WORD, A Word Processor. Was: The Tools Tech Writers Use

[Robert Plamondon <robert -at- PLAMONDON -dot- COM>]

Let's not get wrapped around the axle here.  The main flaws in Microsoft
Word are:

1. It seems to have the features that are necessary for technical
documentation,
but these features (master documents, support for large files, OLE import of
even
moderate-sized objects) are broken.  In addition, some other features, such
as
fast saves, seem to be broken, yet are on by default.

2. Microsoft lies through its teeth about the product's capabilities,
doesn't fix
major bugs for years and years (if ever), and doesn't send out a bug list or
any
hint of the enormous flaws in the program with the software itself.  There
may
be a list hidden somewhere, but I've never found it.

Some companies are committed to customer service.  Products from these
companies
can be even worse than Word, but not cause anywhere near the amount of
damage and
rage, because the manufacturer provided a map to the minefield and is
willing to
help you traverse it.

Microsoft's attitude is, "Well, now that you've figured out that you're in
the
middle of a minefield, just walk out!"

Claiming that Word is "just a word processor" is irrelevant.  I used word
processors a
dozen years ago that were far more robust than Word.  Anyway,
state-of-the-art has advanced
to the point where Word should NOT be called a word processor, but a "cute
little memo
writer."

I don't know about the rest of you, but I've found Word to be so crash-prone
with even
modest hardware data books that I can't commit to deadlines.  I've never had
this problem
with other software, even 1970s-vintage stuff like troff.  Word is fifteen
years behind the
times in basic functionality.  The very concept that a program would become
unstable with
files a mere megabyte long -- 3% of a modest system's memory -- is
incredible.  I'll bet
Word brings in over a hundred million dollars of profit to Microsoft every
year.  You'd
think they'd spend some of that money to purchase a reimplementation by
someone who knows
what they're doing.

The rule of thumb is: "Only use Word on the documents you don't want to
keep."

        -- Robert

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