SOFTWARE FROM HELL: * COREL,INC. *
J. Wiesenmeyer
Attention Fellow Computer Enthusiast:
***** C O M P U T E R S O F T W A R E F R A U D A L E R T *****
%%%%%%%%%% C O R E L S O F T W A R E E X P O S E D %%%%%%%%%%
HEREąS A TIP TO HELP YOU AVOID SOME FUTURE GRIEF (AND SAVE SOME OF YOUR
HARD EARNED MONEY)
PC World Magazine, in their February issue made reference to a particular
software title as
łTHE SOFTWARE FROM HELL˛.
Iąve never used the product they were referring to, so I canąt comment about it.
Nevertheless, if PC World had been talking about software from
COREL CORPORATION (Word Perfect, etc), it would have been MOST APPROPRIATE.
COREL SOFTWARE PRODUCTS, IN ALL THEIR FORMS, TRULY DESERVE THE TITLE
****** S O F T W A R E F R O M H E L L ******
because they are buggy (and dysfunctional) beyond belief. Corel products
make Microsoft look like the knight in shinning armor, even including
Windoze 95.
YOU CANąT READ INFO LIKE THIS IN THE COMPUTER MAGAZINES BECAUSE COREL
SPENDS FAR TOO MUCH MONEY VIA ADVERTISING REVENUE WITH ALL THE COMPUTER
PUBLICATIONS, AND THEY DONąT DARE EXPOSE ONE OF THEIR BIGGEST ADVERTISERS,
FOR REASONS WHICH SHOULD BE OBVIOUS. THEREFORE, WE CAN ONLY HOPE TO PASS
THE WORD VIA NEWS GROUPS AND SIMILAR OUTLETS.
Corel Corporation, a Canadian firm, based in Ottawa, Ontario, has zero
regard and zero respect for their customers, and is probably the best
example of why Ziff Davis (publishers of dozens of computer magazines,
both on the PC and Mac platforms), are now calling for a mandatory (and
legally binding) 30, 60 or 90 day software money back guarantee.
Using data from Coreląs own website, the following is more than sufficient
proof to demonstrate the dysfunctional character of Coreląs Word Perfect
product:
THE FOLLOWING BUG LIST IS TAKEN FROM CORELąS WORLD WIDE WEBSITE:
================================================================
ftp://ftp.corel.com/pub/WordPerfect/wpmac/-WPMac ftp Index.html
(scroll way down, almost to the bottom)
What follows is the list of bug fixes initiated by Corel in an attempt to
repair their cockroach infested product known as Word Perfect, version
3.5, which can easily be construed as a clear admission of bugs which
existed with version 3.5 as shipped to customers on CD ROM. What makes
this issue all the more criminal is the fact that Corel refused to inform
customers who sent in their warranty registration cards that bug fixes had
been released for this product. Corel Corporation refused to send
warranty/registered customers the patches on floppy disk, and if this was
too expensive, Corel Corporation even refused to send registered customers
a postcard informing their customers where they could find the patches on
the Internet. Customers were simply left to struggle with a totally
dysfunctional product. And customers like myself who finally figured out
Corel Word Perfect could NOT be made to function properly, and who first
requested assistance, were ignored, and who later requested a refund, were
also ignored.
TO THIS DAY, 17 MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE DYSFUNCTION AND COCKROACH
INFESTED COREL WORD PERFECT PROGRAM, THIS COMPANY CONTINUES TO IGNORE ALL
INTERNET E-MAIL MESSGES AND ALL UNITED STATES AND CANADIAN POSTAL SERVICES
LETTERS.
==================================================================
Corel Document ID: 10339
The information in this document applies to:
WordPerfect 3.5 for Macintosh
This Updater works with all versions of Corel WordPerfect 3.5. Including:
Novell WordPerfect 3.5, Corel WordPerfect 3.5.1, Corel WordPerfect 3.5.2
and Corel WordPerfect in the CorelDraw Suite.
The Corel WordPerfect 3.5.3 patch replaces all previous patches for
WordPerfect 3.5, including the Corel WordPerfect 3.5.2 patch shipped in
October of 1996.
Fixes in 3.5.3 patch
======================
- Conversions should now function normally under System 7.6.
- A bug was fixed that repairs some display problems.
