Recent letters from readers indicate they have word processing on their minds.
Dear Frank and Judi - I've used PC-Write on my old 8086 computer since 1983. It's not fancy like newer word processing software, but it's enough for my letter-writing and journal-keeping needs.
I've heard there's a new version. But I can't find out who's selling it now that its original maker, Quicksoft, is out of business.
Can you help? Frustrated in Phoenix
Dear Firebird - PC-Write author Bob Wallace (who, incidentally, coined the term "shareware") sold all publishing rights to Starlite Software Corp., a small firm in Hadlock, WA. Now in version 4.15, it has added some modern features over the years. For instance, it can now format columns and import and print graphics.
Starlite is continuing the tradition of selling PC-Write as shareware. That is, you can try the software before you pay for it, and once you pay you get a printed manual and some tech support. If you send $70, you get a year of support. For $50, you get just thirty days' free help.
For more information, phone Starlite at 800-888-8088.
Dear Judi and Frank - Do you know of any shareware or public domain software for the SCO Xenix version of the Unix operating system? Searcher in Logansport, IN
Dear looker - We've never seen any organized listing of shareware or public domain software for Unix systems and couldn't find any listed in the enormous directory published by SCO, the vendor of Xenix. We're sure there must be some floating around - especially in university computer departments and on Internet.
If anyone reading your plea can help more specifically, we hope they let us know. We'll pass along any tips we get.
Dear Frank and Judi - I'm looking for inexpensive software to read a word processor document file out loud. I want it to read the file back to me through either the internal speaker or an auxiliary speaker. The dual purpose is for proof-reading major changes to see if all have been done, and to hear what it sounds like when read aloud.
I'd like software for both the PC and the Mac, as I use both of them. At sea in Ocean, NJ
Dear Swimmer - Your question is easy to answer. First Byte's $80 Monologue makes your other programs (word processors, spreadsheets, data bases, whatever) talk to you. It needs no board but the one that's in your IBM-compatible. You can use it to proofread or compare document versions. You can listen to E-mail messages while your hands do something else. You can type in stories and "play" them for tykes to hear.
Monologue speaks using phonetic rules like those that IBM developed decades ago to synthesize speech. To create the right sound, it analyzes spelling the way you might "sound out" a new word you come across. A built-in dictionary lets you add words and change pronunciations. The manual shows what symbols to use in building a new dictionary entry.
To our ears, Monologue speaks with a slight Scandinavian accent. But it's understandable even through tinny, low quality MSDOS computer speakers. With Sound Blaster or a similar audio adapter, it speaks as clearly as we do.
The MS-DOS version loads into RAM memory as a pop-up (TSR) program. When you pop it into action and move its cursor around the screen, it reads to you the word or number it's on. The Windows version pops up from any Windows word processor to read words, sentences or whole documents. From Excel, it reads columns of numbers.
On the Mac, it plays through the internal speaker. If you own MacInTalk, it can also convert text files to computery audio files. (MacInTalk is a shareware program, and it's available from Mac bulletin boards and through some Mac user groups.) For more information about Monologue, phone First Byte at 800-523-2983.