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Better Software Alas, I have buried the lead. The main reason for my optimism, however guarded, is that the software looks great. From a philosophical point of view, this is the version that I have been hoping for since version 4.0. Its focus is not on new features, but on maintenance, speed, and interface. Its marquis components are not along the lines of triple-vectored reverse-angled beveled extrusions, but instead take the form of a better scripting tool and a new paradigm for styles. There are not 12 new lenses added, but there is a new Object Manager to make your life easier. You get the idea.
This is the lets-clean-house release, and the timing is perfect. Most DRAW users will arrive at 7.0 from 5.0 or lower. All of the cool 6.0 features will be new to them; Corel didn't need to try to invent a slew of new ones. This was a very good time to concentrate on making the thing as solid, as swift, and as smart as possible. Early indications say the engineers have succeeded: The other day I was working on a full-size mock-up of a hotel ballroom, 20 feet by 60 feet. After three hours of full-scale work, I realized that I hadn't crashed once. I can't think of any other release with which I could have made that boast.
I am no stranger to looking like a fool by over-predicting the success of a DRAW release, but I also don't do it lightly. Version 7.0 strikes me as a very good risk. Gulp.
Rick Altman is the editor-at-large for Corel Magazine and the host of the CorelWorld User Conferences. You can send e-mail to him at rick@altman.com as well.
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