From: blong@ih-nxt05 (Brandon C Long) Subject: Re: A Word Processor for Linux Date: 5 Sep 1993 05:12:56 GMT
heiser@bumetb.bu.edu (Bill Heiser) writes:
>In article <falk.744543195@unixg.ubc.ca> falk@unixg.ubc.ca (David Falk) writes:
>>
>>Yet,I have found that the only thing that keeps me tied to the DOS world
>>is the lack of a good word processor in the UNIX World. I would like to make
>Things like WORDPERFECT are available for UNIX, but not as far as I know
>for LINUX. And I'd be surprised if it *ever* is. It is hard to get
>around the fact that the "home type apps" available for PCs just aren't
>available for Unix of any flavor. For example, when was the last time
>you saw something equivalent to "QUICKEN", or "XTALK/WIN" for any
>Unix platform?
Actually, a lot of the standard software is available for unix, a fact I was
mildly surprised to find out while perusing a copy Unixworld magazine. The
problem is the cost (and using a version of unix which is supported). Unix
versions of software are expensive. Since the software companies can't hope
to match the huge number of copies sold of mswindoze apps sold, they are
forced to charge a lot more in order to make up the cost of writing the apps.
But the old standbyes of AutoCAD, Lotus 123, Wordperfect, XTreeGold, etc are
all available for unix and xwindows. When version 1.0 of Linux comes out
(whenever that may be) and the user base becomes a little larger, than sure,
these apps will also be available for Linux. Why not? Being a unix os, the
port wouldn't be too hard, and the companies would love to sell more copies,
even if it is for a free un*x. But just because the apps are available,
doesn't mean that they would be cheap. Right now, Linux is free, and
everything you get for it is gnu, or written by (usually) some student
with too much free time and the love of programming. (yeah, me too) But
who wants to pay $995 to run MS WORD 5.1 on a sparc? Or Excel? (same price)
Personally, emacs sound a lot better at that point. I can handle vi for free, but I can't afford ms word. Hell, I can't afford wordperfect, which is a steal
at 299. Thank you, but no. Of course, if someone wants to right a great
word processor, or quicken for linux, I'd love to use it (if the price is right)Otherwise, I'll do my bookkeeping by hand.
Brandon
---
Brandon Long God Creates the Dinosaurs
Computer Engineering God kills the Dinosaurs
University of Illinois God Creates Man
Urbana-Champaign Man kills God
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Opinions are such flighty things, but these are mine, for now.