Symantec has a new integrated software package for the Mac. GreatWorks includes an outliner, editor, database, spreadsheet, charting, drawing, painting, and communications. None of the modules is as powerful as stand-alone competitors, but they do work smoothly together and offer appreciably more power than Microsoft Works. $299 list. [Jack Warner, Cox. SJM, 11/17.]

Claris (Santa Clara, CA) is also introducing an integrated package, Claris Works, and claims that you don't have to switch between modules -- it all works within a single document. (I'm not sure it has an outliner.) Power users can upgrade to more powerful Claris programs. $299, or $99 through 1/31/92 to owners of Works, GreatWorks, or Ragtime. (408) 727-8227. [Computer Currents, 12/2.]

MicroTimes (12/12) asked its contributors about the best software of the last year. Apple's System 7 drew both praise for cleaning up the system file and criticism for being slow, resource-hungry, expensive (for application upgrades), and arrogant. The Mac Classic II also drew praise for its affordability and criticism for not being as good as the discontinued Mac SE/30. The Amiga editor favored his Video Toaster, Image Finder, and Art Department Professional. NeXT enthusiasts praised the 040 NeXTcube and NeXTstep, as well as Adobe Illustrator 3.0 and the NeXTdimension Color Board for full-motion video. Here are some other impressive products:

Mac: Mac Powerbook 100/140/170 or the Outbound notebook. Adobe Photoshop 2.0 for image processing. PageMaker 4.0, FrameMaker, or QuarkXPress layout tools. Excel 3.0 spreadsheet and FileMaker Pro database. QuickDEX II and PrintDEX II address/database system. TouchBase database/contact management software. Thought Pattern v1.2 free-form information manager. EndNote Plus bibliographic database. MicroPhone II v3.01 communications interface. Eudora UUCP mail reader [from s-dorner@uiuc.edu]. Word Wrapper for text import. Super Boomerang [in Now Utilities] for finding files. THINK C 5.0 and THINK Pascal 4.0; MacNosy debugger. SUM, Norton Utilities, and Disk Technician Gold. Disinfectant [freeware!] or SAM antiviral software. Compact Pro file compression. [StuffIt is also good.] Adobe Type Manager (ATM) for scalable fonts. Retrospect backup system. More After Dark screen saver. KidPix painting/doodling toy; RoboSport strategy game. StyleWriter Printer [although very slow]. MacInfo index to computer magazines. [EndNote-format.]

PC: Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0, DR DOS 6.0, or 1DIRPLUS DOS shell. WINDOWS 3.0.1, GEOS, or DESQview X GUI operating system. QEMM v6 memory manager. CorelDraw 2.0 graphics program. CrossTalk for Windows communications program. Paradox database. AMI PRO 2.0. 1-2-3 for Windows spreadsheet. On Target project manager. Hotline phone-chore organizer. Adobe Type Manager for Windows. WINGRAB envelope addresser. Turbo C++ 2.0 and Turbo Pascal 6.0. Norton Utilities. Stacker file compression. The Far Side Computer Calendar. Ermasoft Laser Envelopes print driver. Canon BJ-10e Printer for portables. Winfax Pro fax/printer driver for Windows. Hyperdisk 4.21 disk cache.

Msc.: Lapis ColorServer Macintosh Video Card. MacVGA Adapter for the Macintosh LC. Tseng 4000ET VGA cards for Windows. HP DeskJet Printers [and DeskWriters, I presume]. MicroTek 600ZS ScanMaker color scanner. Quantum hard drives, esp. the 210. Maxtor 330MB hard drive. MicroSolutions BackPack 100MB Portable Hard Disk. Bernoulli 90 Transportable storage system. Python DATtape backup drive. Supra and US Robotics Dual Standard HST modems. Abaton fax modems and 300/GS grayscale scanner. SATISFAXTION fax modem and TelePort A300 Faxmodem. Toshiba 3301 CD-ROM drive. CD Porta-Drive for portables. The New Grolier Electronic Encyclopaedia (on CD ROM). Silicon Sports' Wrist Pads.