Volkswriter

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Volkswriter
300px
Leaflet of VolksWriter 2.2
Type Word processor
License Commercial proprietary software
Website {{#property:P856}}

Volkswriter was a 1980s-era word processor for the IBM PC written by Camilo Wilson and distributed by Lifetree Software, Inc.

Description

Camilo Wilson was an author and computer consultant who in 1981 planned to write a book on the IBM PC. One of the first to receive the new computer, 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] with an advertisement in PC Magazine. Lifetree claimed that the $195 Volkswriter was "a high performance word processor" that was "easy to learn", with which "you cannot erase data unintentionally".[3]

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".[4]:{{{3}}}[5] To compete with WordStar for the PC, which appeared six weeks after Volkswriter, Wilson emphasized its ease of use.[1]:{{{3}}} By early 1984, Lifetree had 40,000 customers, $2 million in sales, and released an enhanced $295 Volkswriter Deluxe,[2]:{{{3}}} also ported to the Atari ST running OS-9[6] and, as GEM Write, to the GEM.[7] 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.[8]

Reception

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, it stated "If I needed to have a novice using a word processor within an hour, Volkswriter would be my choice".[4] 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.[5]

References

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