News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on WordStar: A Writer's Word Processor (1996).

Re:WordStar: A Writer's Word Processor (1996) by hilbert42 on Saturday March 06, 2021 @04:06PM (#26370530)
I've used many wordprocessors but WordStar still is my favorite, I first used it under CP/M and later on the IBM PC. Anyone who has used it knows that once you got the feel for the WordStar keystroke diamond it was magic to use. I still have hundreds of files in WordStar format and I can either import them into a GUI WYSIWYG WP or I can still use them in WordStar 7 running under an emulated environment in Windows.

WordStar came in various varieties with version 7 the last before it changed direction to WordStar 2000 (which, incidentally, was well before the year 2000). This put death knell on WordStar as its keystrokes were different to previous ones. Making a stupid and unpopular change like that ought to be a lesson for every software developer

When WordStar 2000 was released I recall that when at an exhibition having an argument with Seymour Rubinstein, CEO of MicroPro, WS's developer, about these stupid changes. I told him bluntly that I would not be upgrading from version 7 as I saw no reason why I should relearn all the hard-earned keystrokes for little advantage. The fact that WordStar 2000 failed, it seems that I was far from being alone with that view.

Incidentally, for those who are not familiar with WordStar, MicroPro or Seymour Rubinstein—Seymour Rubinstein was the inventor of the now infamous EULA—End User License Agreement! WordStar was close to the first program to have an EULA attached (from memory I think WordMaster (an earlier WP that predated WordStar), was actually first—someone correct me if I'm wrong).

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:WordStar: A Writer's Word Processor (1996) by agumonkey on Saturday March 06, 2021 @05:26PM (#26371088)
> WordStar keystroke diamond

reminds me of Alias software (Maya but maybe others) use or layout as ergonomics.

They used QWER and ZXCV as main rapid keybindings for the most used operations (pick, translate, rotate, scale). You didn't have to invest more than 20 seconds to remember that.

A lot of knowledge of this kind is probably locked in old forgotten ware.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:WordStar: A Writer's Word Processor (1996) by bioplastic on Saturday March 06, 2021 @06:28PM (#26371510)
Indeed, such a boost in ergonomics and productivity with just a "simple" choice. Btw, I was always amazed by people breaking this functionality by insisting using other keyboard layouts, more appropriate for text.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:WordStar: A Writer's Word Processor (1996) by hilbert42 on Saturday March 06, 2021 @05:47PM (#26371224)
Think you're right, it rings bell (albeit faint). Did the Wang wordprocessor use it too? (I used a Wang WP a few times long ago but I've no idea now. In fact the Wang was the very first WP I used — except for KP26/29 card punches with an IBM-360.) :-)
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:WordStar: A Writer's Word Processor (1996) by pseingatl on Sunday March 07, 2021 @02:31AM (#26374001)
The Wang WP didn't use the Wordstar diamond. It used function keys heavily, copied later (or ported) by a program called Multimate to the IBM PC.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:WordStar: A Writer's Word Processor (1996) by hilbert42 on Sunday March 07, 2021 @10:39AM (#26376667)
Yeah, on second thoughts I reckon you're right. The last time I used one was around '73 - '74 or so - so now it's all pretty vague. The few things that I can recall are that it was a large console model that used 8" floppy disks and editing was as slow as a wet week (writing to the floppy took a long time especially for a large document of around 50-100 pages).
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:WordStar: A Writer's Word Processor (1996) by LocalH on Saturday March 06, 2021 @04:55PM (#26370885)
>(from memory I think WordMaster (an earlier WP that predated WordStar), was actually first—someone correct me if I'm wrong)

From a cursory search, it seems that WordMaster is the direct predecessor to WordStar, programmed by the same person.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:WordStar: A Writer's Word Processor (1996) by hilbert42 on Saturday March 06, 2021 @05:37PM (#26371156)
From memory—it's been a long time—WordMaster was MicroPro's first product so presumably Rubinstein applied the EULA to it first (thus it was likely the first with an EULA). If not, then I'd guess he'd have applied the EULA with later issues/releases as WordMaster was also concurrently available along with WordStar.

Anyone with an original CP/M WordMaster 8" floppy (or its contents) to check?

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:WordStar: A Writer's Word Processor (1996) by rimiform on Saturday March 06, 2021 @04:59PM (#26370909)
The ESDX 'diamond' would be nightmare to use on an ortholinear keyboard.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:WordStar: A Writer's Word Processor (1996) by wombatmobile on Saturday March 06, 2021 @04:39PM (#26370756)
> I've used many wordprocessors but X still is my favorite

The best X is the X you know.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:WordStar: A Writer's Word Processor (1996) by hilbert42 on Saturday March 06, 2021 @04:47PM (#26370823)
Yeah, right, it's usually the case, but I've used MS Word, LibO, and many others since that time and for a much longer time than I ever used WordStar (consistently that is). The difference with WordStar is that one doesn't get sidetracked with layout and other futzing about, it was all WP without distractions.
[ Parent | on HN ]