From: falk@unixg.ubc.ca (David Falk) Subject: Re: A Word Processor for Linux Date: 8 Aug 1993 09:44:17 GMT
I think we've pretty well pinned down why there is a need for a
word processor for Linux. Nobody denies that TeX or LaTeX are not
powerful. Certainly, they are. However, selecting a word processor
is more than just power. Word processors are very personal thing.
I am in the process of selecting of a new word processor for DOS. Today,
I rejected three as being unsuitable for my purposes. Two were more
powerful than the one I'm using now. The one I'm using is not great, but
it works and I like it. But the reason, I rejected the other three
was a simple, if you'll excuse the maggotbox terminology, I didn't like
the "look and feel" of the other word processors. It had nothing to
do with features. There was nothing rational about it. It was a
completely emotional decision. But, when you spend eight hours a day
at your word processor, you had better like the "look and feel" of it
else you'll hate every moment of it. I know for two years I used
EasyWriter II, a word processor with a "look and feel" I hated.
There is nothing scientific or rational about the debate between TeX and
a word processor. It's a matter of personal choice. Personally, I
reject TeX. I'm not a professional programmer, I use a daisy wheel
printer for my polished copies, and I don't feel it's worth the time to
learn TeX. One of the writers on this base said something to the affect
that those who are at the University level can afford to tackle a more
difficult piece of soware (TeX) because they are of a higher learning
ability. Why should we be compelled to learn a more difficult piece of
software just because we happen to be brighter? Would not our talents
be better spent applying our knowledge rather than wasting our time
learning inefficient software? If you like TeX, you are welcome to it.
If you like word processors, that should be a choice left up to you.
But, I think the choice should at least be made available. I realize
many programmers like working with TeX, but those are programmers who
think like programmers. I am not a programmer, per se. I am a writer
who thinks like a writer. My text utilities are tools. The more
efficient and convenient those tools are to use, the faster and more
pleasent my work becomes. I don't need the power of TeX, just the nice
"look and feel" of a word processor in a Linux envorment.
I like to say something about this debate between TeX and Word Processors.
If you listen carefully, people aren't really regurgitating the same
arguments, they're simply stating their preferences. And while the guys
who'd rather talk about the "problem of the <#include stdlib.h> of their
login.c" are screaming that the argument should be taken elsewhere, this
debate is not going away. I think this is symptomatic of Linux coming of
age. People are seriously considering Linux as a viable alternative to
the DOS/OS2/Windows(NT) environments. This debate proves that people want
Linux for more than just the beauty of the Un*x like the unix hacks.
People, <#include myself.h>, see potential in Linux to do serious work.
And, I'm certain we are going to see more of these debates in the future.
Dave.
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--
David Falk |"People always make the mistake of dismissing as untrue
(falk@unixg.ubc.ca) | anything that happens only very seldom, or anything that
| their minds cannot readily grasp..." -- Lucius Apuleius
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