Publisher - Expensive Simplicity for Page Design
Written: May 25 '01 (Updated May 25 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Simple program. Allows anyone to create business like publications
Cons: Not as many tools or options as other page layout programs
The Bottom Line: Great software for simple publishing needs.
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| KCFemme's Full Review: Microsoft Publisher 2000 |
Microsoft Publisher 2000 is a page design software that allows you to create many different types of publications. Whether you are wanting a set of business cards, flyers to announce your upcoming garage sale, or even a simple website, Publisher has a way for you to created it.
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Publisher - The Program
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Publisher is very similar to every other Microsoft application. The menus, toolbars, and options make for an easy transition if you have used other MS Office applications.
In addition, it provides a lot of wizards and templates to help you change your blank page into a creative publication.
Installing the software takes just a few minutes. But before you do, you need to check out the system requirements. Most computers these days will have no problems, but older computers may not be up to the task of running Publisher
You need at least a Pentium 75 processor, but for best performance, 166Mhz is preferred. The recommend 32Mg RAM, personally, if you use other programs at the same time or what to use pictures, you really should be at 64Mg RAM. If you have a smaller hard drive, you may need to clean it up. Publisher requires 127Mg of your hard drive, and another 25 for the clip art images. In addition, they say that normal VGA monitors are capable of supporting the program, but it prefers Super VGA.
On a side note, I'd like to add my own recommendation. You should have a 17" monitor. Page layout, or page design, is much easier to work on with larger images. And with a larger monitor, it will be much easier.
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Publisher - Getting Started
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When getting into Publisher for the first time, you'll get hit with a big decision to make. And if you are going into it with a vague idea of what you are wanting to do, you may not get much accomplished.
The need to explore will come out quickly. As the Publisher Catalog is displayed, you now have the opportunity to view a lot of different types of documents, designs, and options.
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Publisher - Types of documents
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Publisher allows you to go in, use a blank page, and create your own designs and publications as you like. But for those of us that are creatively challenged (like me), it also provides with you ideas galore!
For small businesses, this would be a great program. In addition to the business cards and letter head, you can also create invoices, expense reports, fax cover letters, and purchase orders. Of course Word could produce all of these documents, but Publisher can help you create your own style, from colors to graphics and logos. Whenever you create a new business form, it automatically enters the default information for your business, home, or other information that you have personally added to the software.
And if you already have the cards, forms, flyers, and envelopes printing out with the same designs, you can always create a "simple" web page that looks just like your other documents.
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Publisher - The Wizards
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I love the wizards that Microsoft adds to a lot of their programs. When you know you need to create something new, but have no ideas yet on designs, or what content should be in there, it is so much easier to walk through a set of questions and have something prepared for you.
When you go through the Publisher wizards, you can choose designs that appeal to you, the type of publication you are wanting to create, and your preferences in colors.
Once the wizard is complete you have a good place to start. For instance, if you want to create a business card, choose the style you like, select the business card, choose your colors, and then you are ready to modify it to your own liking. You can change the graphics, move the words to different areas, and things like that. The idea of the wizards are to get you started ... although they do a good enough job that if you want something simple, you can use some of these just as they come out.
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Publisher - My Recommendation
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If you already have the Publisher program because it came with your Office 2000 software, this is a great little program to use. It is extensive enough that you can use it for your business needs, but easy enough that the kids can use it to create signs for their summer lemonade stands. It can even be used to create "tear-off" flyers for my daughter to post at the neighborhood grocery store to announce that she baby-sits. The tear-offs give her name and phone numbers so people don't search for pen and paper to get the information.
If you don't, and you are considering your options, you need to first consider what you are wanting the desktop publishing software for. If your needs are simple, this is a great program. But if you are wanting to major publishing and merging address into from a large database to include your mailing lists, you may want to look into a sturdier program.
Personally, for my current family and business needs, Microsoft Publisher more than takes care of us.
Recommended:
Yes
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KCFemme
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Location: Olathe, Kansas
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