On Thu, 21 Jan 1999, Larry S. Marso wrote:
> (i) "Document processor" is an utterly meaningless term. The universally
> accepted category name for software that edits words and yields formatted
> output is "word processor". LyX is not a "text editor". You might make
> an argument that "desktop publishing" is relevent, but that term has
> fallen into disuse. A cutesy attempt to create a new category name
> accomplishes nothing. My suggestion is:
It's not exactly a new name. I have in my hands the book "Dessign
Patterns" (E. Gamma et al, A-W, 1994), where the term "document editor" is
used widely, in a chapter about an OO dessign example, and includes
citations of several articles and PhD thesis that uses the same term.
>>LyX is an open source word processor with advanced typesetting features.
OTOH "word processor" comes from the old days of wordstar or the very
first M$ Word, when one couldn't expect much from those programs, not much
beyond primitive word processing indeed. IMNSHO "Document Processor"
describes much better what LyX is and does.
> (ii) Absolutely say "open source" -- and often. Also with the first
> reference to LaTeX.
>
> In fact, a press release announcing an advanced "open source" ... "word
> processor" ... "for Linux" ... has a good chance of making the **major
> news media**. Linux and open source are hot potatoes, now more than
> ever.
Agreed. "Free" is often a confusing word in English.
> (iii) Mention Microsoft Word and WordPerfect.
I don't think this is necessary in a PR. It would go better in a review
article. And there you should also mention other programs, like SciWord.
> (ix) Don't be discouraging.
>
> >Using LyX requires no familiarity with LaTeX -- unless you want to do
> >advanced things.
>
> I've certainly never seen M$ say "Excel requires no familiarity with Visual
> Basic, unless you want to do advanced things" <- a true statement, but
> lousy marketing.
Agreed.
Alejandro
