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(3 1/2 out of 5)
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As you can see by the above graphic, when I first launched AppleWorks 6, I was seriously ticked at the missing tools on the toolbar. It seemed most of my favorites weren't there and doing what I preferred wasn't easily accomplished. It was instant hatred. How dare they delete all my favorite tools from the toolbar? I shut down version 6 and returned to version 5 to accomplish my tasks.
When it became time to start this review, I returned to AppleWorks 6 to better explore it for a proper rating. What did I find?
...a way to set the preferences (Edit - Preferences) to create a customized toolbar with just my favorite tools.
.....a way to create my own folder/file tab, so when I launch AppleWorks 6, I can easily find the documents I need, and they don't need to be my most recent items (there is already a tab for those). Imagine being able to quickly and easily refer to all your past letters, memos, articles, whatever, without having to search through your computer archives (with Sherlock or Find File) to find a particular item.
Besides the obvious, visual, features I could easily find, there were also improvements in the inner workings. Take the table at the beginning of this review (I deleted it because it doesn't fit in with our review format. But it was cool. -Editor). It was a lot quicker and easier to create and insert this table, as well as add the text and icons within it, than in the previous AppleWorks (version 5).
Now my biggest gripe with AppleWorks is the need for better DOCUMENTATION! What does their documentation say is new? Following is the list - all but an exact quote - that is contained in the Getting Started With AppleWorks 6 that comes with the CD (a 65 page pamphlet):
- "New presentation document for creating, organizing and setting display options for slide presentations.
- Useful, easily accessible Internet resources.
- New, easy table creation in any document.
- Updated user interface, including windows that replace the libraries and the New Document dialog box: a new Tools window that includes drawing, painting and frame tools; and a new window ("Accents") that combine tools for setting colors and other attributes.
- Many more enhancements, including auto-save, improved mail merge, and improved spreadsheet functionality."
In my opinion what is new is the customization options; visual windows instead of libraries and their lists; easier table creations and use (a lot easier to create and use); the auto-save feature; the whole presentation/slide show organization/creation section; and a whole lot of new internet oriented tools, windows, etc.....
About the only features it doesn't have included, that I can think of and would like, are speech-to-action (similar to MacSpeech's ListenDo!) and speech-to-text (like IBM's ViaVoice, Dragon System's Voice Power Pro Series 3 and the MacSpeech upcoming Speech to Text software).
What it doesn't have that I strongly feel it should have, is a tie-in to DataViz's MacLinks Plus.
For ease of use, functionality, versatility, customization and style, AppleWorks 6 gets 5 out of 5. The documentation gets 2 out of 5. Failing to have upgrade pricing is bad for those who purchased AppleWorks 5, especially those who purchased it recently, so that gets 0 out of 5. For not having incorporated MacLinks Plus with this version they also lose a few points. For not incorporating a speech-to-text program, they didn't lose any points - it was just a little wish/dream I would have liked but can understand it not being included.
When everything is totaled up, a 5 out of 5 program leaves the review floor with only 3 out of 5, mostly due to for no upgrade pricing, poor enclosed documentation and ignoring MacLinks Plus. But I'll give it another half point because it is from Apple, the company that makes this job possible!
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AppleWorks
6 -- $69.95
AppleWorks
6 + Connectix Virtual Game Station -- $79.95
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