Corel lets
its software
do the talking
Microsoft's competitor gets
By Richard Borreca
the nod for cost and its appealing
voice-recognition package
Star-Bulletin
You want software for your new computer, but you don't want to pay top dollar for the huge Microsoft Office 2000 suite, what to do?
Microsoft Corp.'s leviathan, if you buy the top-of-the-line package, costs $799, while the new competitor WordPerfect Office 2000 by Corel Corp. goes for only $499.
At these prices you might expect either suite to be packed with tools to handle anything you could want to do with a computer.
It's true that Corel and Microsoft are both packing variations of superb computing Swiss Army knives that allow you to write, crunch numbers, make pictures, put together presentations, manage all your information and make databases.
But Corel gives you something extra: someone who listens when you talk.
Bundled in the Corel package is Dragon NaturallySpeaking, one of the best voice-recognition software packages, which lets you dictate directly into the word processor or spread-sheet application. Microsoft has nothing like it in its Office 2000 suite.
Another extra that comes with Corel is Print Office, which includes hundreds of style sheets and formatted publications, such as menus, events lists, newsletters and inventories.
Both Corel and Microsoft allow you to send your creations directly to the Internet as Web pages.
Microsoft Office has grabbed most of the business software market share, but if you're looking for something just as good, with added features, at a bargain price, Corel's new offering works.
