New Breed Of Word Processor May Be All A Person Needs

Q. I realize yours is a computer column, but I would be interested in information about the new breed of word-processing typewriters. While it would be nice to have a computer, I have neither the money nor the need for all that one can provide. I do, however, have a need for a word processor. One in particular that I'm interested in is the Canon Starwriter Pro 5000. But one thing I'm confused about is the DOS compatibility of their disks. What good does this do me, for instance, if I'm working on "Word for Windows" in the office and want to continue at home? Or, conversely, if I have something on my disk that I did on my word processor can I print it out or edit it at the office? - Lynne Goree, Seattle

A. Indeed. Why buy a backhoe just to do a little weeding in your garden?

The new breed of word processors - which are sort of a cross between a typewriter and a personal computer - are fully up to most everyday word-processing chores. Yet the machines are significantly cheaper than a full-fledged computer, and they're a heck of a lot easier to learn to use.

While you'd have to spend about $1,200 to set yourself up with a low-end 486, the Canon Starwriter Pro 5000 you mention lists for only $849.95. Given the usual discounting that means you should be able to find it for about $600. And you don't have to spend extra for software and a printer since they're built right in.

The Starwriter Pro 5000 carries 100 kilobytes of memory, which

means you can work with documents of up to about 50 pages. The unit has powerful built-in word processing software, which even lets you format your text into multiple columns and add clip-art. There's also a spell-checker, thesaurus and a spreadsheet program bundled right in.

You can choose five different fonts in building documents and when you're ready to print you can do so with laser printer quality of 360 dots per inch. Even better, while most dedicated word processors offer tiny, eye-straining displays, the Starwriter 5000 sports a separate, easy-to-read 14-inch VGA display.

If you don't need as much memory, can get by with a small, built-in display and can do without the spreadsheet program, you can save even more money. The Starwriter 70, for example, lists for $719.95, and I've seen it on sale for as little as $400.

All the Canon Starwriters have a 3.5-inch floppy drive that can accommodate the same disks that you use in your PC. The Starwriter does not, however, employ DOS so you can't simply take a disk from the PC and use it in the Starwriter. Nor can you simply save a file from the Starwriter and load it in your PC. Instead, you have to go through a rather tedious 10-step process of converting the disk to the other format.

Also, bear in mind that the conversion to and from DOS means your word processor files can only be transferred as ASCII text. In short, any formatting you've done to the document - indents, margins, boldface text, etc. - will be lost when you move it to the other machine.

Given these limitations, you should carefully consider whether your current needs are going to change. If you need to work with larger documents or transfer formatting, you could find yourself up the proverbial creek. With a PC, you can generally upgrade the equipment or purchase additional software as your computing needs change. Not so with a dedicated word processor.

Q. I live in Moses Lake and would love to be able to use America Online and other on-line services without getting horrendous phone bills. Is there any way to get around calling long distance to Wenatchee, the Tri-Cities and Yakima for access? - Anonymous

A. Sorry, if there's no local number for America Online there's no way around the long distance charges.

Some of the other services, however, do offer ways for you to stanch the flow of dollars to the phone company. CompuServe, for example, offers an 800 number that you can use. True, the 800 number carries a $9 per hour surcharge, but that likely still would be cheaper than the alternative.

Another strategy to save dollars is to use an off-line reader to automate your on-line sessions. Unfortunately, America Online does not have such a reader. But if you're using CompuServe, you can turn either to that company's Navigator or to Tapcis, a shareware program. Both programs allow you to run through what you want to do - upload and download files, check for messages, etc. - while you're off line. The program then quickly performs all those actions when you dial in and the meter is running.

Q&A by Patrick Marshall appears Sundays in the Personal Technology section of The Seattle Times. Questions can be sent three ways: by e-mail at ptech@seatimes.com; by voice mail at 464-8452; and by postal mail at Q&A/Technology, The Seattle Times, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111.