Linda,
Publisher 2000 (the current version) is not terrible for template-based
production of newsletters, but it is decidedly consumer-based. You can build
pages from scratch, and it does allow you to size photos and use text blocks of
different widths. It's just not as elegant and smooth to work with as
Pagemaker. It does have a fairly decent clip art catalog with about 15,000
images.
Pagemaker, as you undoubtedly know, is a more professional-oriented program. A
professional designer would be more at home with Pagemaker, but a novice might
find publisher useful.
I would recommend Quark Xpress over Pagemaker however. It is designed for
professional publishing as well; I think it is easier to use than Pagemaker and
has more logical functions. Text blocks can be screened quickly; text can be
inset automatically, kerning and leading functions are easier to use; and I just
seem to be able to work faster with Quark than Pagemaker, especially when
designing newsletters. I have found that students learn Quark faster than
Pagemaker as well.
Adobe has a new product out called InDesign, which is supposed to outdo them
all. I haven't used that one yet. By the way, I have used Mac and IBM versions
of Quark and there is virtually no difference in their functionality. If your
client happens to be in education, prices are dramatically lower for everything.
I hope this helps.
Dr. John M. King
Linda Morrison wrote:
> I need to draw on your experience with newsletters . . .
>
> I'm helping a client set up an inhouse newsletter on a PC/Windows platform
> and have recommended they use Pagemaker. However, their purchasing agent has
> pointed out they can purchase Microsoft Publisher for $300 less and is
> asking us to justify the additional cost of Pagemaker.
>
> I've never used MS Publisher. Comments from colleagues are: "Gosh, I gave up
> that program years ago! It's so limited." "NOBODY uses Microsoft Publisher!"
> "I've never even heard of it - I guess that can tell you something about its
> quality."
>
> One person told me they thought MS Publisher would not let you re-size
> photos. Someone else said the version they used several years ago would not
> let you use text blocks of different widths on the same page. I consider
> these to be significant limitations.
>
> I would appreciate your comments on Microsoft Publisher as it compares to
> Pagemaker.
>
> Thanks for your help!
>
> Linda Morrison
> Laine Communications
> Reply to: [log in to unmask]
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