Comments on: Quark's Postcards from the Edge http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/ The Authority for News & Opinion on the War of the Desktop Publishing Giants QuarkXPress and Adobe InDesign Sun, 07 Sep 2008 21:56:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.11 by: Guest http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-18604 Mon, 12 Feb 2007 11:12:58 +0000 http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-18604 Hi, Read this now... but maybe this post card campain was was done by <a href="http://www.sicolamartin.com/clients.html" rel="nofollow">Sicola Martin</a>. I see a that Quark is listed in the client's list. The site features the same "controversial" scottish-arts logo. Hi,

Read this now…
but maybe this post card campain was was done by Sicola Martin.

I see a that Quark is listed in the client’s list. The site features the same “controversial” scottish-arts logo.

]]> by: M Jenius http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-16984 Fri, 03 Nov 2006 21:05:15 +0000 http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-16984 You're absolutely right. Microsoft just let this one pass by. And yes, a total monopoly is bad no matter who it is. One thing though... Adobe is different from Microsoft and the old Quark because they believe in partnership and licensing. Besides there's room for every program to co-exists. For example, CorelDraw is very popular with illustrators (the profession not the program), but many think that it's gone away. In any case, it's nice to see a different point of view. I disagree with you that this is an "ID fandboy site". Ironically, the Quark bashing here is not nearly as sever as what you'll find in Quark's own forum. You’re absolutely right. Microsoft just let this one pass by. And yes, a total monopoly is bad no matter who it is. One thing though… Adobe is different from Microsoft and the old Quark because they believe in partnership and licensing. Besides there’s room for every program to co-exists. For example, CorelDraw is very popular with illustrators (the profession not the program), but many think that it’s gone away. In any case, it’s nice to see a different point of view. I disagree with you that this is an “ID fandboy site”. Ironically, the Quark bashing here is not nearly as sever as what you’ll find in Quark’s own forum.

]]> by: damo http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-16979 Fri, 03 Nov 2006 16:03:40 +0000 http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-16979 Anything that pokes fun at a near-monopoly is fine with me. You guys aren't happy that Quark doesn't respect Adobe and what it stands for? You, the Adobe users, don't even know what Adobe stands for. Are any of you even ofay with the direction the company is heading in or what pies they currently have their fingers in? Of course you don't. Because its not in front of you - so who cares right? Right now Microsoft is gearing up to release various Adobe aimed competitive products. Even attacking Adobe at a grassroots level with the "Metro" file format. You wanted anti competition? Well imagine every copy of Vista sold massively ensuring the adoption of this new application independant printing format is a guaranteed success. Adobe and Pdf may have just come up against "the wall". Quark is just a small company and Adobe users gloat over its impending doom. Meanwhile oblivious to their own favourite sone being targeted by the real Big Daddy of the tech market. haha Who cares right? Anything that pokes fun at a near-monopoly is fine with me. You guys aren’t happy that Quark doesn’t respect Adobe and what it stands for?

You, the Adobe users, don’t even know what Adobe stands for. Are any of you even ofay with the direction the company is heading in or what pies they currently have their fingers in?

Of course you don’t. Because its not in front of you - so who cares right?

Right now Microsoft is gearing up to release various Adobe aimed competitive products. Even attacking Adobe at a grassroots level with the “Metro” file format. You wanted anti competition? Well imagine every copy of Vista sold massively ensuring the adoption of this new application independant printing format is a guaranteed success.

Adobe and Pdf may have just come up against “the wall”. Quark is just a small company and Adobe users gloat over its impending doom. Meanwhile oblivious to their own favourite sone being targeted by the real Big Daddy of the tech market.

haha

Who cares right?

