WordPerfect To Microsoft Word

Q. The JofA seems to be having a love affair with Microsoft. It’s Microsoft this and Microsoft that. WordPerfect was my first word processor and I really liked it. Whatever happened to it?

A. It’s not so much a love affair as a recognition that most accountants today, like it or not, use Microsoft products. But to answer your question about WordPerfect—it’s alive and well, owned now by Corel Corp., in Ottawa, Canada. And the latest version, sold only as part of an office suite (WordPerfect Office 2000), is quite good. Its upgrade—from Office 98—was done right. The best thing about it is its Internet integration, which uses industry-wide standards—unlike Microsoft, which uses Microsoft standards. For more information: www.corel.com .