There are probably more copies of Publisher out there than all the other DTP programs put together. That may be because Publisher 2000 is incorporated into the latest versions of Office Premium, and because earlier versions have been bundled with many new computers over the last two years.
Publisher's main claim to fame is ease of use due to the enormous number of templates supplied with the program. Everything from business cards to newsletters is included - all just waiting for you to add your own text and images. For this reason, Publisher lends itself to jobs that need to be put together quickly "in-house" with little or no outside expertise. Of course, the downside of the template approach is the risk that your brochure will look just like your competitors'!
For personal use, it is hard to go past Publisher. It is inexpensive, reasonably easy to use with the previously mentioned templates and the ubiquitous Microsoft wizards. It also comes with a truckload of clip art which is guaranteed to keep the kids happy as they experiment with Grandma's next birthday or Christmas card.
Publisher 2000
Microsoft
Price: $150 ("free" with Office 2000 Premium)Phone: 13 2058URL: www.microsoft.com/australia
