To: Bret.Musser@F.GP.CS.CMU.EDU, R.Scott.Crowder@F.GP.CS.CMU.EDU, 
    David.Maynard@K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU, bovik@CS.CMU.EDU
Reply-To: ral+@CS.CMU.EDU
In-reply-to: Your message of Thu, 07 Dec 89 19:54:29 -0500.
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 90 11:21:10 EST
Message-ID: <23082.633370870@LERNER.AVALON.CS.CMU.EDU>
From: Richard.Lerner@LERNER.AVALON.CS.CMU.EDU

Thanks for you help in my search for a spreadsheet for an IBM-XT.  In the
end I selected Quattro Pro from the computer store.  At $61 their price was
unbeatable.  I haven't opened it yet, so I don't know how good it is.
Here are the replies I received.

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From: David.Maynard@K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU

I've personally never used it, but have heard good things about
Borland's Quattro.  It is a Lotus 1-2-3 clone with lots of extra
features.  I just received an offer in the mail today telling me I can
order "Quattro Pro" (the new enhanced version) for only $99 (until
1/31/90) since I'm a previous Borland customer.  If you want any other
Borland software (like C or Pascal compilers) you could go to the CMU
computer store, buy Turbo C and then get the $99 Quattro Pro deal.  Or,
you could just ask the computer store how much the new version will
cost.

-David

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From: R.Scott.Crowder@F.GP.CS.CMU.EDU

PC magazine looked at PC spread sheets sometime this past summer (1989).
They do pretty good reviews.  My personal preference for spread sheets is
MicroSoft Excel, but that only runs on 286 or 386 based machines.  I have
played around with Borland's Quattro which was nice on a powerful machine,
but I have no idea what is like on the XT.

The industry leader is Lotus 123 Version 2.2.  I don't recommend getting it,
but you will find the most books and 3rd party add-ins to support
specific tasks.

Both Quattro and 123 require 512K and need about 1.5 MB of disk space
for all the assorted files.  Both systems will use expanded memory.
From what I remember from the reviews I read they really require the
extra memory to be pleasant to use.

Both systems have a macro programming language that can be used to create
interactive user input forms.  Based on very little experience Quattro's
macro language is easier to use.

Neither 123 or Quattro support a mouse in their base configuration.  The
microsoft mouse comes with a 123 mouse driver.  I don't remember seeing
a driver for Quattro.

Sorry I couldn't give more exact answers, but most of my spreadsheet
work was on an AT class machine with excel.

--Scott

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From: Bret.Musser@F.GP.CS.CMU.EDU

o  Which are the good spreadsheets

The "standard" for the IBM world is Lotus 123.  However, the latest 
versions of Lotus might not work well with only 640K ram.  From Borland
there is Quattro, a Lotus 123 clone which works fairly well, but I'm 
not sure if it includes a graphing package or not.  Actually, I
think it does, but check to make sure.

If you want to go with Lotus, I would stick with an older version.  
My mom created a very very large and semi-complex spreadsheet using 
the latest Lotus of 3 years ago on a system identical to yours.

Personally, I'm using an 8 year old version of MS Multiplan.  Its
pretty simple, but it gets the job done.  I don't find much need
for programming my spreadsheets.  I'm not even sure if Multiplan is 
still on the market...  But for creating things like how long it takes
to go X miles at Y speed, it works just fine (-:.

There are also "TSR" spreadsheets that can be popped up with the 
touch of a few keys.  Probably the best one is from Traveling Software
(the actual name I've forgotten).

If I were to buy a spreadsheet today, I would probably go with 
Quattro.  Its quick, easy to learn, the menus are customizable, 
and for the money (big CMU discount), it can't be beat.

o  What are their system requirements

The latest versions of Lotus require OS/2 and/or expanded memory
I believe.  I think the program is getting to a point where it is 
trying to do too much of everything.

o  Can they make use of optional system components (MS windows, Mouse)

MS offers the spreadsheet Excel that uses windows and the mouse.  But its
just too big and bulky to run well on a PC (it was ported from the Mac).
I got MS Windows with my AT clone.  I installed it the first day, tried 
it out, then deleted it the second day.  Maybe I'm just too spoiled by
Unix and X windows...

You might want to review vol 12, issue 7 of BYTE magazine.  Although the
info is two years old, its still gives a general idea of what is out there.
Also, check Nov. '89 Personal Computing (in hunt library).  They have a
special on spreadsheets.

Hope this helps some.

Bret.

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