Personal computer word processing for veterinary article writing: personal computers and printers.

Abstract

Word processing makes the writing and altering of scientific articles faster, easier, and more accurate. Personal computers that are ideally suited to this use are now available. Certain factors must be taken into consideration when a system is selected with word processing in mind. A small business computer or a suitable transportable computer, linked to a printer, provides all the hardware, or machinery, necessary. This, along with a sufficiently powerful word processing program, and all the essential accessories, can be purchased for between $2,300 and $6,000. The editors of all (with one uncertain) 29 clinical veterinary and medical journals surveyed will accept articles written by the dense dot matrix or near-correspondence quality printers that frequently accompany personal computers. The major problem affecting the veterinarian who wishes to purchase a personal computer word processing system is that of spending the time to acquire sufficient information in order to choose the computer and the programs that will be appropriate to his or her requirements. These will include the specialized word processing demands of scientific article writing and many other applications, as appropriate.