Latest WordPerfect Suite Boasts Microsoft Office Compatibility for Less

It's Microsoft Office's world--WordPerfect just lives in it. That's the humbling but realistic admission that Corel will make with the next version of its office suite. And no wonder: According to the latest market studies conducted by Dataquest, eight out of ten suite buyers now choose Microsoft Office (see " WordPerfect Hangs On").

On the basis of such grim statistics, WordPerfect Office 2000 (the new suite's name) will not try to match Microsoft Office 2000 feature for feature when the rival suites debut in the coming months (both packages are expected to ship in the spring of 1999). Instead, Corel says, it will concentrate on low-key but practical improvements that speed up common tasks and make existing features easier to use. And in a nod to market realities, the new version will help users collaborate smoothly with co-workers, clients, and friends who use Microsoft Office. Judging from our preview of an early version of the suite at Corel's Ottawa headquarters, the refinements could keep contented WordPerfect fans happy and dissuade wavering ones from jumping ship.