I love hearing that you're implementing an MS Word translator. However, there seem to be two major issues with that:
* it takes more time and a lot of resources (including time) to do it well
* it is a constant maintenance headache (MS seems to go out of their way to make this true)
The former of these two issues affects all of us here enormously. I would far prefer an earlier release of Nisus Writer X that could read/write old Nisus documents and let me handle the MS Word problem, followed by a later release of this new feature (for which I would even HAPPILY pay a small upgrade fee, say $10 - $20).
Alternatively, both of these issues might better be handled by forming a partnership with DataViz who earns their revenues specializing in solving this problem. I'm not familiar with the relationships that DataViz forms with the vendors whose files they translate, but the financial resources that you're currently committing to developing this MS Word translator might be better allocated to helping DataViz make a better translator than you could, and make a better one than they otherwise would given the market share of Nisus Writer (X or not). The deal might be sweetened for both parties if you were to offer Nisus Writer X packages which included the entire MacLinkPlus suite. I seem to remember Nisus willingly offering package deals in the past.
More to the point, they have a marketing model that motivates them (and us) to keep the translators up to date. There are few things more frustrating in my use of Nisus than to receive a .doc document from one generation past the translator you've supplied us. I'm speaking from experience, since the first versions of Nisus I ever used had such translating capabilities, which became obsolete, which were then combined with Claris's translators, which I ultimately ignored for the more general solution of MacLinkPlus.
Nisus is the only thing that requires me to keep Mac Classic running at this point. Classic is the most fragile piece of MacOS X.
Just my $.02 and a desire for the earliest possible release of Nisus Writer X.
Regards, Jerry
On Saturday, Apr 5, 2003, at 03:22 America/New_York, Dave Larson wrote:
Contrary to popular belief, we are not slackers. We are very, very close to
release of the public beta. Progress is being made on the pesky little issues
that always come up before a release. Producing an all new product on a
relatively new operating system can make for some interesting problems. We
are working through those problems, and we will release the beta as soon as
we possibly can. However, please understand that while we know that you
folks are very anxious for us to release something, we don't want to put out
a product (even a beta) that just doesn't have the quality that we like and
that you deserve.
This isn't to say that we have just been fixing things. We have also added a
feature or two. One new feature that I am excited to announce is that we
have added an MS Word translator. That means that you will be able to open
those pesky .doc files in Nisus Writer for OS X. Not only that, but you will
also be able to save your documents as .doc. Swing to that, kids!
We have also added a Send Feedback feature. That will allow you to file bug
reports, or send us feedback from Nisus Writer. You can also send a file or
even add a screenshot. This will make it easier for you to send us feedback,
and easier for us to get accurate reports. It's all about the quality, people.
I know, I know ... too much talk. What you guys really want to know is when,
right? Thought so. We are working very hard to get this out to you as fast
as we can, but we won't just release any old thing. Once Nisus Writer for OS X
has the quality we are looking for, we will release it as a public beta.
Once that happens, we will let you know quickly. Then you will hear loud noises
... that will be us having a party. That will then be followed (eventually) by a
lot of quiet. That will be us recovering from that party.
Anyway, thank you for your continued patience. Don't worry, your wait is
almost over. Really.
P.S. I have said this before and I will say it again: We do read all of the email and
all of the comments in the forums. Even the silly "vaporWriter X" comments.
Dave
Dave Larson Nisus Software, Inc. [EMAIL PROTECTED] 858-481-1477 Phone 858-481-6154 Fax
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__ Jerry W. Walker
c o d e f a b - "High Performance Industrial Strength Internet Enabled Systems"
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