]]> by: Garrick http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-16834 Fri, 29 Sep 2006 15:08:30 +0000 http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-16834 I came back to this link today, after seeing the CS3 sneak peek story, and on the eve of the release of XPress 7. It was fun to read back through the comments, and to see what's changed and what hasn't. I was an early adopter of ID, and have spent the last few years trying to convert the rest of my company from Quark (and one stubborn PageMaker user!) Coming soon, we upgrade to a new Intel-based Mac server, and at that time we will standardize on CS3. For me, it was all about the customer service. I had an experience similar to #71 with my personal copy of XPress -- trying to upgrade from 4 to 6, they insisted that I had a Windows-based version, when in fact it's a Mac version. I stopped trying to force my money on them, and over the weekend I'll be ordering my CS2 upgrade that includes Acrobat 8 and DreamWeaver. W00T! I came back to this link today, after seeing the CS3 sneak peek story, and on the eve of the release of XPress 7.
It was fun to read back through the comments, and to see what’s changed and what hasn’t.

I was an early adopter of ID, and have spent the last few years trying to convert the rest of my company from Quark (and one stubborn PageMaker user!)

Coming soon, we upgrade to a new Intel-based Mac server, and at that time we will standardize on CS3. For me, it was all about the customer service. I had an experience similar to #71 with my personal copy of XPress — trying to upgrade from 4 to 6, they insisted that I had a Windows-based version, when in fact it’s a Mac version. I stopped trying to force my money on them, and over the weekend I’ll be ordering my CS2 upgrade that includes Acrobat 8 and DreamWeaver. W00T!

]]> by: Matthew Treder http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-1417 Sun, 08 Jan 2006 20:34:30 +0000 http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-1417 Last year, I was working at a newspaper that was stuck with licensed versions of Quark 3.x running on half a dozen older Mac OS 9 boxes. Craving the timesaving functionality of Quark 4.1, I tried everything I could think of-- for month-- trying to get legitimate licenses for Q4 from Quark. I tried by e-mail, phone, and fax. We were OFFERING THEM OUR COLD, HARD CASH to upgrade to 4, the most recent version of Quark our old office technology could handle. They wouldn't do it. Kept trying to upsell me to Q6.5, which of course no machine in the newsroom could run. Talk about a cuckoo's nest. What kind of company WON'T take your money for a product still in use in the world? Last year, I was working at a newspaper that was stuck with licensed versions of Quark 3.x running on half a dozen older Mac OS 9 boxes. Craving the timesaving functionality of Quark 4.1, I tried everything I could think of— for month— trying to get legitimate licenses for Q4 from Quark. I tried by e-mail, phone, and fax. We were OFFERING THEM OUR COLD, HARD CASH to upgrade to 4, the most recent version of Quark our old office technology could handle. They wouldn’t do it. Kept trying to upsell me to Q6.5, which of course no machine in the newsroom could run. Talk about a cuckoo’s nest. What kind of company WON’T take your money for a product still in use in the world?

]]> by: Randy Preising http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-1414 Thu, 05 Jan 2006 19:46:59 +0000 http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-1414 Well, I'd agree the site has a slight bias towards Adobe, but "nothing assembles elements, has better control over color and is a better value than Quark ..." Really? For the longest time Quark was priced at $1,500CDN, putting it on a par with the entire Creative Suite. That's value? How about the "added value" I have to put in on Quark docs that constantly crash, fonts that won't load, PDFs that won't generate properly, not being able to place layered PSD files, no opentype/unicode support, horriffic font and EPS rendering ... As far as the "norm" in the industry, from my colleagues around here, ID is becoming the norm. We can actually get work done Well, I’d agree the site has a slight bias towards Adobe, but “nothing assembles elements, has better control over color and is a better value than Quark …”

Really?

For the longest time Quark was priced at $1,500CDN, putting it on a par with the entire Creative Suite. That’s value? How about the “added value” I have to put in on Quark docs that constantly crash, fonts that won’t load, PDFs that won’t generate properly, not being able to place layered PSD files, no opentype/unicode support, horriffic font and EPS rendering …

As far as the “norm” in the industry, from my colleagues around here, ID is becoming the norm. We can actually get work done

]]> by: Mike O'Hara http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-1362 Thu, 22 Dec 2005 06:51:23 +0000 http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-1362 This site is not Quark vs. InDesign. It's actually fairly obvious that it's a pro-Adobe site... and while Photoshop and Illustrator dominate the print industry for what they do, nothing assembles elements, has better control over color and is a better value than Quark... besides Quark being the "norm" in the industry. This site is not Quark vs. InDesign. It’s actually fairly obvious that it’s a pro-Adobe site… and while Photoshop and Illustrator dominate the print industry for what they do, nothing assembles elements, has better control over color and is a better value than Quark… besides Quark being the “norm” in the industry.