- Sporadic warnings that the common library could not be found
will no longer occur.
Fixes in 3.5.2 patch
=====================
- Text Selection now works properly.
- The Print Envelope feature will print addresses in the correct position
on the LaserWriter 8.4 printer driver.
- Deleting to the right at the beginning of a line will no longer cause
the cursor to reposition incorrectly in the text above.
- Deleting just before a Style no longer causes the cursor to reposition
incorrectly and delete text within the Style.
- Editing a document in łShow Codes˛ no longer causes the cursor to
reposition incorrectly.
- Headers/Footers with text attributes (bold, underline...) are no longer
affected by text attributes that cross a page break.
- Deleting addresses in the Print Envelope delivery or return address
window now functions properly.
- The German Dictionary no longer stops and marks incorrect every word
that contains a ß (esset).
- The French Dictionary on a Power Macintosh no longer stops and marks
incorrect words that contain a Ś (acute).
- Delivery Point of a bar code is no longer automatically calculated.
- Import of tables from various document types has been improved.
- The title of the ŚWP6.x Exportą now reads ŚWP6.x,7.x Exportą in both
the patched and resale CD product from Corel.
- HTML export now saves Corel WordPerfect graphics or .wpg formatted
images as JPEGąs.
Fixes in 3.5.1 patch
======================
- Editing some long blocks of Japanese characters will not crash the computer.
- Screen display is faster after scrolling through large documents or
tables, or making editing changes.
- Captions can now be positioned above a graphic or text box.
- Return and delivery addresses in Print Envelope will now allow 255
characters (including line breaks).
- Dictionaries are now listed under the Dictionary menu instead of the
Check menu.
- Ruler Bar display problems with PCI Power Macintosh computers have been
fixed.
- WP 6.x and WP 7.x conversions can now be canceled.
- While working in subdocuments‹such as headers or footnotes on black and
white screens, Corel WordPerfect does not quit unexpectedly when clicking
in the ruler area of the subdocument.
- Zip codes beginning with zero which did not have extended zip code
digits now function properly in the Print Envelope feature.
- Font menus in Preferences and Print Envelopes now work properly on
small monitors.
- Cleared tabs will no longer unexpectedly reappear on the ruler.
- Hyperlink copy and paste are now working.
- Cell Protection now disables the deletion of the contents of a cell.
- The bottom border of a table which crosses a page break is now visible.
- Patterns in a cell will no longer disappear when performing a Split or Join.
- Joining with the first cell of a table now functions properly.
- Row selection of tables in a text box is now available.
- Scroll bar does not stick when scrolling.
- Corel WordPerfect will use the Language Resource file designed for your
system if present, or default to English (USA).
- Page Setup is now enabled in the Print Envelope feature (this allows
the selection of paper sizes and envelope trays).
- Changing QuickCorrect preferences with no documents open will no longer
crash the computer.
- Tables and Page Borders now work together.
- The PowerTalk Mailer can exceed 4096 characters.
- In the new Corel WordPerfect 3.5 CD-ROM, Norton Utilities will no
longer report an error in the WordPerfect Installer Read Me. This fix is
not available in the patch, but if you use Norton Utilities, we suggest
you delete the WordPerfect Installer Read Me since it is not required for
proper operation of the software.
- Corel WordPerfect Dictionaries and QuickCorrect word lists will no
longer be replaced during installation.
================================================================
Postscript:
The above represents the bug list for Word Perfect 3.5, as I purchased
this product, these revelations coming directly from Coreląs website.
Considering all these problems, it is little wonder that Ziff Davis
Publishers are now suggesting we have a SOFTWARE LEMON LAW to protect
computer consumers from future issues of this sort of software larceny.
If the reader will examine the websites of PC Week, PC World, and a few
other leading PC-platform computer magazines, he will discover that
Corel's Word Perfect, Suite 8 (the latest offering from Corel) is likewise
full of bugs. Don't take my word for it--- check it out for yourself.
MORAL OF STORY::::
SAVE YOUR MONEY--- DO NOT BUY ANYTHING WITH ł˛˛COREL˛˛˛ ON THE LABEL,
WHETHER IT BE FOR IBM COMPATIBLES OR THE MACINTOSH !!!
