DataViz Releases Documents To Go 5.0
DataViz has introduced Documents To Go 5.0, the first Palm OS application to allow users to create and edit PowerPoint compatible presentations on their handhelds. Like previous versions, it allows users to view and edit Microsoft Word and Excel files, too. Other new features include a new handheld word processor and support for high-resolution screens. The application is available now and will also be compatible with future ARM-based devices running Palm OS 5.
Documents To Go includes an improved word processor, Word To Go. Embedded graphics are now displayed within a document, as well as paragraph formatting and tables. In addition fonts can be changed on the handheld.
Word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation files all take advantage of high-resolution screen displays.
Documents To Go 5.0 runs natively in Mac OS X and is compatible with Palm Desktop 4 for Macintosh.
DataViz now offers three editions of Documents To Go:
- Premium Edition allows users to create, synchronize, and edit word processing, spreadsheet and presentation files on the handheld, as well as synchronize e-mail with attachments, PDF files, pictures, and Excel-like charts. It sells for $70.
- The Professional Edition allows users to create, edit, and synchronize word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation files on the handheld. Palm, Inc. includes this edition with many of its handhelds.
- The Standard Edition allows customers to use Word and Excel files on the handheld. It sells for $50. Sony includes the Standard Edition on many of its handhelds.
Documents To Go is available today in English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish. The Japanese version will be available later this Fall.
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The New Economy is dead!! Long Live Making a Profit!!
I'm not talking about updates. An update is usually put out to correct a bug or something done poorly in a full version. As such, the company can't justify charging for it. But a full upgrade, including important new features, deserves some payment.
I blame the Internet. For years, companies gave great products away for free, hoping to build up a customer base. People came to expect that anything they wanted they could get for free. Turns out that whole business plan is a failure and almost all those companies that used to give things away for free are gone, the rest are barely alive. There was no such thing as "The New Economy". There is only "The Old Economy", where companies sell products and make money. Charging for upgrades is part of that.
RE: It's the [cost], stupid!
RE: It's the [cost], stupid!
RE: It's the [cost], stupid!
RE: It's the [cost], stupid!
That means I, an obviously loyal customer, end up paying $20 MORE than a new customer.
Let's face it the upgrades just aren't nearly substantial enough to justify the cost.
RE: It's the [cost], stupid!
RE: It's the [cost], stupid!
RE: It's the [cost], stupid!
In response to Leech's post, the distinction that you are making applies to no other software under the sun (unless you are arguing for free upgrades) that has any charge for an upgrade. Of course, you are paying more than a new user but you have also gotten 4 years of use out of the software. If the upgrade was only $5 and you purchased the program for $50 four years ago, the complete package of upgraded software, if purchased today, is $50. You have paid more cash than a new customer for the upgraded version in total. But this logic assumes that your 4 years of use had no value. And, of course, it does.
In the Spirit of Umoja,
Ronin
RE: It's the [cost], stupid!
You said:
"I've been using this product since '98. I paid $30 then. Another $30 to upgrade to professional 4.0 last year. Now they want another $30 for another upgrade??
That means I, an obviously loyal customer, end up paying $20 MORE than a new customer."
Ok, so I, when I buy the premium edition, i'll pay 70$
You payed 90$, BUT YOU HAVE ENJOYED USING THE PRODUCT FOR 4 YEARS ALREADY. I think these 4 years deserve the 20$ more. Don't you?
RE: It's the [cost], stupid!
RE: It's the [cost], stupid!
RE: It's the [cost], stupid!
Peace Out
Alan
RE: It's the [cost], stupid!
My complaint is not with all programmers or all companies trying to make a profit. My complaint is with DataViz. I just don't like the company's business model, which is why I stated my position the way that I did. If you want to pay a fairly substantial upgrade fee every year, be my guest. Personally, I'll gladly pay for the upgrade of WordSmith when the time comes, but DataViz no longer gets my money. Period.
JBH
RE: It's the [cost], stupid!
: basis letting customers know that the product they
: purchased last year is now out of date.
The "new added support/features" don't appeal to me, so I also don't agree that the upgrade price is worth it. (If I had a CLIÉ instead of my m505, MAYBE it would be worth it for the high res support. But since ARM-based PDA's are right around the corner, I'll wait. Who knows? Maybe DTG v6 will be out by then. ;) However, that doesn't mean I still cannot use version 4. I'm perfectly happy with it and will still be able to use it. So, I think "out of date" is a bit of an exaggeration. I'm glad that they're at least continuing to improve on their products, but that doesn't mean everyone needs to upgrade.
: Personally, I'll gladly pay for the upgrade of
: WordSmith when the time comes, but DataViz no longer
: gets my money. Period.
Then again, Blue Nomad doesn't include Excel and PowerPoint conversion. So, if you only use Word, maybe this is the best bang for your buck. Again, it's always about preference and needs of each user.
Jim
RE: It's the [cost], stupid!
RE: It's the [cost], stupid!
RE: It's the [cost], stupid!
