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LOTUSBK.TXT
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1988-07-24
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Review of a Lotus 1-2-3 Book
Copyright 1988 by David W. Batterson
LOTUS 1-2-3 SIMPLIFIED, 2nd Edition, Including Version 2.0, by David Bolocan;
TAB BOOKS, Inc., 1986, trade paperback, 255 pp., $14.95
I don't use any kind of spreadsheets; I crunch words, not numbers. So as
a non-user of Lotus 1-2-3, I won't be able to get a handle on whether this is a
good user reference or not. But TAB BOOKS sent it to me, so guess I'll at
least give it a try.
But first a comment on the proliferation of software instructional books
which now cram the bookshelves at book and computer stores.
Why has a cottage industry sprung up (making fortunes for publishers) in
the last few years, of how-to books on the use of hardware and software? Isn't
the user guide/manual that comes with your computer, software, modem, printer,
etc. supposed to tell you all you need to know?
After spending lots of money on computer products, it is definitely WRONG
that you have to spend more money on books, when that information should have
been provided in the first place! I'm not blaming the publishers for seeing an
opportunity; the hardware/software companies are the culprits.
If software were properly designed so that it is intuitive, and if there
were excellent help screens and written documentation on hand, you WOULDN'T
HAVE TO BUY BOOKS, VIDEO TAPES OR ATTEND COURSES TO LEARN IT. For instance,
"Electric Desk" and "Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing!" have pop-up help screens
which answer all questions about usage, and the manuals are good too. I
guarantee you don't have to go buy "Electric Desk Simplified" or "Mavis Beacon
Explained" at B. Dalton.
Yes, I know what you're thinking. Lotus 1-2-3 is a high-end product that
isn't easy to master, like low-end software. True, but with the $zillions that
Lotus Development Corp. is raking in, they could improve user interface,
on-screen help, and written docs if they wanted to. For what they charge, they
could even toss in an instructional video tape. Do they offer free tech
support by phone, along with a free (800) number?--I don't know. If they
don't, they should.
When the Navy commissions a new nuclear sub, does the captain run down to
the mall and buy 50 copies of "Nuclear Submarine Operation Made Easy" by I. M.
Flowting? Jeez, I hope not. The military generally has excellent technical
manuals, so why can't Lotus, Microsoft, MicroPro International Corp.
(WordStar), and other software companies do the same? My only guess is
"greed."
The author of the book I'm supposed to be reviewing here, David Bolocan,
has also written "Advanced Symphony Applications," "Advanced Excel," The WORD
Book," and "JAZZ!." He will probably write MORE books about MORE software that
users can't figure out how to use. OK, off the soapbox.
I do hope that there is a 3rd Edition of "LOTUS 1-2-3 SIMPLIFIED" by now,
because some of the material sure looks dated. Photos show "an IBM PC with
512K RAM and a Mountain Computer external 10-megabyte hard drive." [Wow, it
sounds like equipment at Los Alamos!!!] WHO in the world runs Lotus 1-2-3 on
an IBM PC?
Other photos show "a graphics monitor" [yippee, I'm impressed!], "the
numeric keypad on the IBM PC keyboard [Fooled me; I thought it was the Space
Shuttle cockpit with all those numbers and arrows!], and [hold on to your hat,
folks!] "the Olivetti Praxis 41: a printer/typewriter that prints ten
characters per second."
My favorite photo is one which shows how to put a floppy disk into the
drive: "When the disk is inserted into the disk drive,the label faces upward
and outward." Give me a break; if you are learning Lotus, you already know how
to put a $%^*&^ floppy in the drive!
Read the lips, publishers: IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE PHOTOS, USE THOSE THAT
COMPLEMENT THE TEXT, NOT MEANINGLESS, OBSOLETE AND BORING PRESSKIT PHOTOS.
I suppose Bolocan's information is useful; I can't judge if it is, and if
a Lotus-learner should purchase it. That'll have to be YOUR decision.
In the meantime, if you buy a computer, printer, software or peripherals,
and the docs are hard to decipher and tech support personnel only confuse you,
then write a letter to the company's CEO and tell him about it. You spent the
money and you deserve better!
###
In addition to articles, reviews and commentary, David W. Batterson has written
software manuals which (HOPEFULLY) are easy to understand. He does not
tolerate shoddy goods, hard-to-read manuals, or inferior customer service from
ANY company. Your comments are welcome. Send via MCI Mail: DBATTERSON.