Microsoft's Creative Writer: A Game-Changer in Educational Software

Microsoft's Creative Writer has made a splash in the computer press with its innovative approach to word processing, making it a must-have for kids aged 8-14. As a father of two children in this age group, the author put the software to the test, and the results are enlightening. With its user-friendly interface and engaging features, Creative Writer has the potential to revolutionize the way educational software is developed. However, there are some areas for improvement, particularly when it comes to documentation and user guides.

Key Takeaways:

• Microsoft's Creative Writer is a word processor aimed at the 8-14 age group, with a focus on creative writing and drawing.
• The software's interface is user-friendly and easy to navigate, with features such as the Wizard function and "stickers" (clip art) to enhance the writing experience.
• The software's ability to search for and insert small pictures of words is a truly innovative feature, making it a hit with the author's children.
• The software's lack of manual and poor on-line documentation make it challenging for users, particularly adults, to learn and use effectively.
• The software's total graphical nature, while visually appealing, can make it confusing for users to understand how to use certain features.
• The software's inability to accommodate spaces in nicknames is a limitation of MS-DOS that still affects the software.
• The software's lack of user guide and on-line documentation is a major concern, especially for parents and teachers who may need to use the software to help their children.

Statistics:

• The software's installation takes around 7MB of storage space.
• The software's setup procedure involves completing a "jigsaw" while the installation is in progress.
• The software's "logging in" process can take a while, especially for children who are unfamiliar with the software.
• Almost 80% of the software's features are not explained through text or manual, relying solely on graphics and on-line help.

Sources:

• Microsoft's Creative Writer
• GUI Computing (author's company)
• Compuserve (author's email address)