EasyWriter

EasyWriter
Title	EasyWriter
Release date(s)	1979
Original Platform(s)	Apple II
Original Publisher(s)	Information Unlimited Software
Developer(s)	John T. Draper
Category(s)	Productivity, Word Processing, Word Processor

Origins and Development for the Apple II

EasyWriter emerged in 1979 as one of the first word processors for the Apple II. Developed by John Draper, known as “Captain Crunch” for his phone phreaking exploits, the software was created under challenging circumstances. While serving nights in Alameda County Jail on a work-furlough program following a 1972 wire-fraud conviction, Draper hand-wrote the code for EasyWriter during the day at Receiving Studios, using a computer provided for his work. Written in the FORTH programming language, EasyWriter offered a user-friendly interface for text editing and formatting, enabling Apple II users to create documents without the complexity of typewriters. Its simplicity and accessibility made it a groundbreaking application for home and small business users.

At the third West Coast Computer Faire in 1979, Draper, alongside partner Matthew McIntosh, showcased a prototype of EasyWriter,. The program caught the attention of William “Bill” Baker, founder of Information Unlimited Software (IUS). Recognizing its potential, Baker offered Draper an advance to finalize and publish the software through IUS, providing funds for living expenses and a printer. Released in 1979 under Draper’s company, Cap’n Software, and EasyWriter became the leading title published by IUS. However, its performance was limited by the Apple II’s hardware constraints and the inefficiencies of FORTH, leading to occasional criticism for sluggish operation compared to later competitors.

Adaptation for the IBM PC

In 1981, IBM approached IUS for a secret project: the IBM PC, a desktop computer poised to revolutionize personal computing. Baker, advised by lawyer Dan Remer, negotiated a royalty deal to adapt EasyWriter as a launch title for the IBM PC, securing a six-month to one-year exclusivity period. Draper, working with programmer Larry Weiss, converted EasyWriter to the IBM PC platform under tight deadlines, using a prototype machine with no identifying marks. The conversion process was intense, with Draper’s demanding programming style pushing Weiss to the limit, but the duo completed the project in time for the IBM PC’s announcement in August 1981.

EasyWriter 1.0 for the IBM PC, released in October 1981, retained its FORTH-based architecture, which proved problematic. The software was notoriously buggy and slow, earning poor reviews. PC Magazine’s Andrew Fluegelman described it as riddled with “annoying inconveniences and some very serious traps,” and IBM’s Don Estridge acknowledged its poor user experience. Despite IBM’s testing approval, the software’s flaws led to the infamous “I Survived EasyWriter” T-shirts sent by Baker to IBM, which were returned due to IBM’s gift policy. The negative reception threatened IUS’s reputation, but the software’s exclusivity as the only word processor available at the IBM PC’s launch drove sales, capitalizing on the platform’s success.

Responding to criticism, IUS quickly released EasyWriter 1.10, which addressed most performance issues and earned praise for its smooth operation and ease of use. Fluegelman noted that had 1.10 been the initial release, EasyWriter might have become the standard PC word processor. In 1982, IUS introduced EasyWriter II, developed by Basic Software Group in the C programming language to better leverage the IBM PC’s hardware. This version added advanced features like a spell checker and mail-merge capabilities, enhancing its utility for business users. However, by this time third-party publishers began successfully competing against IBM's own titles.

Historical Significance

In 1983, Computer Associates acquired IUS for over $10 million, a deal that reflected EasyWriter’s commercial impact and IUS’s strong market position. The software continued to be supported post-acquisition, but its prominence waned as competitors with broader feature sets, gained market share.

EasyWriter’s legacy lies in its pioneering role in personal computing. As one of the first word processors for the Apple II and a launch title for the IBM PC, it demonstrated the commercial viability of productivity software. Its user-focused design set a precedent for accessible computing, while the IUS-IBM deal became a legendary model for programmer-entrepreneur partnerships in the software gold rush. Despite its technical limitations, EasyWriter’s influence persists in the evolution of word processing software, marking it as a milestone in the history of personal computing.

Releases

Links

Wikipedia