]]> by: Jay http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-1196 Wed, 30 Nov 2005 04:41:46 +0000 http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-1196 Ha, no matter what Quark does, it cannot change the fact that InDesign will be the new Industry Standard. Adobe is monopolizing the whole print and web industry. With there buy out of macromedia and 2007 development of CS3, Quark will be in serious danger 3-5 years down the line. In order for Quark to survive, they must come up with a way to compete with InDesign's Illustrator functions, PDF exports, mutiple file supports and multiple export options, copy and pasting, individual resize graphic and text boxes, as well as a full range of keyboard shortcuts. Plus more. All what InDesign already has. InDesign has taken an even bigger leap and has widen the gap into an ocean . And who says Adobe is not developing there next version of InDesign while Xpress 7 is still in development. The obvious decision for a professional designer is to give up quarky and move on to InDesign Ha, no matter what Quark does, it cannot change the fact that InDesign will be the new Industry Standard. Adobe is monopolizing the whole print and web industry. With there buy out of macromedia and 2007 development of CS3, Quark will be in serious danger 3-5 years down the line. In order for Quark to survive, they must come up with a way to compete with InDesign’s Illustrator functions, PDF exports, mutiple file supports and multiple export options, copy and pasting, individual resize graphic and text boxes, as well as a full range of keyboard shortcuts. Plus more. All what InDesign already has.
InDesign has taken an even bigger leap and has widen the gap into an ocean . And who says Adobe is not developing there next version of InDesign while Xpress 7 is still in development.

The obvious decision for a professional designer is to give up quarky and move on to InDesign

]]> by: Quark VS InDesign » Quark’s Logo — It Could Happen To You http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-801 Thu, 22 Sep 2005 10:00:46 +0000 http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-801 [...] During the spring and early summer of 2005 the entire industry was abuzz discussing Quark’s now infamous postcards from the edge. The story broke on Quark VS InDesign.comand was quickly picked up by nearly every unbiased media agency in the industry—as well as dozens of blogs—just as Quark’s PR machine began to wind up its pitch for next version of QuarkXPress. At the time, Quark’s marketing and promotion activities, which dwarfed everything the company had done during the entire preceding five years, were just picking up steam. X-Ray Magazine was revived for a third run, a new print and direct mail advertising campaign took flight, Quark re-opened the loudly closed Quark Forums, a new e-newsletter materialized, Quark appeared at trade shows and conventions, new promotional pricing and third-party software bundles were announced every few weeks, and Quark even contributed to and held contests. All of that was eclipsed by the story of the Quark postcards from the edge. You might think that if observant designers around the world can post several similar logos within hours of Quark’s public debut of the new logo, it should have been just as easy for Quark to have identified the same conflicts. Not necessarily so. [...] […] During the spring and early summer of 2005 the entire industry was abuzz discussing Quark’s now infamous postcards from the edge. The story broke on Quark VS InDesign.comand was quickly picked up by nearly every unbiased media agency in the industry—as well as dozens of blogs—just as Quark’s PR machine began to wind up its pitch for next version of QuarkXPress. At the time, Quark’s marketing and promotion activities, which dwarfed everything the company had done during the entire preceding five years, were just picking up steam. X-Ray Magazine was revived for a third run, a new print and direct mail advertising campaign took flight, Quark re-opened the loudly closed Quark Forums, a new e-newsletter materialized, Quark appeared at trade shows and conventions, new promotional pricing and third-party software bundles were announced every few weeks, and Quark even contributed to and held contests. All of that was eclipsed by the story of the Quark postcards from the edge. You might think that if observant designers around the world can post several similar logos within hours of Quark’s public debut of the new logo, it should have been just as easy for Quark to have identified the same conflicts. Not necessarily so. […]

