WordPerfect Office 12: a first look
Published: 02 Mar 2004
The latest version of Corel's productivity suite, WordPerfect Office 12, includes its staple word processing, spreadsheet and presentation applications -- WordPerfect, Quattro Pro and Presentations, respectively -- but adds features aimed at better compatibility with competing products such as Microsoft Office. The company says the product will be available in late April 2004, with prices starting at $299.99 (~£160) for the full Standard edition and $149.99 (~£80) for the upgrade in the US. Pricing may vary by region, however.

There's no shortage of new tools to play with in WordPerfect 12. The new Workspace Manager allows you to choose between working in legacy WordPerfect or Microsoft Office formats, and even simulates the interface and keyboard shortcuts of its Microsoft equivalent. Another addition, the Compatibility Toolbar, lets you publish to PDF, HTML, XML, Word, Excel or PowerPoint with one click. Finally, the new OfficeReady Browser gives you quick access to all WordPerfect Office templates (including more than 40 new ones), whether you need to create a company's annual report or just a garage sale sign.

As in the previous version, Corel doesn't offer its own email client, which leaves you to rely on Microsoft Outlook or other alternatives. And although much improved, importing images into Presentations still results in some lost formatting and distortion, especially with patterns and gradients. There is no Linux version of WordPerfect Office 12.
Corel WordPerfect Office 12's Workspace Manager and Compatibility Toolbar, in particular, will make it easier to work across platforms with both WordPerfect and Microsoft Office. It remains to be seen whether WordPerfect 12 has what it takes to take some of Microsoft's strong market share, but its new compatibility tools make Corel's latest suite a strong contender. Check back soon for a full review.
Full Talkback thread
4 comments
New Products
Google Chrome (beta)
Google has launched Chrome, an open-source browser that sends a clear challenge to Microsoft in the way it lets users work with applications.
Internet Explorer 8 beta 2: a first look
IE8 (beta 2) should satisfy Microsoft's loyal browser base, but it's unlikely to lure committed Firefox users back to the fold.
Windows Small Business Server 2008: a first look
Microsoft's 2008 bundle of server OS, applications and services for small businesses will ship on 12 November. Here are our impressions of the public preview release, which shows some big changes from the previous version.
Acrobat 9 Pro Extended: a first look
Adobe's Acrobat 9 document-creation software is adding dynamic features such as animation integration, dynamic maps, 256-bit encryption and improved forms.
Featured Talkback
Why do so many (virtually all) software packages think that they are so important that they have to be started automatically every time the computer boots? What is the largest number of "speed access", "update check", "camera download" and whatever other background programs you have ever seen running? Of those, how many did you really need?
By: J.A. Watson
Read full story:
Annoying software: a rogues' gallery
Discussions
Official MS Windows 7 Bloggers
Check this out: http://blogs.msdn.com/e7...spx Its an official blog "Engineering Windows 7" Nothing. That's what is revealed. Until there is real... More
Microsoft's Mojave just a desert vista
It didn't seem fair to wade into Microsoft's “Mojave Experiment” advert quite so soon after the flat earth incident. But The Economist has no such qualms: in this week's issue, it wonders... More
... But Still a Few Things Amiss (with...
It's not all roses with Vista, of course. I had my first BSOD over the weekend, when I was turning the laptop back on after suspending it. They typical long blurb about "If this is... More
Skip Sub Navigation Links to CNET Brand Links
- Security threats
- Mobile devices
- Application development
- Network management
- Desktop platforms
- Security management
- Databases
- Processors
- Server platforms
- Storage
- Mobile working
- Office applications
- After hours
- Mail & messaging
- Training
- Disaster recovery
- Enterprise applications
- VoIP
- Emerging tech
- Green IT
- Outsourcing
- Virtualisation
- SME
- Enterprise open source
- Industry watch
- Online business
- Accessibility
- Management
- Intellectual property
- Compliance
Home
- Site Map
- RSS Feeds
- Content Archive
- ZDNet.co.uk Mobile
- Search Library
Membership
- Log in
- Register
- Forgotten Password
- Membership benefits
- Newsletters
About Us
- Contact Us
- Find Us
- Privacy Policy
- Permissions and Reprints
- International
- Advertise
News
- Hardware News
- Software News
- Communications News
- Internet News
- Security News
- IT Management News
- Emerging Technology News
- Leaders
Blogs
Group Blogs
- News blog
- Reviews blog
- Not Safe For Work blog
- Rupert's Diary blog
- Sentry Posts blog
- Vista Upgrade blog
- On The Road blog
- Homebrew blog
- Post Room blog
- Uptime blog
ZDNet UK Staff Blogs
- Rupert Goodwins
- Charles McLellan
- David Meyer
- Tom Espiner
- Colin Barker
- Karen Friar
Core Techs Expert Blogs
- Adrian Bridgwater
- Peter Judge
- Christian Harris
Tech Community
- Top 100 ZDNet UK Members
- My ZDNet Tour
- Forums
- Competitions
- Community FAQs
Benchmarks
- Business Value benchmark
- Server Value benchmark
- Desktop Management benchmark
- Mobile Security benchmark
White Papers
- Most Popular white papers
Free Software Downloads
- Windows downloads
- Mac downloads
- Mobile downloads
- iPhone Apps downloads
Reviews
Hardware reviews
- Accessory reviews
- Audio reviews
- Component reviews
- Desktop reviews
- Handheld reviews
- Imaging reviews
- Input Device reviews
- Mobile Phone reviews
- Monitor reviews
- Netbook reviews
- Networking reviews
- Notebook reviews
- Printer reviews
- Projector reviews
- Server reviews
- Storage reviews
Software reviews
- Content Creation reviews
- Developer Tool reviews
- Enterprise Application reviews
- Operating System reviews
- Productivity software reviews
- Security reviews
- Utility reviews
- Editor's Choice reviews
- Buyer's Guides
- Tech Guides
Tech Resources
- Company Pages
- Technology Events
- Research Panel
- IT Jobs
Articles
- Case Studies
- Comment
- FAQs Articles
- Features
- Image Galleries
- Tutorials
- Video stories
- Research
Compare Prices
- Laptop prices
- Cheap Laptops
- Desktop prices
- Mac laptop prices
- Mac desktop prices
- Tablet PCs prices
- PDA prices
- Printer prices
- Printer cartridges prices
- Scanner prices
- Monitor prices
- Windows oftware prices
- Server prices
Special Features
- Broadband Speed Test
- CIO Vision Series
- Dialogue Box
Advertising Features
- Intel Make the Case















