Hi, Anne. I might begin by saying I am well aware of Emacs' abilities. I use it for html and xml writing, and it is vary powerful for mark up languages, and for C/C++ programming. However, it lacks in one major airea. It has no compatibility with MS Word document's, and I will tell you that is a major disadvantage for certain groups such as college students. At our colleges such as Wright State when the English Profs say they want an asignment turned in Microsoft Word format they mean it. Turn it in in html or something else you will get an F on the asignment. The Offices of Disability services at the colleges will say that MS Word is accessible with Jaws, and you have no reason for using anything else but using Word, and the Prof will give you an F. So therefore for this reason, and other reasons we need access to Word Processors such as Star Office that has that compatibility. Weather we like, love, or hate MS Word we can't bury our head in the sand and say I refuse to turn in a resume, class document, whatever in Word format because we simply dislike the format. Unless you are willing to take the college or company to court and challenge Word format they will turn you down for job posissions, give you an F on the asignment, whatever. So that is where I am coming from. Suppose you wanted a job at our local clenic which uses Microsoft Office. Now, can you imagine telling them I refuse to use Word and Excel, and I will use emacs and dismal. They'll tell you, "sorry, you don't have the qualifications we are looking for, and pass you over for the posission." Point being emacs is vary good for personal use, but in cases of college and some businesses it is vary inpractical. That's just how things are, and I am done giving my speech. I'll step down from the soap box.