]]> by: Robby http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-781 Wed, 14 Sep 2005 03:55:02 +0000 http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-781 I just thought I'd point out that the design of the ads - especially the sans-serif text on a gently curved solid color background - reminds me most distinctly of an Adobe CS box. No. Seriously. I saw the layout and thought that these were altered images from some Adobe campaign. Now, I'm not an industry type. I'm a hobbyist at this whole design thing and I bought CS 1 because I got a great academic price on it. What does that tell you about the "mind-share" that Quark must be trying to fight with? I mean. I've seen the XPress logo from v4 and others. It was funky. It was different. I find it interesting that they've made the name of it look like the text - not of "Adobe" - but of "Creative Suite", for this version. Shmucks. I just thought I’d point out that the design of the ads - especially the sans-serif text on a gently curved solid color background - reminds me most distinctly of an Adobe CS box.

No. Seriously. I saw the layout and thought that these were altered images from some Adobe campaign.

Now, I’m not an industry type. I’m a hobbyist at this whole design thing and I bought CS 1 because I got a great academic price on it. What does that tell you about the “mind-share” that Quark must be trying to fight with?

I mean. I’ve seen the XPress logo from v4 and others. It was funky. It was different. I find it interesting that they’ve made the name of it look like the text - not of “Adobe” - but of “Creative Suite”, for this version.

Shmucks.

]]> by: Designorati : Quark’s New Face http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-761 Fri, 09 Sep 2005 17:03:35 +0000 http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-761 [...] Quark stresses its workflow applications, which are given large coverage in the new site’s design. Overall it seems that Quark has stopped its “better than InDesign” marketing (see Quark’s Postcards from the Edge on Quark VS InDesign) and is now leaning towards the “how our software will help you”. Filed: Desktop Publishing: InDesign [...] […] Quark stresses its workflow applications, which are given large coverage in the new site’s design. Overall it seems that Quark has stopped its “better than InDesign” marketing (see Quark’s Postcards from the Edge on Quark VS InDesign) and is now leaning towards the “how our software will help you”. Filed: Desktop Publishing: InDesign […]

]]> by: Antje Kharchi http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-704 Wed, 10 Aug 2005 15:28:14 +0000 http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-704 At least the postcard campaign provided a laugh, probably the first one ever initiated by Quark. It did reflect the attitude that long-term users have come to expect and loathe. Few of us have forgotten how Quark forced us to remain with OS9 while we watched the developement of all sorts of other software for truly modern OSX from afar. During that time Quark had the nerve to bully us into buying the Xpress 5 upgrade, without which the upgrade to OSX-capable Xpress 6 was unable to handle legacy files. And yet, to this day, I cannot help wondering whether it had ever been necessary to upgrade from Xpress 4.2 at all. All added features, such as bezier drawing tools and web design capabilities were too little too late and had been so poorly implemented that we were better off sticking with the software we had already been using for such purposes. Engaging in a feature war does not seem a productive marketing strategy for Quark, as Xpress is clearly deficient in that area, and previews of Xpress 7 appear to highlight that fact. Users have been voting with their wallets, and InDesign trainers are much in demand . Quark has underestimated the emotional reactions of XPress users to years of neglect, with nowhere to turn. The decision to switch is no longer based on practical considerations, such as price/feature comparisons, but has become an expression of revolt against being held hostage. And as designers are discovering the joys of working with software designed by people who understand and respect the creative process, they are realizing: we've been had. I can only see a future for Quark if they continue to diligently upgrade their antique Xpress to keep pace with InDesign, and focus on streamlining workflow for large publishing houses. I cannot imagine great support for the program among individual designers and small studios, at least not until a new generation emerges from design schools where they have been blissfully oblivious to the page layout wars. At least the postcard campaign provided a laugh, probably the first one ever initiated by Quark. It did reflect the attitude that long-term users have come to expect and loathe. Few of us have forgotten how Quark forced us to remain with OS9 while we watched the developement of all sorts of other software for truly modern OSX from afar. During that time Quark had the nerve to bully us into buying the Xpress 5 upgrade, without which the upgrade to OSX-capable Xpress 6 was unable to handle legacy files. And yet, to this day, I cannot help wondering whether it had ever been necessary to upgrade from Xpress 4.2 at all. All added features, such as bezier drawing tools and web design capabilities were too little too late and had been so poorly implemented that we were better off sticking with the software we had already been using for such purposes.

