Need a Word Processor - Guess I'll Have to Break Down and Pay!!!
I'm going to try to stay calm and get through this post . I've ranted enough the lack of a BASIC word processing software on the PPC. I was HOPEFUL that M$ would see the error of their ways and fix the problem with the 2003 update. No such luck.
I've read the recent posts on Textmaker and while it seems like a decent package, many of the posts that I read indicate that it is very "buggy". Add that to the fact that it is $50. No PPC software should be $50 IMO. :evil: .....(OK, calm down).
So my question is this, is there anyone using another word processing software that will permit them to retain basic formatting (bullets, font selection, tables, etc. I'm an accountant for crying out loud, not a secretary. Most of what I do in word is VERY basic and I can't BELIEVE that Pocket Word can't handle it. :evil: ). Also, if anyone wants to share their recent experience with textmaker, that might be helpful (though I'm still going to have a tough time spending $50 on ANY PPC software). I get the impression that they were releasing updates that were resolving many of the issues some users were having.
I hate the idea of having to purchase something that I was lead to believe was included on my PPC. But at this point, there doesn't appear to be another solution.
I don't know of other good word processing solutions, but do realize TextMaker has a trial, so you can give it a shot without actually paying up-front for it.
I actually did try the trial back when they first came out with textmaker and it caused all kinds of problems with my PPC. I attributed to my lack of understanding but have since come to realize that it likely wasn't me. Because of that experience I'm a little leery about reloading it again until I hear from recent users about their experiences.
I bought Textmaker and while it certainly has many good features it does seem to cause conflicts with other programs. I have found that the only way to start it is to soft reset first, otherwise it tends to freeze my Axim. Once it is running, it seems to be fine.
I'm awaiting my WM2003 upgrade (Dell charged my credit card a couple of weeks ago, but no sign of it) and hope that things will go better then.
I've found that I use the Notes part of PI more than Textmaker, although it obviously lacks all the features. Come to think of it, enhancing PI Notes to be a real word processor would be a great add on for WebIS.
I bought Textmaker and while it certainly has many good features it does seem to cause conflicts with other programs. I have found that the only way to start it is to soft reset first, otherwise it tends to freeze my Axim. Once it is running, it seems to be fine.
dh,
This is the type of comment I read over and over again as I was searching through past posts. I think that since most of this sitte's members are fairly technical, this type of conflict is more of a minor annoyance than anything else. But for me, I'm always nervous that something more sinister is going on inside my PPC that will eventually cause problems beyond my ability to repair.
Thanx for the comment. It is this type of problem that will likely stop me from purchasing textmaker.
Re: Need a Word Processor - Guess I'll Have to Break Down and Pay!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by shawnc
I've read the recent posts on Textmaker and while it seems like a decent package, many of the posts that I read indicate that it is very "buggy". Add that to the fact that it is $50. No PPC software should be $50 IMO. :evil: .....(OK, calm down).
TextMaker is not buggy at all. If people report problems, we investigate them and fix them. For this to happen, please report problems to support@softmaker.de instead of dismissing TextMaker as buggy without substantiating it.
We have released FREE service packs for issues that were fixed in the past. They were not a result of some "general bugginess" but fixing working with other apps or hardware (Fitaly, some external keyboards come to mind) or finding out about some weird MS Word document that a customer had problems with.
I don't want to get into another discussion about price, so I'll leave it at this: A copy of Microsoft Word for Windows retails for several hundred US$. Why do you think that TextMaker, a product with a similar amount of work involved AND with a MUCH smaller potential customer base, should be priced at LESS than a quarter the price of MS Word?
Firstly, Textmaker is indeed a very powerful and amazing piece of software. 49$ is a good and honest price.
However, it is buggy. On my IPAQ (PPC 2002) the latest version is so obviously buggy that Iam amazed it got out of the door at softmaker. These problems have already been reported to Softmaker some time ago.
