There are currently at least five main versions of Word Perfect available - two for DOS, two for Windows and one for Unix.

Here is a summary.-- Word Perfect 5.1 for DOS.

This is the version which has been around for four or more years; it is the 'established' version and the one which is running on almost all networks at present.

It contains everything a secretary could want.

It is entirely keyboard operated (although it is possible to use a mouse - a flattened ball operated with the hand).

The various options are chosen from a 'template' on the function keys at the top of the keyboard, eg F7 is 'exit' and shift F7 is 'print'.

It is not really intuitive; the user has to 'learn' what to do.

It runs happily on a 386 computer (indeed, on 286 computers) and in 2Mb of memory (RAM) or less.-- Word Perfect 6 for DOS.

This is the 'current' version of Word Perfect for DOS.

It can also be used in a similar way to Windows as it can be set up with button bars and pull down menus and runs with a mouse.

However, the actual operation of the mouse can be rather slow and jerky.

The advantage is that it has a graphics mode which provides a 'WYSIWYG' (what you see is what you get) display on screen and gives more flexibility of type size and presentation.

It can be run in text mode, so that it looks like DOS 5.1 if this is preferred.

It runs under DOS on a similar configuration to 5.1 if used in text mode, but needs a 386, or preferably 486, running at 33 MHz if used in graphics mode.-- Word Perfect 5.2 for Windows.

The Windows operating system offers a different way of presenting computer operations to the user.

It uses 'icons' which are pictures which represent a particular application, eg a filing cabinet, or a waste paper basket.

Options are chosen by use of a mouse.

Windows-based software is considered to be easier to learn, particularly for non computer experts, and may well become the norm for fee-earners wanting to get to grips with computers for particular tasks.Word Perfect 5.2 for Windows has been available for around 18 months.

It needs a 486 processor and 4Mb of RAM and is a very attractive product to use.

However, Word Perfect says that it is likely to be withdrawn around October 1994 because of the new version.-- Word Perfect 6 for Windows.

This version has been completely rewritten so that it operates more smoothly and faster.

It incorporates even more features.

It is very new and only now being installed for the first users.

However, there is a snag: it now appears that it needs 6Mb of RAM, and prefers 8Mb.

It also takes up 30Mb of the hard disk.

A PC with 8Mb of RAM costs around £200 more than the 4Mb model.A PC from a good manufacturer should be selected for this product since the speed of the disk transfer and the graphics interface also affects performance and less reliable manufacturers sometimes make economies on these components.To run this product on a network will probably require 12Mb of RAM although Word Perfect says that it is quite normal for an organisation to have different versions running at the same time, ie individuals can choose the version they prefer.

This may well be what happens in legal firms, with secretaries using the DOS version and fee-earners preferring the Windows version.

Interchange of documents between the various versions is possible.-- Word Perfect for Unix.

Many users running their accounts systems under Unix have also established a number of work stations running Word Perfect for Unix.

Most of these versions use the cheaper VDUs which are generally part of a Unix installation and these VDUs do not have good graphics facilities.

In addition, they are mostly mono rather than colour.These limitations have meant that Word Perfect for Unix has not been as visually interesting as the Dos and Windows versions, but the facilities available have been very similar.

There is a whole family of sub-versions for different Unix platforms available, and some are more 'visual' than others.

Word Perfect says that the software will take advantage of whatever VDU facilities are available.

The current version of Word Perfect for Unix is 5.1, with version 6 due in the summer.The options available when making the choice of which software to buy are listed below.-- If you have 5.1 running on PCs already and particularly if you have it on a network, ignore current Windows developments for the time being and wait to see which version 'wins' and how the market develops.

Do not bother with the DOS 6 version because it will be slower.-- If you are buying new PCs but are not sure whether you want Windows, choose a 486SX processor running at 25MHz or 33MHz with at least 4Mb of RAM and a 120Mb disk from a good manufacturer.

Choose either 6 for DOS or 5.2 for Windows depending on your current preference.

It is likely that the PC can be upgraded for more demanding Windows versions in due course, but there is some risk in this strategy.-- If you are sure that you want Windows now, and you want the latest version, get a good 486 PC running at 33MHz with 8Mb of RAM and probably a 200Mb hard disk, and accept that this will cost you £200 to £300 more.-- If you are currently a Unix user, stay with 5.1 until you replace your hardware and then look at the whole topic again.

For example, you may wish to set up a network next time round.The most recent news from Word Perfect is its announcement of yet another new version called Word Perfect 5.1 plus.

This has new features for 5.1 users who do not wish to upgrade their hardware and also makes interchange of files easier between 5.1 and later versions.1994