Fractenna
><HTML>Subject: SOFTWARE FROM HELL: * COREL,INC. *<BR>
>From: billie...@hotmail.com (J. Wiesenmeyer)<BR>
>Date: 5/26/98 5:40 AM Pacific Daylight Time<BR>
>Message-id: <billieweenie-2...@modem1-18.mo-net.com><BR>
><BR>
><FONT SIZE=3 PTSIZE=10><BR>
>Attention Fellow Computer Enthusiast:<BR>
><BR>
><BR>
>***** C O M P U T E R S O F T W A R E F R A U D A L E R T *****<BR>
><BR>
>%%%%%%%%%% C O R E L S O F T W A R E E X P O S E D %%%%%%%%%% <BR>
><BR>
><BR>
>HEREąS A TIP TO HELP YOU AVOID SOME FUTURE GRIEF (AND SAVE SOME OF YOUR<BR>
>HARD EARNED MONEY)<BR>
><BR>
>PC World Magazine, in their February issue made reference to a
>software title as<BR>
><BR>
>łTHE SOFTWARE FROM HELL˛.<BR>
><BR>
>Iąve never used the product they were referring to, so I canąt comment about
><BR>
>Nevertheless, if PC World had been talking about software from <BR>
><BR>
><BR>
>COREL CORPORATION (Word Perfect, etc), it would have been MOST
><BR>
>COREL SOFTWARE PRODUCTS, IN ALL THEIR FORMS, TRULY DESERVE THE TITLE<BR>
><BR>
><BR>
>****** S O F T W A R E F R O M H E L L ****** <BR>
><BR>
><BR>
>because they are buggy (and dysfunctional) beyond belief. Corel products<BR>
>make Microsoft look like the knight in shinning armor, even including<BR>
>Windoze 95.<BR>
><BR>
>YOU CANąT READ INFO LIKE THIS IN THE COMPUTER MAGAZINES BECAUSE COREL<BR>
>SPENDS FAR TOO MUCH MONEY VIA ADVERTISING REVENUE WITH ALL THE COMPUTER<BR>
>PUBLICATIONS, AND THEY DONąT DARE EXPOSE ONE OF THEIR BIGGEST
>FOR REASONS WHICH SHOULD BE OBVIOUS. THEREFORE, WE CAN ONLY HOPE TO PASS<BR>
>THE WORD VIA NEWS GROUPS AND SIMILAR OUTLETS.<BR>
><BR>
>Corel Corporation, a Canadian firm, based in Ottawa, Ontario, has zero<BR>
>regard and zero respect for their customers, and is probably the best<BR>
>example of why Ziff Davis (publishers of dozens of computer magazines,<BR>
>both on the PC and Mac platforms), are now calling for a mandatory (and<BR>
>legally binding) 30, 60 or 90 day software money back guarantee. <BR>
><BR>
>Using data from Coreląs own website, the following is more than
>proof to demonstrate the dysfunctional character of Coreląs Word Perfect<BR>
>product:<BR>
><BR>
><BR>
><BR>
>THE FOLLOWING BUG LIST IS TAKEN FROM CORELąS WORLD WIDE WEBSITE:<BR>
>================================================================<BR>
><BR>
>ftp://ftp.corel.com/pub/WordPerfect/wpmac/-WPMac ftp Index.html<BR>
><BR>
> (scroll way down, almost to the bottom)<BR>
><BR>
><BR>
>What follows is the list of bug fixes initiated by Corel in an attempt to<BR>
>repair their cockroach infested product known as Word Perfect, version<BR>
>3.5, which can easily be construed as a clear admission of bugs which<BR>
>existed with version 3.5 as shipped to customers on CD ROM. What makes<BR>
>this issue all the more criminal is the fact that Corel refused to inform<BR>
>customers who sent in their warranty registration cards that bug fixes
>been released for this product. Corel Corporation refused to send<BR>
>warranty/registered customers the patches on floppy disk, and if this was<BR>
>too expensive, Corel Corporation even refused to send registered
>a postcard informing their customers where they could find the patches on<BR>
>the Internet. Customers were simply left to struggle with a totally<BR>
>dysfunctional product. And customers like myself who finally figured out<BR>
>Corel Word Perfect could NOT be made to function properly, and who first<BR>
>requested assistance, were ignored, and who later requested a refund,
>also ignored. <BR>
><BR>
>TO THIS DAY, 17 MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE DYSFUNCTION AND
