one with most features.  However,
here is an experience of a friend of mine with Vazhenegar that you may be
interested to know.  About 2 and half years ago a friend of mine heard about
Vazhenegar and asked the company for more information.  They sent him some 
info which indecated Vazhenegar was really a good product and it had an
excelent set of fonts including one they called "Ferdosi" which was really a
nice one (they had sent samples of every font).  This last font convinced my
friend that Vazhenegar was what he wanted and so he sent them $700 or so in
advance (they had asked for the money in advance) and asked for a copy.

A month and helf later he received a package called "Alkatib International"
along with a note saying sorry pal, we still have not made Vazhenegar, use
this for now.  Not only they had the nerve to charge for something they had not
sent, they also had the nerve to include a "key" which attached to the parallel
port (without which the software wouldn't run) along with a note that 
effectively said "it is no secret, most middle easterns are a bunch of thives.
In order to protect ourselve we've had to make sure you can't use the package
without the key".

Some 6 months later we called them and asked them for the package we asked for
i.e Vazhenegar.  They appologized for the inconvinience and said that the 
package is ready, they are having problems with printing the documentation in
Parsi (a lot of good that did to our faith in being able to print with that
package!).  So we told them it's fine just send us the software and the English
documentation which they claimed they had ready, since we can read the English.

Some 2 months later, still no Vazhenegar in any form !  Finally, nearly a year
after the original purchase, they sent a copy of Vazhenegar.  It did not have
the promised "Ferdosi" font (I am not certain about this) and it did not 
support post script printers, which meant unless you had an HP laser printer
at home, you could not print your document to a file and use a commercial print
house.  Oh, before I forget, they had promised a very wide range of printers 
that we could print on, including postscript printers.

Finaly nearly 2 years after they had received the money from my friend, they
sent him a copy of Vazhenegar which presumably does everything they had 
promised it will do way back in time.  Unfortunately my friend had sold his
computer now (he received it a few months ago) and is now looking for a new
system, so I can't tell you if this final release does what they promised or
not.

My experience, this is a criminal and unreliable company.  Do deal with them
if you must, but count your fingers after you shake hand with them; they might
steal some of them !

By the way, you may also have another option.  About 1.5-2 years ago I was in
the International Computer Show in Toronto.  The same people who make PFS Write
(or is it First Choice Publisher ? I can't be sure) had made a version of their
English DTP in Arabic.  I talked to their marketing rep and convinced her that
it would pay them off to add the few extra letters and font to make their 
package capable of both Parsi and Arabic languages.  I have no idea if they
have implemented it or not but it's worth a try.  Another source you may wish
to try is a multi-language word processor which handles upto 6 languages 
including Farsi.  I don't remember their name but they always advertise in the
yellow pages (reader service at the very back) of BYTE magazine.

Good Luck!
  Arash