Pfs:Write

Last updated
pfs:Write
Developer(s) Software Publishing Corporation
Initial release1983;41 years ago (1983)
Operating system MS-DOS, Windows 3.0, Apple II
Type Word processor
License Proprietary software

pfs:Write was a word processor released by Software Publishing Corporation (SPC) in 1983 for IBM PC compatibles running MS-DOS and the Apple II. [1] It includes the features common to most word processors of the day, including word wrapping, spell checking, copy and paste, underlining, and boldfacing, with a few advanced features, such as mail merge and some others. The software was easier to learn and to use than more expensive software with more features such as WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, and XyWrite.

Contents

History

pfs:Write was announced in 1983 as part of a family of products released by SPC under the "pfs:" brand (Personal Filing System) [2] which, when installed onto the same computer, combined to form a sort of office suite which included companion products pfs:File in 1980 (a database), pfs:Plan (a spreadsheet), pfs:Report in 1981 (reporting software), and pfs:Graph in 1982 (business graphics software). Other, mostly utilitarian products bearing the "pfs:" brand subsequently emerged, including pfs:Access (for data communications), pfs:Easy Start (a menuing utility), and pfs:Proof (a proofreading utility). Eventually, SPC offered a low- to mid-level desktop publishing product called pfs:Publisher, and it packaged the core word processing, database and spreadsheet products into a suite named pfs:Office.

A Windows 3.0 version, called Professional Write Plus 1.0, was released in 1991. The last version, Professional Write 3.0 for DOS, was released in 1994. A Windows version was available to registered users of PW 3.0.

Lotus 1-2-3 integration

The market dominance of Lotus 1-2-3 encouraged SPC to allow its integration with pfs:Write. A user could use pfs:Write for word processing and link to Lotus 1-2-3 for spreadsheet use through the pfs menu system. Some setup was required, but as Lotus was deficient in word processing, this proved popular, especially among users already devoted to 1-2-3.

Reception

Byte magazine in 1984 described pfs:Write 1.1 as "an elementary program for users who don't have time to major in word processing or who have basic needs". It cited "major deficiencies", however, including the inability to easily justify or delete text, poor printed and built-in documentation, and very slow file saving. [3] II Computing in late 1985 listed it fourth on the magazine's list of top Apple II non-game, non-educational software, based on sales and market-share data. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lotus 1-2-3</span> Spreadsheet software

Lotus 1-2-3 is a discontinued spreadsheet program from Lotus Software. It was the first killer application of the IBM PC, was hugely popular in the 1980s, and significantly contributed to the success of IBM PC-compatibles in the business market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VisiCalc</span> 1979 computer application

VisiCalc is the first spreadsheet computer program for personal computers, originally released for the Apple II by VisiCorp on October 17, 1979. It is considered the killer application for the Apple II, turning the microcomputer from a hobby for computer enthusiasts into a serious business tool, and then prompting IBM to introduce the IBM PC two years later. More than 700,000 copies were sold in six years, and up to 1 million copies over its history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WordPerfect</span> Word processing application

WordPerfect (WP) is a word processing application, now owned by Alludo, with a long history on multiple personal computer platforms. At the height of its popularity in the 1980s and early 1990s, it was the market leader of word processors, displacing the prior market leader WordStar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WordStar</span> Word processor application

WordStar is a word processor application for microcomputers. It was published by MicroPro International and originally written for the CP/M-80 operating system, with later editions added for MS-DOS and other 16-bit PC OSes. Rob Barnaby was the sole author of the early versions of the program.

Lotus Symphony was an integrated software package for creating and editing text, spreadsheets, charts and other documents on the MS-DOS operating systems. It was released by Lotus Development as a follow-on to its popular spreadsheet program, Lotus 1-2-3, and was produced from 1984 to 1992. Lotus Jazz on the Apple Macintosh was a sibling product.

Lotus Software was an American software company based in Massachusetts; it was sold to India's HCL Technologies in 2018.