RE: It's the [cost], stupid!
I think I read in the feature set that DTG5 is already OS5 compatible now. That means it will work on the new Palms without waiting for DTG6.
You said:
>But since ARM-based PDA's are right around the corner, I'll wait. Who knows? Maybe DTG v6 will be out by then. ;)
>I'm glad that they're at least continuing to improve on their products, but that doesn't mean everyone needs to upgrade.
Amen to that last sentence. The addition of RTF support alone makes it worthwhile.
Panagiotis
Great Product but....
2) What about a better user support?
3) What about an option to beam your documents to a PPC (did i just say that??!?!) or CE PDAs?
besides that - Great product.
Right to left
RE: Great Product but....
RE: Great Product but....
RE: Great Product but....
Good idea, and one I'd be able to use on a regular basis. This would be complicated though because PPC makers did not follow the IRDA communication standards when designing their devices.
Native file formats
I use a sharp zaurus... it handles beaming text files, addresses, and appointments between all kinds of systems admirably, but I can't send rich text to documents-to-go (or any other word procesor) palms even though I can make rtf and doc files because all the palm programs require a custom format. it sure would be nice to be able to do this, and to receive the docs from palms.
-wg <><
RE: Great Product but....
RE: Great Product but....
RE: Great Product but....
Now all we need...
RE: Now all we need...
RE: Now all we need...
Worth the cost of the handheld AND the device in my opinion...anything to avoid lugging the laptop around !
RE: RAM requirements
DTG Premium PRC file sizes
Documents 142k
Word To Go 584k
Sheet To Go 484k
Slideshow To Go 286k
DataViz Mail 122k
Pics To Go 94k
Smart Chart 174k
Word To Go Font Package 266k
Total 2152k
RE: RAM requirements
"Documents To Go supports the movement of all Documents To Go components with the exception of the following:
-Documents To Go application
-DataViz Mail Application (WIndows Only)
-SmartChart Technology
-PicsToGo
All other associated viewing applications (ie; Word To Go and Sheet To Go) may be moved to the memory card."
I hope this helps.
I have a question, I hope someone can answer. Document files themselves can be stored on card in DocsToGo v4.x but they are not categorized, does v5 allow files stored on a card to be categorized like files in internal memory?
In the Spirit of Umoja,
Ronin
RE: RAM requirements
DTG also did not include font smoothing, auto scroll, full screen, or custom fonts. However, the tables and image support in Word documents is very welcome, as is the auto bullet and paragraph numbering.
The charting for spreadsheets is OK and allows for 3d chart types, but in my opinon the charts are not as good as MiniCalc. The MiniCalc charts fill the handheld screen and use bright colors. The DTG charts waste a lot of screen area and the chart itself is only about 2/3 the size of the same MiniCalc chart. In addition, the colors are dull and harder to distinguish, and the chart setup is slower and more complicated. To create the same chart took 22 seconds in DTG, 3 seconds in MiniCalc. The results in Excel on the desktop are identical though... you cannot tell if a sheet was created in DTG or MiniCalc.
A similar situation exists for Pics To Go. It works well, but not as well as other image viewers.
The PowerPoint module is the only choice, so there is nothing to compare it with yet for editing. The presentation I loaded had a mix of images, graphical text, and standard text. It works well except when your presentation is in the portrait orientation. You can edit the text, but in most cases, that is all you need.
I see this as a really great package for those looking for an integrated application that does most of what is needed, even if there are still standalone apps that handle their specialty better. Unfortunately, I already have most of those standalone apps, and I made the mistake of buying this before trying :(
RE: RAM requirements
I have a question, I hope someone can answer. Document files themselves can be stored on card in DocsToGo v4.x but they are not categorized, does v5 allow files stored on a card to be categorized like files in internal memory?
No, you can't categorize files on the card, but you can synchronize them with the desktop unlike some of the other office products.
RE: RAM requirements
As per the directions, I went to the "Documents" program, and tried accessing the memory card from the Category drop down. It wasn't listed, so I re-inserted the memory card and tried again. As soon as I clicked on the Category drop down, I get a fatal exception.
I tried it again from the individual apps (Wordtogo, Sheettogo) and I got a memorymgr error and a fatal exception.
I then tried manually moving the individual apps, but this resulted in them being re-installed on my next hotsync.
I'm using a Clie n610c, 64mb Memory Stick, and disabled all hacks and memory managers. This is the trial version of Docs to go 5.0 Premium.
I can't afford to have this program take up 2mb+ of my precious RAM. Anybody successfully using a memory card with this suite?
---
For all the people that have suffered through my "What's Wrong With This Picture" Signature:
http://www.americanheart.org
RE: RAM requirements
Yes and no. I was able to move the modules to the card, but every time I run one it stays in RAM when I exit. Yes, I closed the document and returned to the sheet listing before exiting. I smell a bug.
PS: The link you had before was a riot and did not give me a heart attack. I laughed like crazy once I recovered from the stroke... :)
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It's the [cost], stupid!
JBH