From: zmonster@athena.mit.edu (Eric M Hermanson)
Subject: Re: Mac multitasking?
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 01:15:15 GMT

In article <1992Dec14.190312.271@physc1.byu.edu> goblec@physc1.byu.edu writes:
>
>As far as I know there is only one page layout program for the Next,
>and it is considered a shoddy port by many I have talked to.  I've

There are three page layout programs available on NeXT.  One is called PasteUp.
I just looked at it today, and may I say that I was impressed.  I saw a demo
version of it.  The cool thing about NeXT is that Third Parties put demo
versions of their new software on internet FTP.  You can download disabled
versions (no print or save) of new NeXT software from sonata.cc.purdue.edu.
If you fool around with the program and decide to buy it, you just call the
company, and they give you a liscence string to activate all of the features
(after you pay for it of course).  The docs are usually included online for
use in the NeXT Digital Librarian service.  You can also buy programs
outright and get all of the docs on hardcopy.  I prefer to demo and liscence
by phone (good educational prices too).

Anyways, back to the subject.  In addition to PasteUp (comparible to Quark),
they have FrameMaker and one called Pages (have not seen it).  But, with
NeXT's drag and drop capabilites, doing page layout is easy as pie.  If you 
like a picture or text from another application, you simply drag it into
your page layout program, and voila.  All NeXT applications offer intra-
messaging like this, so you can take stuff out of you page layout and drop it
in any other app.  Also, I just learned today that Quark is now considering
doing a port to NeXT after all.  It wont take them long given NeXT's easy
application development environment.  However, I think PasteUp is superior
to Quark from what I've seen in a few hours.


>
>In graphics things are better, but there still isn't a program
>akin to the Mac's photo retouchers. 

You're right, there isn't A program, there are TWO programs for photo
retouching.  One called Image (comparable to Photoshop), and a high high
end product called Retouche which gives you the versatility of the 
SCITEX retouching machine  (the big daddy that advertising firms use
for professional stuff).



 In spreadsheets there is
>Improv and Wingz which are indeed nice, unless you need Excel
>compatability.  I'm afraid I don't know much about terminal
>emulators, beyond the fact that Terminal isn't up to much.  That
>is what I am using to post this message.  It is incompatable with
>our Vax's editor for some reason.
>

There is also a spreadsheet called MESA.  Offers Lotus Macros, live time
data feeds, etc.  The newest of the bunch.  

Terminal is compatible with VAX, something is wrong in your setup?  Anyways,
I would suggest using NewsGrazer for reading net news.  It is a public 
domain graphical news reader for the NeXT.  Many cool features.  NewsGrazer
is a program worthy of being commercially sold, most PD programs on the 
NeXT are designed very well (unlike other environments).


I believe that NeXT is lucky in that it
has many talented software developers devoted to its platform.  These
people are not doing it for the money (because htey could make millions
more developing on PC or MAC), they are doing it with an utter devotion
with the NeXT platform.  I believe they hope that with NeXTStep486 will
come fame and fortune!

Eric

Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.advocacy