Review
Created: November, 1999
In the infancy of personal computing, there were print shop programs
that offered even computer illiterates the promise of self-publishing.
Most of this software, which produced pamphlets, letterheads and
newsletters, was remarkably easy to use -- but the end result
looked produced by kids with crayons.
Fast forward to 1999 and the release of Corel Print Office 2000,
which serves the same demographic but provides an end product
that has much of the luster of professional work. This three-CD
program is the consummate answer for small business people,
students and aspiring home publishers.
The program houses a design application and
photo-editing utilities, not to mention thousands of clip art
images, photographs and templates. The range of use for this
program is endless. Its engine is ideal for novices.
This application is easy to use. The tutorial
help that remains on the left side of the screen rivals any
help options available in Windows software. Every step of the
publishing process is defined in a "choose-your-own-adventure"
manner that will aid the novice but hinder the more seasoned
print shop operator.
There is also a full range of options. Short
of producing a regular newspaper or magazine, this program can
output any type of business or personal literature. The end
options after you've designed your document are expansive, providing
e-mail, Web publishing and hard copy printing of your work.
With an endless array of stock photography,
clip art and templates, no project will ever look the same.
Corel Print Office 2000 does have some flaws.
The tutorial format is great for novices but more experienced
users will find it infuriatingly simplistic. They will also
be frustrated by its lack of shortcuts and hot keys. Simple
document changes -- such as tab formatting, which take mere
moments to modify in other programs -- take far too long in
Print Office 2000's beginner-oriented environment.
A program of this nature should appeal to small
business owners. But this reviewer suspects it may be too time-consuming
for many of these hard-working individuals.
Corel Print Office 2000 is an easy-to-use, help-at-every-turn
interface that is constructive for neophytes but constrictive
for more experienced home or small business publishers. Rookies
to personal publishing will be able to design their own letterheads,
business cards and pamphlets after one or two sittings.
Unfortunately, when you've learned your stuff
and no longer need the tutorial help that forms the basis of
Print Office 2000, other programs like Quark Xpress and Adobe
PageMaker will probably be more up your alley.
Reviwer's Rating: 3.5 out of 5.0.
Reviewer's comments: Corel Print Office 2000 has plenty
to offer novices, but its interface will hinder more experienced
users.
Price: $70 US / $100 CDN
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