Yeah Write? Yes, Right!
Written: Mar 08 '00 (Updated Mar 08 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Small Footprint, Very Fast, Intuitive Word Processing Program, Internet-Friendly
Cons: None
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| lap0530's Full Review: Yeah Write |
A Competitor for Word and WordPerfect? Yeah Write!
A radical alternative to slow, bloated, huge, memory-hogging word processors is now available for the ridiculously low price of $29. Yeah Write is available by download (with a 15-day free trial) from Word Place, Inc. at the following web site:
http://www.wordplace.com
The download is less than 1MB, and the installed program is less than 2MB. If one chooses not to register, a defeatured free version is still available after the 15-day trial period. I am typing this review in Yeah Write, and I must say that I am genuinely impressed.
Many users have found that Word and WordPerfect have become too feature-rich, too slow, and far too difficult to learn and use. For other options some have looked to Lotus (not much better) or even to Microsoft itself. The Word Pad shipped with Microsoft Windows 95 and higher is a fairly decent word processor, and certainly is not bloated like Word. Microsoft Works is another choice. But among all the options available today, Yeah Write just may be the best.
But Yeah Write is not just for lists, notes, or memos. It is a full-featured, Internet-friendly application that makes it fun to use a word processor again. In addition to creating, editing, and printing documents, Yeah Write allows those documents to be sent by e-mail (including a broadcast option), or to be transferred by FTP (file transfer protocol). Other unexpected amenities are a very nice spell checker (which also provides a word count) and a downloadable thesaurus.
What Makes Yeah Write Different?
The keywords are radical departure. When one launches Yeah Write, she is met with a colorful, inviting interface that uses a drawer and folder metaphor. The standard and colorfully labeled folders inside the drawer are Address, Diary, E-Mail, Faxes, General, Journal, Letters, Memos, Notes, and To Do. The folder titles appear as a series of tabs across the top of the user’s screen. Clicking on a tab opens the folder’s contents. Other folders and subfolders can be added by right-clicking on a folder tab, and these (or any other folder) can also be renamed. An optional "Kid's Drawer" can be activated with such additional folders as Assignments and School Papers.
Simplicity of design is apparent throughout Yeah Write. To create a new file in the General Category, one simply navigates to a new line, selects "New," and begins typing in the text area. A descriptive title can be added. I am writing this review in Yeah Write, and the Description I provided is “Review of Yeah Write.” Selecting either the date, the description, or the beginning line of text brings up the text, which can be immediately edited. In Yeah Write, there is no such convention as file naming. And though the option of saving a document exists, it is not necessary since the document is kept in its current state whenever one exits the document or the program. Moreover, because the document was typed inside a folder, there is instantaneous file organization.
Another departure from expectation is that the issue of screen font and layout is entirely separated from printer font and layout. At first, WYSIWYG enthusiasts might object to this, but I’m finding it quite enjoyable. My aging eyes are looking at a 12 point Verdana font with a pleasing blue background. When I select File, Print, I am shown a print preview, where I can select a printer, a font, margins (adjustable only for the entire document), justification, and of most interest a choice of several print formats such as block, book (paragraph-indented), single-spaced, and double-spaced. Selecting one of these options causes the print preview to be instantly refreshed with the new format.
A variety of styles including outlines and headings are available from an unobtrusive toolbar that sits atop the Windows taskbar. This toolbar makes available font selections (screen only), help, spell-checking, help, search and replace, printing, and document saving.
Where Did This Interesting Program Come From?
The first hint of the origins of this program came from the print preview screen. It seemed remarkably similar to something I’d seen before. Then I remembered. The old WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS (you remember, blue screen, white characters) had a print preview option. This was the harbinger of full WYSIWYG word processing, but in many ways, that old WordPerfect was such a gem. I hated giving it up. Now I have a way to go back to it without losing any modern features.
The similarity was absolutely no coincidence. Based in Orem, Utah, Yeah Write is the brainchild of several former WordPerfect gurus who seemed to understand the frustrations of most users with today’s word processing programs.
Overall Evaluation
This program has a zero learning curve. I began using it immediately, and found that I had no problems understanding or using any features it offered. Such features as e-mail and FTP require access to a server, of course, but like every other aspect of Yeah Write, they are intuitive and simple. The program is lightning-fast. A brief e-mail interaction with the staff at Yeah Write cleared up my confusion about creating folder names of my own and now I have one for "Reviews."
Yeah Write supports limited file import and export formats. In addition to its own Yeah Write format, the program allows files to be exported to (and imported from) WP 5.1, text (including ANSI characters), and RTF file types. These, however, should be sufficient to get a document into or out of Yeah Write.
Anyone who is tired of the two-party system of word processing can join the “reform party” of Yeah Write for free or $29. I’d write more, but I’m off to register. And I’m voting for Yeah Write as the best new software program I’ve seen lately.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
lap0530
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Location: Anderson, SC
Reviews written: 122
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About Me:
Psychology and management professor and business consultant
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