>INFESTED COREL WORD PERFECT PROGRAM, THIS COMPANY CONTINUES TO IGNORE ALL<BR>
>INTERNET E-MAIL MESSGES AND ALL UNITED STATES AND CANADIAN POSTAL
>LETTERS.<BR>
><BR>
><BR>
>==================================================================<BR>
><BR>
><BR>
>Corel Document ID: 10339 <BR>
><BR>
><BR>
>The information in this document applies to:<BR>
>WordPerfect 3.5 for Macintosh<BR>
><BR>
>This Updater works with all versions of Corel WordPerfect 3.5. Including:<BR>
>Novell WordPerfect 3.5, Corel WordPerfect 3.5.1, Corel WordPerfect 3.5.2<BR>
>and Corel WordPerfect in the CorelDraw Suite.<BR>
><BR>
>The Corel WordPerfect 3.5.3 patch replaces all previous patches for<BR>
>WordPerfect 3.5, including the Corel WordPerfect 3.5.2 patch shipped in<BR>
>October of 1996. <BR>
><BR>
><BR>
>Fixes in 3.5.3 patch<BR>
>======================<BR>
><BR>
>- Conversions should now function normally under System 7.6. <BR>
>- A bug was fixed that repairs some display problems.<BR>
>- Sporadic warnings that the common library could not be found<BR>
> will no longer occur. <BR>
>Fixes in 3.5.2 patch<BR>
>=====================<BR>
><BR>
><BR>
>- Text Selection now works properly. <BR>
><BR>
>- The Print Envelope feature will print addresses in the correct
>on the LaserWriter 8.4 printer driver.<BR>
><BR>
>- Deleting to the right at the beginning of a line will no longer cause<BR>
>the cursor to reposition incorrectly in the text above.<BR>
><BR>
>- Deleting just before a Style no longer causes the cursor to reposition<BR>
>incorrectly and delete text within the Style.<BR>
><BR>
>- Editing a document in łShow Codes˛ no longer causes the cursor to<BR>
>reposition incorrectly.<BR>
><BR>
>- Headers/Footers with text attributes (bold, underline...) are no
>affected by text attributes that cross a page break.<BR>
><BR>
>- Deleting addresses in the Print Envelope delivery or return address<BR>
>window now functions properly.<BR>
><BR>
>- The German Dictionary no longer stops and marks incorrect every word<BR>
>that contains a ß (esset).<BR>
><BR>
>- The French Dictionary on a Power Macintosh no longer stops and marks<BR>
>incorrect words that contain a Ś (acute).<BR>
><BR>
>- Delivery Point of a bar code is no longer automatically calculated.<BR>
><BR>
>- Import of tables from various document types has been improved.<BR>
><BR>
>- The title of the ŚWP6.x Exportą now reads ŚWP6.x,7.x Exportą in both<BR>
>the patched and resale CD product from Corel.<BR>
><BR>
>- HTML export now saves Corel WordPerfect graphics or .wpg formatted<BR>
>images as JPEGąs.<BR>
><BR>
><BR>
><BR>
>Fixes in 3.5.1 patch<BR>
>======================<BR>
><BR>
>- Editing some long blocks of Japanese characters will not crash the
><BR>
>- Screen display is faster after scrolling through large documents or<BR>
>tables, or making editing changes.<BR>
><BR>
>- Captions can now be positioned above a graphic or text box.<BR>
><BR>
>- Return and delivery addresses in Print Envelope will now allow 255<BR>
>characters (including line breaks).<BR>
><BR>
>- Dictionaries are now listed under the Dictionary menu instead of the<BR>
>Check menu.<BR>
><BR>
>- Ruler Bar display problems with PCI Power Macintosh computers have
>fixed.<BR>
><BR>
>- WP 6.x and WP 7.x conversions can now be canceled.<BR>
><BR>
>- While working in subdocuments‹such as headers or footnotes on black
>white screens, Corel WordPerfect does not quit unexpectedly when
>in the ruler area of the subdocument.<BR>
> <BR>
>- Zip codes beginning with zero which did not have extended zip code<BR>
>digits now function properly in the Print Envelope feature.<BR>
><BR>
><BR>
>- Font menus in Preferences and Print Envelopes now work properly on<BR>
