Camilo Wilson was an author and computer consultant who in 1981 planned to use the new IBM PC to write a book about the computer. One of the first to receive it in California, he purchased IBM's EasyWriter word processor—a launch title for the PC—and later said that its "horrors ... were such that I decided to write my own ... to get the book done". After writing the new application in Pascal in less than four months Wilson borrowed $15,000 to market it, and formed Lifetree Software with his girlfriend. Volkswriter debuted at the spring 1982 West Coast Computer Faire[1][2] and, as Plainwriter, in a small listing in the first issue of PC Magazine.[3] By the next issue Lifetree described the renamed Volkswriter in a full-page advertisement as "a high performance word processor" with which "you cannot erase data unintentionally".[4]
EasyWriter was so poor in quality that Volkswriter was for a while, as Andrew Fluegelman wrote in late 1982, "the only fully functioning word processor available for the PC".[5][6] To compete with WordStar, which appeared on the PC six weeks after Volkswriter, Wilson emphasized its ease of use.[1][4] By early 1984 Lifetree had 40,000 customers, $2 million in sales—about half to companies—27 employees, and released an enhanced $295 Volkswriter Deluxe,[2] also ported to the Atari ST running OS-9[7] and, as GEM Write, to GEM.[8] The company published versions of the software until May 1989 when due to profitability problems, the Volkswriter product line was sold to employees. The new company formed with the name Volkswriter Inc.[9]
Receptionedit
Fluegelman of PC Magazine wrote that "Like the inspiration for its name, VW doesn't go in for a lot of frills but performs essential functions very well". Although criticizing the lack of headers or footers, he stated "If I needed to have a novice using a word processor within an hour, Volkswriter would be my choice".[5] In a May 1983 review of several IBM PC word processors, BYTE described Volkswriter as "simple in design ... quite straightforward to use for minor writing projects ... just enough features to get most jobs done". It noted Volkswriter's ability to run on a 64K computer and that it had the lowest price, $195, but advised those who primarily used their computers for word processing to consider other options.[6]
'Volkswriter 3' Is Word-processing Program Not Likely To Be Outgrown, February 2, 1986 Author:Henry Kisor] (AP article, this copy from the Orlando Sentinel)
volkswriter, word, processor, written, camilo, wilson, distributed, lifetree, software, leaflet, volkswriter, 2developer, camilo, wilson, lifetree, software, initial, release1982, years, 1982, operating, systemdos, 9typeword, processorlicensecommercial, propri. Volkswriter is a word processor for the IBM PC written by Camilo Wilson and distributed by Lifetree Software Inc VolkswriterLeaflet of VolksWriter 2 2Developer s Camilo Wilson Lifetree Software Inc Initial release1982 42 years ago 1982 Operating systemDOS OS 9TypeWord processorLicenseCommercial proprietary softwareDescription editCamilo Wilson was an author and computer consultant who in 1981 planned to use the new IBM PC to write a book about the computer One of the first to receive it in California he purchased IBM s EasyWriter word processor a launch title for the PC and later said that its horrors were such that I decided to write my own to get the book done After writing the new application in Pascal in less than four months Wilson borrowed 15 000 to market it and formed Lifetree Software with his girlfriend Volkswriter debuted at the spring 1982 West Coast Computer Faire 1 2 and as Plainwriter in a small listing in the first issue of PC Magazine 3 By the next issue Lifetree described the renamed Volkswriter in a full page advertisement as a high performance word processor with which you cannot erase data unintentionally 4 EasyWriter was so poor in quality that Volkswriter was for a while as Andrew Fluegelman wrote in late 1982 the only fully functioning word processor available for the PC 5 6 To compete with WordStar which appeared on the PC six weeks after Volkswriter Wilson emphasized its ease of use 1 4 By early 1984 Lifetree had 40 000 customers 2 million in sales about half to companies 27 employees and released an enhanced 295 Volkswriter Deluxe 2 also ported to the Atari ST running OS 9 7 and as GEM Write to GEM 8 The company published versions of the software until May 1989 when due to profitability problems the Volkswriter product line was sold to employees The new company formed with the name Volkswriter Inc 9 Reception editFluegelman of PC Magazine wrote that Like the inspiration for its name VW doesn t go in for a lot of frills but performs essential functions very well Although criticizing the lack of headers or footers he stated If I needed to have a novice using a word processor within an hour Volkswriter would be my choice 5 In a May 1983 review of several IBM PC word processors BYTE described Volkswriter as simple in design quite straightforward to use for minor writing projects just enough features to get most jobs done It noted Volkswriter s ability to run on a 64K computer and that it had the lowest price 195 but advised those who primarily used their computers for word processing to consider other options 6 Volkswriter 3 Is Word processing Program Not Likely To Be Outgrown February 2 1986 Author Henry Kisor AP article this copy from the Orlando Sentinel Volkswriter 3 review by Paul Schindler of Computer Chronicles 16 February 1986 10 Volkswriter 4 word processing software evaluation by Joyce Sides COMPUTE Issue 134 OCTOBER 1991 PAGE 129 Volkswriter Scientific Simple But Not Quite Complete NEW PRODUCTS by David Chan The Scientist 1987 10 19 1 23 20 References edit a b van Gelder Lindsy August 1983 On The Road To Software Stardom PC Magazine p 156 Retrieved 22 October 2013 a b Winkler Connie 1984 03 20 People in the News Camilo Wilson PC Magazine p 62 Retrieved 24 October 2013 Plainwriter PC Magazine advertisement Feb Mar 1982 p 80 Retrieved 16 March 2016 a b Volkswriter PC Magazine advertisement April May 1982 p 35 Retrieved 21 October 2013 a b Fluegelman Andrew November 1982 Volkswriter 1 1 Camilo Wilson s Claim to Fame PC Magazine p 73 Retrieved 21 October 2013 a b Shuford Richard S May 1983 Word Tools for the IBM Personal Computer BYTE p 176 Retrieved 19 October 2013 Bisson Gigi August 1986 New Products Antic Retrieved 5 January 2015 Kisor Henry 1985 11 16 GEM Write Gives IBM Owners Apple styled Word Processing Orlando Sentinel Retrieved 5 January 2015 The Volkswriter turnaround Soft Letter 1990 11 07 Retrieved 2007 11 02 Schindler Paul E 16 February 1986 Psychological Software Computer Chronicles Season 3 Episode 20 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Volkswriter amp oldid 1107519942, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
