Software spotlight: NewWord
https://winworldpc.com/product/newword
Came across this little program recently: a word processor from NewStar / Rocky Mountain Software called "NewWord".
NewWord is an interesting product as it represents a turning point in word processing history. Specifically, it represents the beginning of MicroPro WordStar's decline.
In the very early 80s, MicroPro WordStar was a popular word processor on CP/M and DOS Microcomputers. However, around the release of version 3.3 (1983) WordStar began to stagnate. There was also a perception that MicroPro was being difficult and refusing to add features users wanted.
NewWord came in to existence around 1983 as a clone of WordStar created by former MicroPro employees. Stan Reynolds, Peter Mierau, and Richard Post left MicroPro in 1982 to form a company called "NewStar".
NewWord filled a gap for WordStar users as WordStar 3.3 went unupdated. According to NewStar, NewWord used an entirely original code base and was therefore immune to any potential legal retaliation from MicroPro.
Specifically, NewWord clones the WordStar user interface and can read/write WordStar files. NewWord also added new features such as an undo key, unerase, multiline headers, and color video text.
NewWord was available fist for CP/M and then the IBM PC.
It requires 96K or ram and is compatible with IBM PC, PCJr, Corona PC, and Columbia Data Products PC.
Another interesting feature of NewWord is that this version contains an early form of product activation. Although the disks are not copy protected, you can not run the software until you call Rocky Mountain Software Systems (The distributors of NewWord) and receive a code to "unlock" the disk.
This process will also permanently write your company/name in to the executable, where it will display each time the program starts.
Good luck calling them up today!
Thankfully, this copy was already activated, and back then there was no real way to tie it to a specific computer.
MicroPro experienced numerous setbacks making an update to WordStar 3.3. And in 1985 they released "WordStar 2000", which was not really WordStar, but rather a new word processor with a new user interface based on IBM DisplayWriter - something that most WordStar users did not want.
MicroPro also flailed around with several variants based on WordStar 3.3, including "MicroPro Easy", "WordStar Express", and "WordStar 1512".
It looks like MicroPro at some point rebranded NewWord 2.x as "WordStar for PCjr". Not much documentation on what is up with that.
Finally, in 1987 MicroPro purchased NewWord and used that as the basis for WordStar 4.0!
But by that time, WordStar had gone without a real update for so long, other word processors such as Word Perfect, Professional Write, and Microsoft Word for DOS had taken hold.
Came across this little program recently: a word processor from NewStar / Rocky Mountain Software called "NewWord".
NewWord is an interesting product as it represents a turning point in word processing history. Specifically, it represents the beginning of MicroPro WordStar's decline.
In the very early 80s, MicroPro WordStar was a popular word processor on CP/M and DOS Microcomputers. However, around the release of version 3.3 (1983) WordStar began to stagnate. There was also a perception that MicroPro was being difficult and refusing to add features users wanted.
NewWord came in to existence around 1983 as a clone of WordStar created by former MicroPro employees. Stan Reynolds, Peter Mierau, and Richard Post left MicroPro in 1982 to form a company called "NewStar".
NewWord filled a gap for WordStar users as WordStar 3.3 went unupdated. According to NewStar, NewWord used an entirely original code base and was therefore immune to any potential legal retaliation from MicroPro.
Specifically, NewWord clones the WordStar user interface and can read/write WordStar files. NewWord also added new features such as an undo key, unerase, multiline headers, and color video text.
NewWord was available fist for CP/M and then the IBM PC.
It requires 96K or ram and is compatible with IBM PC, PCJr, Corona PC, and Columbia Data Products PC.
Another interesting feature of NewWord is that this version contains an early form of product activation. Although the disks are not copy protected, you can not run the software until you call Rocky Mountain Software Systems (The distributors of NewWord) and receive a code to "unlock" the disk.
This process will also permanently write your company/name in to the executable, where it will display each time the program starts.
Good luck calling them up today!
Thankfully, this copy was already activated, and back then there was no real way to tie it to a specific computer.
MicroPro experienced numerous setbacks making an update to WordStar 3.3. And in 1985 they released "WordStar 2000", which was not really WordStar, but rather a new word processor with a new user interface based on IBM DisplayWriter - something that most WordStar users did not want.
MicroPro also flailed around with several variants based on WordStar 3.3, including "MicroPro Easy", "WordStar Express", and "WordStar 1512".
It looks like MicroPro at some point rebranded NewWord 2.x as "WordStar for PCjr". Not much documentation on what is up with that.
Finally, in 1987 MicroPro purchased NewWord and used that as the basis for WordStar 4.0!
But by that time, WordStar had gone without a real update for so long, other word processors such as Word Perfect, Professional Write, and Microsoft Word for DOS had taken hold.