>small monitors.<BR>
><BR>
><BR>
>- Cleared tabs will no longer unexpectedly reappear on the ruler.<BR>
><BR>
>- Hyperlink copy and paste are now working.<BR>
><BR>
>- Cell Protection now disables the deletion of the contents of a cell.<BR>
><BR>
>- The bottom border of a table which crosses a page break is now
><BR>
>- Patterns in a cell will no longer disappear when performing a Split or
><BR>
>- Joining with the first cell of a table now functions properly.<BR>
><BR>
>- Row selection of tables in a text box is now available.<BR>
><BR>
>- Scroll bar does not stick when scrolling.<BR>
><BR>
>- Corel WordPerfect will use the Language Resource file designed for
>system if present, or default to English (USA).<BR>
><BR>
>- Page Setup is now enabled in the Print Envelope feature (this allows<BR>
>the selection of paper sizes and envelope trays).<BR>
><BR>
>- Changing QuickCorrect preferences with no documents open will no
>crash the computer.<BR>
><BR>
>- Tables and Page Borders now work together.<BR>
><BR>
>- The PowerTalk Mailer can exceed 4096 characters.<BR>
><BR>
>- In the new Corel WordPerfect 3.5 CD-ROM, Norton Utilities will no<BR>
>longer report an error in the WordPerfect Installer Read Me. This fix is<BR>
>not available in the patch, but if you use Norton Utilities, we suggest<BR>
>you delete the WordPerfect Installer Read Me since it is not required for<BR>
>proper operation of the software.<BR>
><BR>
>- Corel WordPerfect Dictionaries and QuickCorrect word lists will no<BR>
>longer be replaced during installation.<BR>
><BR>
>================================================================<BR>
><BR>
><BR>
>Postscript:<BR>
><BR>
><BR>
>The above represents the bug list for Word Perfect 3.5, as I purchased<BR>
>this product, these revelations coming directly from Coreląs website.<BR>
>Considering all these problems, it is little wonder that Ziff Davis<BR>
>Publishers are now suggesting we have a SOFTWARE LEMON LAW to protect<BR>
>computer consumers from future issues of this sort of software larceny.<BR>
><BR>
>If the reader will examine the websites of PC Week, PC World, and a few<BR>
>other leading PC-platform computer magazines, he will discover that<BR>
>Corel's Word Perfect, Suite 8 (the latest offering from Corel) is
>full of bugs. Don't take my word for it--- check it out for yourself. <BR>
><BR>
>MORAL OF STORY::::<BR>
><BR>
><BR>
>SAVE YOUR MONEY--- DO NOT BUY ANYTHING WITH ł˛˛COREL˛˛˛ ON THE LABEL,<BR>
>WHETHER IT BE FOR IBM COMPATIBLES OR THE MACINTOSH !!!<BR>
><BR>
><BR>
><BR>
><BR>
><BR>
><BR>
>
Corel WP is wonderful :-) I have MS Word and Lotus Amipro and use WP as a
preference. Never a problem with it.
If this is hell, then who needs heaven:=)?
73
Chip N1IR
Ron Vopicka
On 26 May J. Wisenheimer wrote:
>Attention Fellow Computer Enthusiast:
>***** C O M P U T E R S O F T W A R E F R A U D A L E R T *****
>%%%%%%%%%% C O R E L S O F T W A R E E X P O S E D %%%%%%%%%%
>HERE¹S A TIP TO HELP YOU AVOID SOME FUTURE GRIEF (AND SAVE SOME OF YOUR
>HARD EARNED MONEY)
This is about the biggest bunch of drivel I have ever read.
Everyone does NOT have the massive resources of Microsoft and Microsoft
simply doesn't admit to having any errors (even to the United States
Congress under oath).
I would much prefer a list of errors... and fixes... that can be
downloaded from a web site (no matter how difficult it might be for me)
than denial that there even is a problem. The only people that have
ever sent ME notification of bugs in their software is Intuit... and
they have a financial interest in not making errors in the tax returns
they generate.
