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Deb Newman wants something better than Microsoft Publisher (have I got its
name right?) and doesn't want to spend too much money.
As Brendan Abbott points out her choice will be influenced by how her
newsletter will be multiplied. If she is going to produce masters for
copying on a Xerox or similar machine she has more choices than if she is
going to send her material on disc to a commercial print shop. In the latter
case she should, as Brendan recommends consult with the print shop, which
will probably recommend either PageMaker or Quark Express. Both are good
programs, although many claim PageMaker is easier to learn, (it works the
way I think, so I'm biassed).
As to cost. Brendan quotes list prices.
1) I don't know where Deb works but, if it qualifies as an
educational establishment she can get an excelent discount.
2) Similarly for competitive upgrade prices. These should always be
investigated, as should what your supplier considers to be a competitive
product. Some manufacturers give their dealers a lot of leeway here, others
are much stricter. In any case shopping around is always recommended.
Deb should also consider whether she needs a PostScript capable printer. If
she uses an outside print shop she will need post-script capability for
proofs. If she uses an in-house copier PostScript will allow her to produce
better and more flexible graphics.
The Roman Conquest was, however,
a _Good Thing_, since the Britons were
only natives at the time.
-- _1066 and All That_ by Sellar & Yeatman (1930) Chap 1.
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