Microsoft Announces Word Assistant
Enhances Documents With Templates, Fonts, Clip Art and More

REDMOND, Wash.--Oct. 20, 1993--Microsoft Corporation today announced Word
Assistant, an add-on software package designed to enhance documents
created using Microsoft Word version 6.0. Taking advantage of key features
in this version, Word Assistant provides users with style templates and
forms professionally designed with 25 new TrueType fonts, 100 additional
clip-art images and two font utility programs to help assist in using,
grouping and organizing fonts.

Word Assistant is designed to complement the features in Word 6.0 that make
it easier to create great-looking documents. While all Word users can
benefit from Word Assistant, small businesses in particular should find
the Word Assistant features, such as forms, valuable for creating
professional-looking documents.

"Word Assistant is the logical choice to complement Word 6.0," said Steve
Shaiman, general manager, advanced product development at Microsoft. "This
program extends the benefits of Word 6.0 and gives users a quick and easy
way to create a wide range of great-looking business documents."

Key Features

The key features in Word Assistant are grouped into five areas:

** Fonts. Word Assistant offers 25 new TrueType fonts, including both
headline and text. These new fonts were selected not only to integrate
with the existing families of TrueType fonts offered by Microsoft, but
also to offer users unique ways to differentiate their documents.

** Style templates/forms/special paper. Taking advantage of AutoFormat and
Style Gallery in Word 6.0, Word Assistant includes 20 additional style
templates that are predesigned with the new fonts, making document
creation easier than ever. Word Assistant also includes 10 predesigned
form templates for online data input and 20 PaperDirect metafile
templates, which allow users to preview documents on-screen prior to
printing with PaperDirect specialty paper.

** Clip art. Word Assistant includes 100 clip-art images from 3G Graphics,
adding to the Word Clip Art Library. These new images give users
additional tools for creating rich, graphically oriented documents.

** Font Selector. This feature allows users to view and select all fonts in
three modes: Normal, WYSIWIG, or All At Once. This feature gives users
more choices in terms of choosing appropriate fonts for specific
documents; it is the first such utility for the Windows environment.

** Font Assistant version 1.1. This updated version of the Font Assistant,
initially introduced in the add-in Microsoft TrueType Font Pack 2 product,
allows users to organize their TrueType fonts, create custom font groups,
and print sample pages of installed fonts to help them in creating final
documents. This new version features both an improved user interface and
more printing options.

System Requirements and Availability

Word Assistant requires a system with a 386 or higher microprocessor;
Windows 3.1 or the Windows for Workgroups operating system with integrated
networking version 3.1; Word 6.0 for Windows; a hard disk drive; and a
1.44MB floppy drive.
Word Assistant has a suggested retail price of $64.95, and will be
available through authorized Microsoft resellers. A Macintosh version is
planned for early 1994.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of
products and services for business and personal use, each designed with
the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take
advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Microsoft Corp, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399
206-882-8080,  fax: 206-93MSFAX

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