Welcome to
Larry's (Updated 10-18-2000)
Macintosh Software Reccomendations

Welcome friend,
Here are some Mac related links I think you would find interesting and/or useful.

Here is a list of programs (with samples, - as proof is in the output!) that I reccomend for users of older Macs.

Unfortunately most of these titles are no longer published, but you may be able to find them on auction sites or at businesses that sell used mac software. All the versions lited have been tested up to OS9 and will run on a 4MB Mac Plus at the low end (e-mail me with version reccomendations for a machine or other questions).

ClarisWorks/AppleWorks (Claris or Apple) (2.0 - 5.0)

This program is very underrated by many as they never look much farther than the word processor, database, and spreadsheet, all of which are very nice and include all the features we like to use the most.

The hidden magic of Claris/AppleWorks is in it's draw layer - within the draw layer you have object oriented drawing tools (looks sharp on whatever printer you choose), text blocks that have all the word processor's functionality (and are linkable - great for multi column/page newsletters) ability to import bitmaps as well. Our office has alot of really professional looking forms thanks to AppleWorks, and some of which are overlayed with text blocks or database fields to make them look even more professional when filled out!

If you got this program with your Mac, take a good long look at it and you will be the envy of your Microsoft wielding friends when you whip out stuff so fast and perfect looking.

Word Processor - Write Now (ver. 4) T-Maker, WordStar, or Soft...

Apple/Clarisworks has one failing in my book. it's Word processor does not do decent tables (ingeniously it uses embedded spreadsheets, but they are as limited as spreadsheets)

Write Now is a lean, mean, little Word Processing machine with built-in dictionary, headers, footers, and all that other good stuff, as well as a table interface that would make a Word user envious. Graphics can be cumbersome with this wordprocessor though, but with a little table it gets better.

As I said, great, small word processor, excellent tables.

Database - FoxBase+/Mac (2.0/2.01) Fox Software or Microsoft

If you need something really meaty in a database (beyond claris works) but filemaker makes you feel limited, then look for FoxBase +/Mac. This database based originally on dBase III+ structure and language, takes the best advantage of the macs graphics and display abilities (the later versionsFoxPro had been lamed down in printing ability to make it more 'compatible' with the windows version).

I will admit it isn't all the object oriented programming of todays machines, but all the output and input can be programmed from within (you can ignore the restrictive report writer). Unlike FoxPro - Foxbase, can send lines, boxes, and graphics out to the printer, in SAY commands a(including line-based PICT drawings, no 72dpi BMPs here!). I have made this program reproduce forms in their look, mde it produce resource directories (all you do is inter the data, the programs can do the layout and indexing, and table of contents for you!

This power does come at a price; you need to know how to program, but unlike the spaghetti code of C - FoxBase's language is more reminicent of structured BASIC or Pascal, which many 20/30 year-olds had learned in high school. Speed may be a factor as well as it is a 68000 mac application, and it is (at the network level) client mainteined (not client/server) but even though on a Mac G4 this baby really runs! Yes it still works under OS9.

Graphics - SuperPaint (1.1+ for B&W, 3+ for B&W/color - Silicon Beach or Aldus)

This program was written by Silicon Beach who was then bought by Aldus etc. For many years this was the standard paint/draw program that everyone compared their products to. As of version 3 - 8 bit color and many fancy effects were added. The draw layer supported variable grid measurements etc. Yeah, it may be a bit dated but it had a few features not found in Apple/ClarisWorks.

Included with later versions of SuperPaint my be Type Twister by Aldus, this marvel lets you do those fancy printed effects like PrintShop Deluxe's Headline but as a copyable bitmap or Postscript image. This is a very powerful design aid combined with any of the other graphics capable programs.

Graphics - Color It (Micro Frontier)

This program was included with many scanners. I consider it the low-cost version of photoshop, many of the same affects and touches can be done with this program. One complaint I have is the lack of JPEG/GIF support (may be corrected in a later varsion) But still one of my faves.

Graphics - Graphic Converter (shareware!!!)

Ok, I like graphics work. Graphic Comverter lives up to it's name whether it's an Amiga IFF or a Windows BMP, Graphic Converter can turn it into a PICT, JPEG, or any of 40 or so formats it has in it's library. It also has alot of basic image editing tools, such as adjustments, resize, dithering, palette size, etc. A very handy utility especially for web page people.

Graphics - PrintShop Deluxe (color macs only, sorry)

Not everyone is a layout artist or wants to be but they do want to make beautiful signs, banners, colorful cards and calendars. Printshop, which has been around since the mid 80s, is a fantastic creation aid with colorful artwork and an easy to use interface. The PrintShop Companion adds business cards, labels, certificates and more to Printshop's features, as well as even more graphics libraries and fonts.

An added bonus to Printshop is the "Exporter" program which lets other graphics capable programs have access to PS graphics. The exporter will let you browse the Print Shop image libraries and export the images to either Postscript or PICT, I use this all the time to add grpahics to things I do with AppleWorks or Write Now. Another bonus are the cool fonts that are added to your system as well.

Note: Even though PrintShop Enemble says Power PC only the PrintShop Deluxe and PrintShop companion portions will run on a 68020 or better Mac, and includes several lwonderful ibraries on the three CDs.

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