Publishing Software: I am an editor for a newsletter. The content of the newsletter is print & photo. Layout is also important. I have used Microsoft Publisher for years. I know almost...

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Mar 13, 2021 09:04:39 #

Xanadu Loc: Clay County FL

I am an editor for a newsletter. The content of the newsletter is print & photo. Layout is also important.

I have used Microsoft Publisher for years. I know almost all of it's idiosyncrasies and features. So, here's the problem. I refuse to use software that helps itself to you wallet once a year. When I began using M-Publisher, you bought it for life. However, that was many years and computers ago.

I am seeking recommendations for alternate publishing software that does not require total reprogramming of my frontal lobe and has the features of M-Publisher. I am guessing some of you have already been down this road.

Mar 13, 2021 09:18:46 #

lsimpkins Loc: SE Pennsylvania

You do not have to purchase Publisher as a subscription with annual fee. See:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/p/publisher/cfq7ttc0k7c3?activetab=pivot%3aoverviewtab

Mar 13, 2021 09:20:19 #

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

Xanadu wrote:

I am an editor for a newsletter. The content of th... (show quote)

Have you searched at all? I use openoffice. There is also libreoffice. Both are open source. I'm sure others are putty there, boy openoffice is a copy of microsoft in the way it works.

How come the newspaper does not furnish your software.

Mar 13, 2021 09:25:23 #

Schoee Loc: Europe

Xanadu wrote:

I am an editor for a newsletter. The content of th... (show quote)

It looks like lsimpkins has the solution for you but I was going to say not to be too quick in writing off subscriptions. The Microsoft 365 subscription has a lot going for it including 1TB cloud storage for each user (6 per house). This is a great backup by almost instantly synchronising your files to the cloud for an offsite backup copy. Of course you also get all the Office software.

Mar 13, 2021 10:09:39 #

Blu1Dog Loc: Florida

I went there and looked, it says subscription only when you get inside

Mar 13, 2021 10:41:07 #

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

If the only Microsoft 365 program you're using is publisher on a single machine I can certainly understand your reticence in having a subscription for around $100 a year.

However, my wife, my son and I use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher and OneDrive, extensively on three desktop computers and three laptop computers in our home. That comes to a bit more than $15 a year per computer to always have the latest version of all the Office applications. When you compare that to the several hundred dollars It used to cost years ago to install Microsoft Office Professional on a single machine with no updates to newer versions, a Microsoft 365 subscription is an absolute bargain.

Mar 13, 2021 12:14:38 #

David Martin Loc: Cary, NC

Xanadu wrote:

I am an editor for a newsletter. The content of th... (show quote)

Since you are looking to switch, perhaps you should consider Affinity Publisher. It actually integrates nicely with Affinity Photo (and Affinity Designer.)

I loved the first true desktop publishing program, Aldus PageMaker, which was revolutionary, super user-friendly and quite capable. After Adobe bought it and then killed it in favor of InDesign, I used Microsoft Publisher but never found it as user-friendly as PageMaker. I do like Affinity Publisher.

As with other Affinity programs, it is not a subscription, there is a 90-day free trial, all updates have been free, it is still at half-price ($25! How does that compare with $100/year?), and there are plenty of free tutorials online. You have little to lose by checking it out. Good luck with your search!

Mar 13, 2021 12:47:55 #

Xanadu Loc: Clay County FL

Thanks for your insight.
The newsletter is for a chapter of Antique and Classic Boat Society (ACBS). So, it is all volunteer - including my editing.

Mar 13, 2021 12:51:16 #

Xanadu Loc: Clay County FL

Thanks. I did not realize there is a 90 day free trial for Affinity Publishing. What can I lose except my time?

Mar 13, 2021 13:18:23 #

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

Xanadu wrote:

Thanks. I did not realize there is a 90 day free trial for Affinity Publishing. What can I lose except my time?

If you click "quote Reply" as I did here, we can tell who you are answering.

Mar 14, 2021 07:56:47 #

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Xanadu wrote:

I am an editor for a newsletter. The content of th... (show quote)

Is there a charge for your news letter??

Mar 14, 2021 07:59:39 #

philmurfin Loc: Bakewell, Derbyshire UK

David Martin wrote:

Since you are looking to switch, perhaps you shoul... (show quote)

I agree totally, I have used Serif programs for more years than I care to remember. Like their other products, Serif Affinity Designer or Serif Affinity Publisher will do an excellent job for you at a really good price.

Mar 14, 2021 08:11:15 #

Xanadu Loc: Clay County FL

traderjohn wrote:

Is there a charge for your news letter??

No charge for newsletter.

Mar 14, 2021 08:30:19 #

Schoee Loc: Europe

Xanadu wrote:

Thanks for your insight.
The newsletter is for a chapter of Antique and Classic Boat Society (ACBS). So, it is all volunteer - including my editing.

I used to have a 1951, 39 foot wooden sailing boat

Mar 14, 2021 08:42:27 #

nut4golf Loc: Windsor, CT

Xanadu wrote:

Thanks. I did not realize there is a 90 day free trial for Affinity Publishing. What can I lose except my time?

I also heartily endorse Serif Affinity products. They are great, and non-subscription and half-off during COVID. Publisher is fantastic and you'll wonder how you ever put up with MS-Publisher. :)

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