GEM 1st Word Plus Ver. 2.0 (with GEM/3 Desktop Ver. 3.1/GEM Paint Ver. 2.01)
                         Copyright 1989 David Batterson

     There are many of us who don't use Microsoft Windows, because it's
been too slow, buggy, and not particularly stylish in its screen design.
     The new Windows 3.0 and OS/2 Presentation Manager (PM) reportedly are much
better.  I haven't seen a copy of Windows 3.0 yet.
     Meanwhile, Digital Research (creator of the CP/M operating system) pushes
ahead with GEM (Graphical Environment Manager).  It sells GEM/3 Desktop Ver.
3.1, a program and file manager much like Windows MS-DOS Executive.  Digital
also publishes a series of GEM applications that run from within the GEM/3
Desktop.
     GEM 1st Word Plus is their word processor.  The current software package
contains 1st Word Plus Ver. 2.0, along with GEM/3 Desktop Ver. 3.1, and GEM
Paint Ver. 2.01.
     GEM/3 Desktop is closer to the Mac interface than Windows is.  Xerox
Ventura Publisher users are already familiar with GEM, since Ventura uses a
runtime version of GEM.
     Why hasn't GEM become as popular a GUI (Graphical User Interface) as
Windows, when many users prefer it?  Well, it's tough to go up against the
behemoth Microsoft (which, of course, also killed off Digital's CP/M).  But
Digital has decided to port GEM applications to OS/2-PM in the future.
     GEM/3 Desktop doesn't have to be used with GEM-based applications only,
like 1st Word Plus, GEM Artline, Finesse, and so forth.  It can also be used as
a file manager.  Copying files is as easy as dragging icons, just like Mac
users have done for years.
     You can configure your DOS-based applications to run by double-clicking a
program's document file or parameters.  For example, from the DOS prompt, I
type C:> MIRROR CHECKMCI, which loads MIRROR III and my CHECKMCI.XTK file, to
automatically call MCI Mail and download any messages.
     With GEM/3 Desktop (after completing "Configure Application"), you would
simple double-click the icon labeled CHECKMCI.XTK, and away it goes!  Both take
about the same time; it's just a choice between DOS commands and mouse clicks.
     On to the review of 1st Word Plus.  If you're a Ventura user, you may like
1st Word Plus, since it will be easy to learn.  Why?--Because once you use any
GEM-based application, you'll be comfortable with all others.
     I don't think WordPerfect Corp. has anything to worry about competition
from 1st Word Plus.  But this isn't the user Digital is aiming at anyway.
     1st Word Plus is a low-end word processor which is easy to use, yet offers
most of the features you'll ever need, including a spelling checker, multiple
windows, full editing functions, pull-down menus, and support of most popular
printers.  You get WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) screens, including
display of bold, underline, light, and italic type styles.
     You can also select auto-hyphenation, justification, and save different
formats for various documents, such as letters, memos or fax cover sheets.
1st Word Plus includes a mail merge program called GEM 1st Mail.  I didn't test
this out, but it works like any other mail merge program.
     Also bundled with 1st Word Plus is GEM Paint.  This is your basic paint
program, much like PC Paintbrush or PaintShow Plus.  Documents are saved in the
.IMG format.  Graphics produced by GEM Paint can be easily imported into 1st
Word Plus.  GEM Paint also includes a Snapshot feature, to save screen images
to disk for editing.
     The 1st Word Plus software package lists for $99.  For more information,
contact Digital Research Inc., Box DRI, 70 Garden Court, Monterey, CA  93942;
800-443-4200; 408-649-3896; FAX: 408-649-0750.
                                       #
     David Batterson reviews PC hardware and software for various computer and
business publications.  Send comments via MCI Mail: DBATTERSON.