Pros: You can do all kinds of things that you could never do with basic programs.
Cons: Quark is used wider in the business world. And, 6.5 was really better.
The Bottom Line: You can make some really neat stuff with PageMaker. Older versions like 6.5 are better in my view. Quark is used more by professionals.
CyndiA's Full Review: Adobe PageMaker 7.0 Full Version for PC
PageMaker 7.0 is a software program to help you publish from your computer. You may need it at work or it may be at home, and you can do kinds of things with PageMaker that you can’t do with the basic programs that come with your computer or programs like Word even at the XP level.
The biggest things you can do with a printing type programs is to make documents look like professional newspaper, PR, or advertising layouts. While you can’t pick things up in Word and overlap and then justify the type (make all the words come out even at the ends of lines), you can do that with programs like PageMaker.
My experience with PageMaker has been with the college newspaper and with home Christmas newsletters and a few flyers. It really is amazing how much more you can do with these programs vs. using Word or Works. You can set all kinds of sizes like you might want to do with greeting cards, signs for a yard sale, a newsletter for your club. Just set the size as far as the measurements, and then you can really design and not just with fill-in-the-blank like most basic programs.
After being hired as the college newspaper advisor with PageMaker 6.5, I almost had a heart attack. This is not something that comes real easy. I spent most of the summer learning how to use the program. That was trial and error though, since we did not have any type of instruction book. As I figured out how all those options worked, I was very impressed and spoiled as far as what a program might do. I can’t even imagine trying to set things up without the boxes that will move around and overlap on PageMaker. You can put in words, graphics, clip art, and photos. It really is amazing.
This year, the newspaper staff had enough money to buy a program and install that on the computer. Though the program is expensive and may run as much as $700, the cost for educational software is much lower. We were able to get this for $218 through the college bookstore. I looked online, and I could not touch that price. I think the best I could get with my job in education was $258. If you want this and have any connection to education, then check about those discounts. They make a big difference.
We were using 6.5, and everyone was up to speed with that. Now they have 7.0, which is pretty much the same. Actually, I don’t like it as well. It has an auto pop-up with templates that we never use. We set up the specs (sizes and pages) for our paper, and we don’t need templates. Those are OK I guess, but if you really need templates, then you probably do not want to buy PageMaker. It’s more complex than the basic type-in programs that come with Word. I don’t even like the Word resume templates. Cookie cutter stuff is not really wonderful, though I know people do use those. The big problem is that anyone who works much with computers will spot a template right off the bat.
Other problems with PageMaker 7.0 include some problems with Word XP on the system and running slow, but I think that is a Word problem. Another thing is that PageMaker 7.0 gets some strange bug stuff. It put in a black spot that would not go away on page 6 of our paper. We can put a fill space over (a box and then color that in with white), but that black thing keeps cropping up as a bug.
PageMaker 6.5 had loads of fonts listed up. 7.0 has about ¼ that amount. I about flipped over that. Then I can go to the disks and download those and have more. Still, I can’t see what the fonts look like. I have to click and type to see the style.
As I have read up on print programs, I would way that PageMaker tends to be for colleges and for small businesses, and Quark is for small businesses and for bigger companies. If you can make a selection, then go with Quark. It is similar. I can do Quark with PageMaker background, and I know that I would be more likely to see Quark outside the college environment. It’s kind of like Mac and IBM (PC compat). Schools got some deals with Mac and tend to go that way though most homes have IBM (PC). You’re not going “way wrong” wrong with PageMaker, but you’ll have more help with Quark in the work world.
If you have a lower version of PageMaker, don’t go for the upgrade. It is mostly templates that set that apart. If you need templates, then you might want an easier program all round. You can do some flyers and such on Word or even Works. PageMaker is talking a big time jump in skill level. You’ll only want this if you are working with some sort of high-tech school publishing (PageMaker mostly) or professional (Quark mostly).
The 7.0 PageMaker book is about the size of a regular textbook. That will give you some idea about the complexity of the program. On the other hand, I got it figured out and love PageMaker. Though many of the overlaps and things look simple, people tell me that I sure have a wonderful family Christmas newsletter. I know that I can’t do the same sorts of things without PageMaker. So, it’s a neat program if you want to make much better print pieces than what you can make with general programs on your computer.
Adobe PageMaker 7.0 software is the ideal page layout program for business, education, and small- and home-office professionals who want to create hig...More at Buy.com
Adobe PageMaker 7.0 software is the ideal page layout program for business, education, and small- and home-office professionals who want to create hig...More at eBay
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