Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    PageStream will run on a 512K machine, but as with any graphics
    intensive software, 512K and one floppy will cause you a lot of
    grief. Also V1.61 of PageStream is the current buggy version, with
    many bugs related to memory management.
    
    Paul

    Just so happens that I'm in the market for a DTP package too, all of
    the sudden.  I'm not interested in springing for Pro Page, though
    it does look great.
    
    Can those of you who have used Page Setter, PageStream, and/or City
    Desk, compare and contrast them, for us?
    
    I realize that Page Setter is an introductory type of package but
    it's been around for awhile.  How stable is it?  Are its memory
    management routines robust?  
    
    Seems that every article I've read about PageStream implies that
    it would be wonderful if the kinks are worked out.  Anyone have
    anything to add to that?  Would Page Setter hold its own against
    PageStream for light duty applications like newsletters?
    
    Also, are there any of these packages that do better with dot matrix
    printers (either 9 or 24 pin) than the others?
    
    I'll stop asking questions now.
    
    Future editor of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Clemson's
    newsletter,
    
    Gary

    No contest between PageStream and PageSetter. PageStream wins hands
    down. I still prefer Professional Page though. If you are stuck
    with a dot matrix printer for final output though, definitely go
    PageStream even with the bugs.

    Is there any comparisons between city desk and pagesetter????
    

    The link went down during my last reply so here it is again.
    
    I have done a little bit of work with City Desk 2.0.  But, I can't
    compare it to any other DTP's.  Reviews rate it as a mid range package,
    with a mail-order price of about $115.00.  I feel that I still only
    have a 50% understanding of the product.  Seems to have all the expected
    features of a DTP(text and graphics, kerning, hyphenation, text
    flow around irregular graphics).  It can import Scribble, Word Perfect,
    or straight ASCII files.  You can write macros to do any special
    processing.
    
    The import of Word Perfect documents does retain bold, underline
    and centering.  But does not understand tabs or margins.
    
    When you first start a document you must specify the output device
    type (i.e. Postscript or preferences printer).  I am not impressed
    with the output from my LA75, but it does a great job with Postscript
    to an LN03R.  It has special support for 24 pin printers, but I
    have no idea what it would look like.
    
    Has its own set of Postscript fonts the standard Courier, Times
    and Helvetica; and Avantegard(sp?) (I think that is all of them).
    
    Special utility to define the point sizes you want to use for
    Postscript fonts.  Another utility to download Postscript fonts.
    
    Comes on 4 non-copy protected floppies.  Hard disk installabled.
    80% of 1 floppy contains some clipart (Hi-res b/w).  Most of 1 floppy
    is the hard disk installation software including ARP 1.3. Most of
    another floppy is 24 pin and Postscript support.
    
    Has its own graphics editor that can import and edit IFF files.
    
    Can enter a simple "normal style" text editor to edit the current
    working document.
    
    Can imbed special commands into the text (i.e. change font and/or
    point size)(e.g. [font courier] [fsize 14]), and when you exit the
    editor the adjusted document is redisplayed.
    
    My only gripe so far is that I sometimes get an "Out of memory"
    requester when in Interlace mode.  Since, I have 3MB, I assume the
    problem is Chip memory.  Most of the time I can work around it without
    losing anything.
    
    
    Well, that the best I can do with my current understanding of City
    Desk.
    

    Thanks for the excellent input..I guess although you didn't say,
    it won't run on a 512 machine??
    

    re .6 and .7
    
    City Desk may run in 512K but the documentation does state they
    highly reccomend 1MB.
    
    I went back to check the Postscript supported fonts they include:
    Chancery, Palatino, Century, Bookman, Avantgarde, Helv, Helvn, Roman
    and Courier.
    
    In my previous reply I indicated a problem importing Word Perfect
    documents that contain tabs.  I have now found out that tabs are
    imported correctly, but tab stops must be defined in City Desk.
    And the stops should be set with respect to the current font and
    size.
    
    It seems that certain things are done with imbeded commands vs.
    a full Icon/Menu interface.  But the page is displayed in a full
    WYSIWYG manner when the editor is exited.  I don't have any problem
    with this approach, since when doing extensive changes it does conserve
    on screen updates.
    
    Amicon the local Amiga user group here in Columbus is currently
    starting user sessions on DTP.  The person presenting the sessions
    does do some comercial work using his Amiga.  He uses Professional
    Page, because of it's features and stability (i.e. no Gurus).  The
    first session was just discussion covering background, terms, and
    basics of layout.  The next session will involve some real work
    with Pro Page.  I would like to get a comparison between Pro Page
    and Page Stream (hopefully it will become more stable).
    

    Back to .1, what is the recommendation to run on 512k..all that
    I need is simple mutil column for letter. I am not really interested
    in importing and flowing text/pictures..Is Pagestream it?