★ LITTÉRATURE ★ ENGLISH ★ USING THE AMSTRAD WORD PROCESSOR|8000 Plus) ★ |
| Using the Amstrad Word Processor | Littérature English |
Thankfully this book is a little more interesting than its title might suggest - only the first 87 pages are devoted to using LocoScript, and while the tuition given might not be as thorough and foolproof as that provided by 'Step by Step...' or even Susan Rogers' book, it is quite adequate for all but the most asinine. Michael, if I might be so forward ('Mr Milan' disorientates me geographically), has no preconceptions about his readers. He clearly assumes that they would like to become computer literates who use commands rather than code words.! know I am supposed to be a computer expert because I can throw a boot disc together, but if I was a beginner I would learn a thing or two. The LocoScript section seems fine. Moving on to matters more engaging we are introduced to CP/M. We are told why it is so important and life takes on a meaning again. To get the best out of this section you are going to have to do some homework of your own; let Michael point the way and seed the desire, and don't be frightened to experiment. No computer ever died from the wrong instruction - a few files deleted to be sure, but c'est la vie. The chapter dealing with BASIC is useful if only for the two programs it contains, one being a card index system the other a typing tutor. This isn't an introduction to the language - well it's meant to be, but I can't see it satisfying the beginner. But never mind, there are bound to be many who will draw inspiration from this section. Some useful advice is offered on commercial software, even if only two wordprocessors and no spreadsheets or databases are mentioned by name. The author clearly has a disposition towards computer communications - over forty pages are devoted to the subject. Apart from the plug for ChitChat it's all useful information. He explains the different systems you can access, how the systems could help you, he even describes how to use Mail232. Instructions are given for connecting your PCW to a modem, a Brother typewriter, a BBC and even a Tandy computer (Not an Amstrad CPC or 1512!). At the end of the book is a list of characters available from within LocoScript, the dreaded ASCII table and some rather clever charts showing how the menus in LocoScript fit together Can't help feeling I have seen those somewhere else. It's well worth considering this book. It will help you understand computers, LocoScrtpt and communications. It really is refreshing to see a book which addresses itself to the computer - rather than just the wordprocessor 8000PLUS
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