Engaging in a feature war does not seem a productive marketing strategy for Quark, as Xpress is clearly deficient in that area, and previews of Xpress 7 appear to highlight that fact. Users have been voting with their wallets, and InDesign trainers are much in demand . Quark has underestimated the emotional reactions of XPress users to years of neglect, with nowhere to turn. The decision to switch is no longer based on practical considerations, such as price/feature comparisons, but has become an expression of revolt against being held hostage. And as designers are discovering the joys of working with software designed by people who understand and respect the creative process, they are realizing: we’ve been had.

I can only see a future for Quark if they continue to diligently upgrade their antique Xpress to keep pace with InDesign, and focus on streamlining workflow for large publishing houses. I cannot imagine great support for the program among individual designers and small studios, at least not until a new generation emerges from design schools where they have been blissfully oblivious to the page layout wars.

]]> by: Sortroom.net » QuarkXPress: How to lose customers with a mailout http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-639 Wed, 27 Jul 2005 00:14:47 +0000 http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-639 [...] Quark, the company behind the page layout software QuarkXPress, mailed out a marketing pack to potential and current customers in March of this year. The effort seems likely to go down in history as one of the most ill-thought out campaigns in the history of technology advertising. For a company that’s product is styling images and paper, the postcards not only lack fizz but also sport downright untrue comparisons between Quark’s software and that of its leading competitor, Adobe. But what came across most clearly is that it’s not just that Adobe’s InDesign is, contrary to Quark’s claims, the better software, but that the bad attitude Quark displayed is reminiscent of the bad old days of tech attitude.Quark VS InDesign: Quark’s Postcards from the Edge [...] […] Quark, the company behind the page layout software QuarkXPress, mailed out a marketing pack to potential and current customers in March of this year. The effort seems likely to go down in history as one of the most ill-thought out campaigns in the history of technology advertising. For a company that’s product is styling images and paper, the postcards not only lack fizz but also sport downright untrue comparisons between Quark’s software and that of its leading competitor, Adobe. But what came across most clearly is that it’s not just that Adobe’s InDesign is, contrary to Quark’s claims, the better software, but that the bad attitude Quark displayed is reminiscent of the bad old days of tech attitude.Quark VS InDesign: Quark’s Postcards from the Edge […]

]]> by: Elisabetta Bruno http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-635 Mon, 25 Jul 2005 11:57:50 +0000 http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-635 I didn't read all the comments, but considering how these postcards went to Quark users, this is actually the wrong positioning to use. Frontal attack isn't the best position to get marketing wise, in this case. No wonder why the responses weren't that filled with excitement. First of all making shreds of InDesign might make costumers think that their idea of switching is stupid. That makes the costumer feel stupid. This is covered right in Big League Sales Closing Techniques by Les Dan. It also presumes that (1) people ARE going to switch, (2) Quark has to furiously attack Adobe as obviously they are having catching up. The latter <em>instantly</em> positons Quark as number 2. Adobe InDesign is being positioned as part of Creative Suite, and as such its integration with Photoshop (and Illustrator) is great. It's the innovative solution. Quark is loosing the positioning of "industry standard" and is becoming "the one that ate the dust". They don't have anything to integrate with. Their price is worse too. Quark better survey their users to find QuarkXPress strong points and promote them. They should start a "what's unique" campaign as opposed to a "me-to" campaign. I didn’t read all the comments, but considering how these postcards went to Quark users, this is actually the wrong positioning to use. Frontal attack isn’t the best position to get marketing wise, in this case. No wonder why the responses weren’t that filled with excitement. First of all making shreds of InDesign might make costumers think that their idea of switching is stupid. That makes the costumer feel stupid. This is covered right in Big League Sales Closing Techniques by Les Dan. It also presumes that (1) people ARE going to switch, (2) Quark has to furiously attack Adobe as obviously they are having catching up. The latter instantly positons Quark as number 2. Adobe InDesign is being positioned as part of Creative Suite, and as such its integration with Photoshop (and Illustrator) is great. It’s the innovative solution. Quark is loosing the positioning of “industry standard” and is becoming “the one that ate the dust”. They don’t have anything to integrate with. Their price is worse too. Quark better survey their users to find QuarkXPress strong points and promote them. They should start a “what’s unique” campaign as opposed to a “me-to” campaign.

