Integrated Programs Can Save Both Space and Time
If you’re new to computers and think you spent a lot of money on your hardware, wait till you start buying software. You could easily spend $300 to $600 for an individual word processing program to prepare resumes or write letters, a spreadsheet to track numbers or a database program to manage lists of people or things.
But you don’t have to spend that much. For less than $200, you can buy a single integrated program that performs these and other tasks. What’s more, it will be easier to use and take up a lot less space on your hard disk.
Integrated programs aren’t for everyone. Some people need more sophisticated programs designed for a specific purpose. But integration is great for beginners and those Jacks-of-all-trades (such as small-business owners) who jump from task to task.
Microsoft Works is the leading integrated program for MS-DOS. There are also versions for Windows and Macintosh.
The newest DOS version, Works 3.0 ($149), offers word processing, spreadsheet and database management, along with a communications module that lets you communicate with other computers via telephone if your PC is equipped with a modem. The program also has a calendar for keeping track of your appointments.
The Macintosh ($249) and Windows ($199) versions of Works have a drawing feature. There is no communications module in the Windows version, but Windows comes with its own communications program.
Because it uses very little memory and hard disk space, the DOS version of Works is an excellent choice for laptop and notebook PCs that have small-capacity hard disks, limited memory or slower processors. It’s also a good option for older PCs that don’t have the horsepower to run Windows or some DOS programs.
Other leading integrated programs include LotusWorks (DOS, $149) and WordPerfect Works (DOS, $159), Symantec’s GreatWorks (Macintosh, $299) and ClarisWorks (Macintosh, $299). All offer word processing, database, spreadsheet and communications.
There are some drawbacks to Works and other integrated programs. For one thing, none of the modules is as powerful as what you’ll find in the best single programs. Works doesn’t let you create outlines, tables, indexes or a table of contents. It does have a spell checker and thesaurus but, unlike some high-end programs, it won’t check for grammatical errors.
I wouldn’t recommend the Works spreadsheet for someone who needs to consolidate corporate budget proposals. But it’s fine for a homeowner who wants to compare two loans or a small-business owner who needs to track expenses. The database program is adequate for maintaining a personal or small-business mailing list, but it is limited to 32,000 records, and, unlike a sophisticated relational database program, it can’t cross-reference data from more than one file at a time.
The communications module is fine for signing on to computer bulletin boards and some on-line services. It allows you to create “scripts” to automate the process of issuing commands and transferring files between computers. My only complaint is that it’s a little too automated. You can’t issue commands directly to the modem unless you’re already signed on to a service. That’s fine most of the time, but it can be frustrating to more experienced users who want more control over their modem.
The DOS version of Works also allows you to create macros so that frequently used sequences of commands can be reduced to a single keystroke.
Just about all the integrated programs make it easy to transfer data from one module to another. You can use the mouse to copy information from the spreadsheet, for example, and transfer it to a word processing document. Works also lets you have more than one document on the screen at a time so you can quickly jump between projects.
In a sense, Works is like a Swiss army knife. All the components are well crafted, but none is as sophisticated as the best stand-alone product.