Kaypro Corporation was an American home and personal computer manufacturer based in Solana Beach in the 1980s. The company was founded by Non-Linear Systems (NLS) to compete with the popular Osborne 1 portable microcomputer. Kaypro produced a line of rugged, "luggable" CP/M-based computers sold with an extensive software bundle which supplanted its competitors and quickly became one of the top-selling personal computer lines of the early 1980s.

MacWrite is a WYSIWYG word processor application released along with the first Apple Macintosh systems in 1984. Together with MacPaint, it was one of the two original "killer applications" that propelled the adoption and popularity of the GUI in general, and the Mac in particular.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AppleWorks</span> Office software suite from Apple

AppleWorks was an integrated office suite containing a word processor, database, and spreadsheet. It was developed by Rupert Lissner for Apple Computer, originally for the Apple II platform and launched in 1984. Many enhancements for AppleWorks were created, the most popular being the TimeOut series from Beagle Bros which extended the life of the Apple II version of AppleWorks. Appleworks was later reworked for the Macintosh platform.

Claris International Inc., formerly FileMaker Inc., is a computer software development company formed as a subsidiary company of Apple Computer in 1987. It was given the source code and copyrights to several programs that were owned by Apple, notably MacWrite and MacPaint, in order to separate Apple's application software activities from its hardware and operating systems activities.

Framework, launched in 1984, was an office suite to run on the (x86) IBM PC and compatibles with the MS-DOS operating system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microsoft Works</span> Productivity software suite

Microsoft Works is a discontinued productivity software suite developed by Microsoft and sold from 1987 to 2009. Its core functionality includes a word processor, a spreadsheet and a database management system. Later versions have a calendar application and a dictionary while older releases include a terminal emulator. Works is available as a standalone program and as part of a namesake home productivity suite. Because of its low cost, companies frequently preinstalled Works on their low-cost machines. Works is smaller, less expensive, and has fewer features than contemporary major office suites such as Microsoft Office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harvard Graphics</span> Presentation and vector graphics program

Harvard Graphics was a graphics and presentation program for IBM PC compatibles. The first version, titled Harvard Presentation Graphics, was released for MS-DOS in 1986 by Software Publishing Corporation (SPC) and achieved a high market share. It was taken off the market in 2017.

Bank Street Writer is a word processor for the Apple II, Atari 8-bit computers, Commodore 64, MSX, Mac, IBM PC, and IBM PCjr computers. It was designed in 1981 by a team of educators at the Bank Street College of Education in New York City, software developer Franklin E. Smith, and programmers at Intentional Educations in Watertown, Massachusetts. The software was sold in two versions: one for elementary school students published by Scholastic and a general version from Broderbund.

Q&A was a database and word processing software program for IBM PC–compatible computers published by Symantec and partners from 1985 to 1998. It was written by a team headed by Symantec founder Dr. Gary Hendrix, Denis Coleman, and Gordon Eubanks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Integrated software</span>

Integrated software is a software for personal computers that combines the most commonly used functions of many productivity software programs into one application.

Software Publishing Corporation (SPC) was a Mountain View, California-based manufacturer of business software, originally well known for its "pfs:" series of business software products, it was ultimately best known for its pioneering Harvard Graphics business and presentation graphics program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dr. Halo</span> Raster graphics editor developed by Media Cybernetics

Dr. Halo is a raster graphics editor developed by Media Cybernetics and released for computers running MS-DOS. It was among the first graphics editors available for MS-DOS with its initial release in 1984. Media Cybernetics boasted about three million users of Dr. Halo between 1984 and 1993.

References

  1. "Scholastic pfs:Write manual for Apple II" (PDF). Scholastic Software. 1986.
  2. Bartimo, Jim: Ease of Use takes Hold, in: InfoWorld, p. 36, 30. Apr. 1984.
  3. Cameron, Janet (1984). "Word Processing Revisited". Byte (review). p. 171. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  4. Ciraolo, Michael (Oct–Nov 1985). "Top Software / A List of Favorites". II Computing. p. 51. Retrieved 28 January 2015.