Despite our attempts to clarify the meaning of the term integrated software (issue 72), confusion still reigns.

U-Microcomputers has just released The Team for the Apple II series. Billed as the company's entry into the integrated software package market, The Team is essentially a very cheap database with line-oriented text editing, graphics capabilities and a calculation facility for reports. At £119 it's considerably cheaper than most professional software for the Apple.

However, it's not what we would call an integrated software package at all. For example, on the text side there's a limit of 200 lines of 80 characters - about 3000 words - and another limitation is the fact that text editing is line oriented. There's no spreadsheet as such - calculations etc are basically database manipulations.

There's integration and integration. Fully integrated software includes fully featured database, spreadsheet, graphics and word-processing - and not just with compatible data files. Standalone programs which feature the latter are somewhat further down on the scale and include programs like the QL's suite and those from Practicorp, while programs like The Team belong on the bottom run of integration.

Even so, The Team shows how the prices of useful software are falling. Even given Practicorp's low price of under £100 per package, The Team represents good value for money as a flexible database.

The Team will be available for IBM PCs running the p-system in September. U-Microcomputers is offering a reduced price of £99 for existing product users until the end of September and the company can be contacted on 0925 54117.