“Though we’re still not entirely happy with the way CorelDRAW’s
programs perform, there’s no denying that this product fills a
useful niche for any concept of Linux that includes eventual
domination (or even just a healthy share) of non-technical and home
desktops.”
“Old-school Linux fans may not, for instance, be fond of the way
the menus and selectors comprising the interface are built; we may
not care for the ‘My Home’ and ‘My Linux’ designations used to make
the computer seem more familiar to recent Windows immigrants; and
we may have plenty of ways to roll our own in terms of PDF
production involving fairly simple and common tools. We aren’t,
however, the point of the exercise, which is to buld a formidable
core of usable software that will prove welcoming to users looking
to get out from under the Microsoft hegemony on the desktop.”
“Corel has done an excellent job of addressing its anticipated
audience in this regard, giving Linux a look and feel more
welcoming to new users. If a shop were, for instance, to have a
stable of illustrators already familiar with CorelDRAW, they’d have
very little trouble transitioning to a Linux environment,
especially if they were presented with a sane default desktop and
an hour of orientation to their new surroundings.”
“In all, we’re fairly enthusiastic about CorelDRAW because of
the standards it sets in terms of features and usability. It’s a
polished pair of applications, with good documentation and a sense
of underlying slickness. It won’t be for everyone, but it’s a
solid, professional package. We hope some of the niggling
performance issues get worked out the next time around, but we’re
pleased with what Corel has brought to the table.”