]]> by: Quark VS InDesign » Put Up or Shut Up http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-594 Fri, 15 Jul 2005 19:22:39 +0000 http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-594 [...] “XPress 7.0 will blow Adobe’s Indesign out of the market,” exclaims Janes Mann in a comment to our story “Quark’s Postcards From the Edge”. [...] […] “XPress 7.0 will blow Adobe’s Indesign out of the market,” exclaims Janes Mann in a comment to our story “Quark’s Postcards From the Edge”. […]

]]> by: Pariah S. Burke http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-563 Thu, 07 Jul 2005 17:28:47 +0000 http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-563 Hi, Jon. Thanks for expressing your opinion. I think, however, that if you give the site more than a "cursory look," you'll see plenty of evidence that it's not about Quark bashing. Don't just read the most popular articles--many of which are the most popular simply by virtue of the fact that there are so many frustrated Quark users. Hi, Jon. Thanks for expressing your opinion.

I think, however, that if you give the site more than a “cursory look,” you’ll see plenty of evidence that it’s not about Quark bashing. Don’t just read the most popular articles—many of which are the most popular simply by virtue of the fact that there are so many frustrated Quark users.

]]> by: Jon http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-560 Tue, 05 Jul 2005 14:07:20 +0000 http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-560 I just found this site, via a mention in Electronic Publishing magazine. I have to say that a cursory look through the site doesn't suppor t the notion that this is a "Quark vs. InDesign" site, but rather a bash Quark site. You may say that Quark deserves all the ill comments it receives, but the site shouldn't really be put forward as a balanced review and commentary site of the programs when it's not. Also, a small peeve, but as an editor, it bugs me when the program is constantly referred to as "Quark" - the program 's name is XPress. The company is Quark. I just found this site, via a mention in Electronic Publishing magazine. I have to say that a cursory look through the site doesn’t suppor t the notion that this is a “Quark vs. InDesign” site, but rather a bash Quark site. You may say that Quark deserves all the ill comments it receives, but the site shouldn’t really be put forward as a balanced review and commentary site of the programs when it’s not. Also, a small peeve, but as an editor, it bugs me when the program is constantly referred to as “Quark” - the program ’s name is XPress. The company is Quark.

]]> by: Don Jolley http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-556 Sun, 03 Jul 2005 17:53:02 +0000 http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-556 I was one of the lucky recipients of the cards, and I spent a grand total of about 45 seconds looking at them, shaking my head, and tossing them into the trash. Just as the article and more than a few others have mentioned, the content was a great push to InDesign, my first thought being "these guys are the very definition of 'posers'". When I upgraded to 6 I determined never to send Quark another cent when they demanded extra to use the same license on my laptop came up with their "one computer per copy, no second platform" policy. I set the timer- that my shop would never send Quark another cent, and would convert completely to InDesign rather than upgrade. Free or not, 6.5 is not going to see disk space on my machine. Quark doesn't deserve it, proof of which is openly exhibited by this laughable, moronic, offensive, poser approach to marketing. I was one of the lucky recipients of the cards, and I spent a grand total of about 45 seconds looking at them, shaking my head, and tossing them into the trash. Just as the article and more than a few others have mentioned, the content was a great push to InDesign, my first thought being “these guys are the very definition of ‘posers’”.

When I upgraded to 6 I determined never to send Quark another cent when they demanded extra to use the same license on my laptop came up with their “one computer per copy, no second platform” policy. I set the timer- that my shop would never send Quark another cent, and would convert completely to InDesign rather than upgrade.

Free or not, 6.5 is not going to see disk space on my machine. Quark doesn’t deserve it, proof of which is openly exhibited by this laughable, moronic, offensive, poser approach to marketing.