I have never heard from Microsoft or even IBM... but I check both sites.
If you want to see a list of errors, check out IBM's for OS/2 Warp 4
(for instance). It makes this sniveling list of 41? fixes look like the
program maintenance guys aren't even working at Corel.
By the way "J." which gave you the biggest problem in the list of
errors, the German "esset" or the French "acute" accent? Did the title
change in 3.5.2 really improve your productivity (or at least get you
out of a work stoppage). Which tables that you couldn't import before
did they add with their enhancement (not fix) that really got you out of
a hole. Of course, if you are editing long blocks of Japanese
characters, those constant crashes must be annoying (I personally never
encountered that problem with MS Word, but I don't think it handles
Japanese... I know I don't).
You can save yourself a LOT of money, by waiting until perfect,
thoroughly debugged software is available... you'll never need a
computer.
On the other hand, if you want to lease code at multi $1000s a month, I
KNOW IBM gives you far more personalized and direct support.
In the meantime, beware Microsoft, they may not even tell you of a known
bug.
Ron
DUWAYNE HICK of the Arkansas Hicks
Wow!
Is this guy MAD at Corel or what? I have Corel WordPerfect 7 for
Windows 95 and while it does have a couple of problems, they don't add
up to what is shown in this posting.
Duwayne Hick [ of the Arkansas Hicks ]
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Fractenna
><HTML>Subject: Re: SOFTWARE FROM HELL: * COREL,INC. *<BR>
>From: frac...@aol.com (Fractenna)<BR>
>Date: 5/26/98 6:12 AM Pacific Daylight Time<BR>
>Message-id: <199805261312...@ladder03.news.aol.com><BR>
><BR>
><FONT SIZE=3 PTSIZE=10>>Subject: SOFTWARE FROM HELL: * COREL,INC. *<BR>
>>From: billie...@hotmail.com (J. Wiesenmeyer)<BR>
>>Date: 5/26/98 5:40 AM Pacific Daylight Time<BR>
>>Message-id: <billieweenie-2...@modem1-18.mo-net.com><BR>
>><BR>
>heaven:=)?73Chip N1IR<BR>
><BR>
><BR>
><BR>
><BR>
><BR>
>
I am re-posting this because I received a harrassing e-mail from:
who attacked me for 'attacking' Corel WP.
Well, Mr. ChadC, you owe me a public apology "buddy". As you can see, I AM a WP
user, and,as I said above: : COREL WP IS WONDERFUL. May I suggest that you take
the time to see who sent the offending post before you slander the innocent.
73
Chip N1IR
Bob Nielsen
On Tue, 26 May 1998 23:06:15 GMT, DUWAYNE HICK of the Arkansas Hicks
<81...@englandmail.com> wrote:
>Wow!
>
>Is this guy MAD at Corel or what? I have Corel WordPerfect 7 for
>Windows 95 and while it does have a couple of problems, they don't add
>up to what is shown in this posting.
I've been using WordPerfect since 1984 and would certainly disagree with
what he has to say. It's by far the best word processor I have ever used
(I just installed the Linux version of WordPerfect 7.0 yesterday, all 77
megabytes!)
What does this have to do with the rec.radio.xx groups anyway?
Bob w6swe
--
Bob Nielsen Internet: nie...@primenet.com
Tucson, AZ AMPRnet: w6...@w6swe.ampr.org
http://www.primenet.com/~nielsen
Brian Denley
As far as I am concerned, this posting is no different than SPAM.
Brian
J. Wiesenmeyer <billie...@hotmail.com> wrote in article
<billieweenie-2...@modem1-18.mo-net.com>...
friedhelm.mehnert
Brian Denley <bde...@erols.com> wrote:
: As far as I am concerned, this posting is no different than SPAM.
: Brian
[Complete quote of the spam deleted]
Then why do you respond to SPAM?
And why in the world did you quote the whole mess?
You should have just killfiled it.
And yes, I'm as bad. :)
Regards,
Friedhelm
--
Microsoft is NOT the answer. Microsoft is the Question.
The answer is: "NO!"
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Friedhelm Mehnert, Berliner Allee 42, 22850 Norderstedt, Germany
phone + fax: +49-40-5236562 email: friedhel...@gmx.net
-------------------------------------------------------------------