It is truly remarkable how a piece of software can continue to sell in large quantities long after the technology it was designed to work on has been superceded.

Wordstar was the among the first, full-function word processing programs for microcomputers.

It has gone through its own transformations and is now available on a wide range of machines including 16-bit machines like the IBM PC.

This reference guide is aimed squarely at the IBM PC user with only passing reference to CP/M machines. Thus the screen illustrations feature the bottom status line, detailing the purpose of the IBM's function keys - a luxury not available to most owners of 8-bit CP/M micros.

It is difficult to assess the real value of the book. In places it is patronising and seems to be directed at the absolute beginner who knows nothing about micros and has to be told what a byte is.

As a reference manual, I have my doubts. There is little in the book that is not also in MicroPro's comprehensive Wordstar manual. And the layout and structure of the book is little better.

As a regular Wordstar user I would find little time for this book and would suggest that most users would be better off sticking with their Wordstar manuals. At least they come free with the program!

Ralph Bancroft