]]> by: Joe Rosenberg http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-521 Fri, 24 Jun 2005 19:29:13 +0000 http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-521 Interestingly as a so-called "pioneer" in the design/computer business, we started with Quark. I even met Fred, who demoed a pre-release of 1.0 that showed color. I asked him if it would release with that feature. I could have sworn he said yes. It didn't. THEN there was a version that came out that I heard through the grapevine blew up the eproms on the old Lino 100s. Well - we blew up the eprom on our old Lino 100! Not to mention one version that had about onefloppy a week showing up to fix bugs. I think the stack reached about 4 inches high on the desk when I started to suspect someone was not paying attention to things in Denver. I was also pres. of the Mac user group here and did make some comments that I was leaving them and going to PageMaker. I actually had a call and a visit from one of their sales people and was treated quite nicely. But, all that aside. It has been PageMaker and Now ID - we keep a copy of Quark here in case we HAVE to use it. When I got the postcards, and I did GET several mailings - they were glanced at and trashed. We will NEVER use Quark here as our regular layout program. And the postcards further reinforced that. Whew - felt good to get that off my chest to those who know what I am talking about.<!-- strikes = --> Interestingly as a so-called “pioneer” in the design/computer business, we started with Quark. I even met Fred, who demoed a pre-release of 1.0 that showed color. I asked him if it would release with that feature. I could have sworn he said yes. It didn’t. THEN there was a version that came out that I heard through the grapevine blew up the eproms on the old Lino 100s. Well - we blew up the eprom on our old Lino 100! Not to mention one version that had about onefloppy a week showing up to fix bugs. I think the stack reached about 4 inches high on the desk when I started to suspect someone was not paying attention to things in Denver.
I was also pres. of the Mac user group here and did make some comments that I was leaving them and going to PageMaker. I actually had a call and a visit from one of their sales people and was treated quite nicely. But, all that aside. It has been PageMaker and Now ID - we keep a copy of Quark here in case we HAVE to use it. When I got the postcards, and I did GET several mailings - they were glanced at and trashed. We will NEVER use Quark here as our regular layout program. And the postcards further reinforced that. Whew - felt good to get that off my chest to those who know what I am talking about.

]]> by: Christina http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-508 Mon, 13 Jun 2005 17:59:01 +0000 http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/features/2005/quarks-postcards-from-the-edge/#comment-508 I friend of mine sent me the link to this message board. I thought I was the only one who's come to absolutely HATE Quark. I got those postcards and with everyone I read, I became MORE and MORE pissed off. Who are they to criticize a layout and design program that is not only superior to them, but was actually there for designers (at about half the cost may I add) when we NEEDED a layout program to work with OSX???!!!!! I used Quark for years, and as most designers hated PageMaker, but was forced to switch when OSX came out. I figured it was worth a shot to try InDesign, because after all, PhotoShop is another of my favorite programs and the idea of being able to use the two seamlessly was pretty exciting. As far as I'm concerned, "Industry Standard" is a cop-out for "afraid of change". I agree there were some changes I had to learn to work around, but for the most part, as a freelance designer, I love InDesign and don't miss Quark at all anymore. It's been what, three years now? If it takes Quark that LONG to get their sh*t together, I want nothing to do with them. I am one of the designers who seriously hopes that the term "industry standard" comes to mean InDesign and that Quark is put in its place (history). <!-- strikes = --> I friend of mine sent me the link to this message board. I thought I was the only one who’s come to absolutely HATE Quark. I got those postcards and with everyone I read, I became MORE and MORE pissed off. Who are they to criticize a layout and design program that is not only superior to them, but was actually there for designers (at about half the cost may I add) when we NEEDED a layout program to work with OSX???!!!!!

I used Quark for years, and as most designers hated PageMaker, but was forced to switch when OSX came out. I figured it was worth a shot to try InDesign, because after all, PhotoShop is another of my favorite programs and the idea of being able to use the two seamlessly was pretty exciting.

As far as I’m concerned, “Industry Standard” is a cop-out for “afraid of change”. I agree there were some changes I had to learn to work around, but for the most part, as a freelance designer, I love InDesign and don’t miss Quark at all anymore. It’s been what, three years now? If it takes Quark that LONG to get their sh*t together, I want nothing to do with them. I am one of the designers who seriously hopes that the term “industry standard” comes to mean InDesign and that Quark is put in its place (history).

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