Numbers I must admit that scoffed at the idea of providing CP/M on home computers. One of my principal doubts was that a vast proportion of the software available carried enormous price tags, explained away by the need for 'dealer support', etc, that surpassed the cost of the computers themselves. Now I have to eat my words, as Amstrad, and certain other dealers, have been remarkably successful in negotiating price cuts of important releases.
Supercalc 2 is probably one of the top five best known names in the business software world, used by companies worldwide. Now for a lowly £49 you too can run the very same thing to keep track of your home budgeting. I'm still not entirely convinced that this means that owners of the 6128 should therefore ignore the best of the cheaper software such as Mastercalc but it is something to think about. Perhaps more importantly it makes the 8256 even more viable as a real low-cost business system. Unusually for a heavyweight CP/M release, it runs quite well on only one drive. Features offered include complex and very comprehensive formula options, the ability to merge several small sheets into one large one, a utility to convert files from another program into Supercalc readably and vice versa, calendar funcnons, user-defined screen formats, windowing, text look-up tables (for details not shown on screen all the time) and the ability to 'hide' selected cells. Take my word thai it can't be faulted. Tony Kendle , PopularComputingWeekly |