I guess others have also done this so its not just dismissing it out of hand these are comments from people who have already invested their 49$.
Softmaker have followed up on bugs by responding to my emails. Ok nothing has happened yet and I guess their looking into it.
Point is again there are some quite obvious stability problems that I wonder how these were not found before the software was shipped.
Please softmaker fix these stability issues and I would recommend Textmaker (and its desktop equ.) to anyone.
However, it is buggy. On my IPAQ (PPC 2002) the latest version is so obviously buggy that Iam amazed it got out of the door at softmaker. These problems have already been reported to Softmaker some time ago.
OK, show of hands. Who has significant bugs in TextMaker (and what are they?), and who does not?
Of course, everybody who has issues is more vocal than those that have no problems, but I am reading most support e-mails (though not answering them personally) and so I knew pretty well if there were some significant surge in problems. There is none.
IPIPAQ, can you give me your e-mail address so that I can directly look at what you reported?
Re: Need a Word Processor - Guess I'll Have to Break Down and Pay!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by SoftMaker
TextMaker is not buggy at all. If people report problems, we investigate them and fix them. For this to happen, please report problems to support@softmaker.de instead of dismissing TextMaker as buggy without substantiating it.
Martin Kotulla
SoftMaker Software GmbH
Always good to see the software developer come to this site and share their opinions. Its good business and shows that you care. Having said that, may I suggest a slightly LESS antagonistic tone. I don't know what you are looking for in terms of substantiating that textmaker has bugs. Do a search, you will find many of this community have said the same thing. Even as I read your response to another post in this thread, you appear to be combative and defensive. Try resolving problems without attacking the messenger.
I don't expect you to engage in a debate about price, it is your right to price it as you see fit. As it is my right to voice my dissatisfaction with your pricing and choose NOT to purchase.
If I was on the fence about purchasing textmaker, your response and tone would have me looking for a more consumer-friendly vendor.
Re: Need a Word Processor - Guess I'll Have to Break Down and Pay!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by shawnc
Quote:
Originally Posted by SoftMaker
TextMaker is not buggy at all. If people report problems, we investigate them and fix them. For this to happen, please report problems to support@softmaker.de instead of dismissing TextMaker as buggy without substantiating it.
Martin Kotulla
SoftMaker Software GmbH
Always good to see the software developer come to this site and share their opinions. Its good business and shows that you care. Having said that, may I suggest a slightly LESS antagonistic tone. I don't know what you are looking for in terms of substantiating that textmaker has bugs. Do a search, you will find many of this community have said the same thing. Even as I read your response to another post in this thread, you appear to be combative and defensive. Try resolving problems without attacking the messenger.
I don't expect you to engage in a debate about price, it is your right to price it as you see fit. As it is my right to voice my dissatisfaction with your pricing and choose NOT to purchase.
If I was on the fence about purchasing textmaker, your response and tone would have me looking for a more consumer-friendly vendor.
Sorry if I offended you. I am following discussions in many online forums, and I pride myself in at least reading nearly all support inquiries sent to SoftMaker. That (and my constant use of TextMaker) gives me a pretty good image where TextMaker is stability-wise, and the contrast of you saying that TextMaker is "very buggy" (your words) makes me a bit combative.
Try the trial version and come to your own conclusions; it wouldn't be fair, for example, to take messages about beta versions or people running the not-WM2003-enabled version on Pocket PC 2003s, and assume that bugs mentioned there relate to current software.
You'll find quite a few people for whom we prepared their personal service pack because they reported a bug. We go the extra mile for customers that have problems, investigate all bug reports, and have even repaired defective documents for customers (which happens once in a moon...).
Need a Word Processor - Guess I'll Have to Break Down and Pay!!!
. I've ranted enough the lack of a BASIC word processing software on the PPC. I was HOPEFUL that M$ would see the error of their ways and fix the problem with the 2003 update. No such luck.
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