Starting this week, Nisus Software plans to begin shipping Nisus Writer 5.0, the latest version of its word processing application. Although there's a bevy of major improvements to the feature set and interface, Nisus Writer's primary claim to fame is that its Power Mac version is among the first applications to act as an OpenDoc container. Nisus Writer also scores a first with its support of drag & drop for non-contiguous selections.

The new version supports numerous Macintosh standards, including Internet Config, Apple Guide, AppleScript (Do Script and a modest Nisus Writer suite), robust drag & drop, Macintosh Easy Open, QuickDraw GX printing, and the Word Services suite for third-party utilities like spelling and grammar checkers. I'm particularly looking forward to checking out the changes in the HTML capabilities of the new version. In addition, non-Roman language users of Nisus (except for folks using the Hebrew version or the Hebrew Mac OS) will appreciate the new version's lack of a dongle requirement. Termed a "language key" by Nisus Writer, the dongle is a specialized device that plugs into the ADB bus. Without a dongle, Nisus Writer operates in a limited demo mode (see TidBITS-170).

Nisus Software recommends a 68020 or higher Macintosh running System 7.0 or later, though some features require a later version of the System. For the 68K version you'll need 4 MB of application memory, and for the Power Mac version, you'll need 2100K of application memory with virtual memory or RAM Doubler on, 5100K without.

Upgrades cost $89 if you want a printed manual; $69 if you use an Acrobat version of the manual. There's also a $10 discount if you upgrade by 22-Nov-96.

<http://www.nisus-soft.com/5.0_features.html>

Nisus Software -- 800/890-3030 -- 619/481-1477
619/481-6154 (fax) -- <info@nisus-soft.com>