PagePlus links pictures PROPERLY without any issues,

While this is a known bug in Publisher, it has no effect on creating a
newspaper. It just happens that the picture is linked AND embeded.

If you do embed a picture in PagePlus it retains the picture in original
format - unlike Publisher which blows them up.

Not true. At least not true in Publisher 2002/2003

PagePlus has the Portfolio feature which is just magic for re-using
objects.

As does Pubilsher. The Design Gallery performs the same as the Portfolio.
You can re-use publisher objects, html objects, text objects, clipart, smart
objects, etc.

PagePlus has a FULL set of defaults that work

As does Publisher 2002/2003. And if you are looking beyond
margin/tab/paragraph/font defaults, there is a free add-in available for
adding even more defaults. In fact, with the Object Model in Publisher, it
almost unlimited.

PagePlus has a comprehensive and highly useful set of drawing tools far
more
suited to creating things for a newspaper than Publisher.

Publisher does indeed have excellent drawing tools. However, comprehensive
drawing tools should be left to drawing programs for serious drawing. That
is why Serif offers the excellent DrawPlus for an additional fee.

PagePlus has FX effects which Publisher has no answer to.

Publisher has VBA for programming routine functions, say in a newspaper for
print for commericial printing, which PagePlus has no answer to. Not to
mention, users of older versions of PagePlus have no way of opening files
sent to them in newer versions. And if you want FX effects, get a drawing
program.

PagePlus has PDF built in with no extras to buy

Plenty of free alternatives for Publisher. No extras to buy.

PagePlus converts to HTML without any issues and will retain the format
including columns if they want to publish the newspaper as HTML or of
course
PDF.

Publisher converts to HTML just fine, PDF can be converted via a free
printer driver.

Publisher has no ability to convert the document directly to HTML

Publisher indeed does.

PagePlus has a TOC (Table of Contents) or an Index function.

Publisher does not. However, over 90% of the systems running Publisher have
Microsoft Word, which is superior for making TOC's and Index, which can be
accessed and used in Publisher. And as noted by Mikes excellent PagePlus
created newspaper, the TOC remains consistent in a template each issue.
Publisher can use the same feature, and on top of that use Smart Objects
that once you enter a TOC title, it also automagically adds the title to a
corresponding text box for that particular story.

PagePlus has up to 99 undo's

Publisher 2002/2003 is unlimited (except via the memory). I remember when I
pointed out that the new Works was better than the old Works 4.5 because of
it's unlimited undo and you said that "you are pathetic if you need that
many undo's". Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm? :-)

It is a NO contest between Publisher and PagePlus to do a weekly
newspaper.

Depends on the user. I have had Serif PagePlus on my system for Version 4.0,
8.0 and 9.0 and have found nothing compelling to TAKE me away from
Publisher. They both have their advantages and disadvantages. You use which
ever you are comfortable with.

Publisher is aimed more at the small business user and is more suitable
for
short documents, flyers, invitations etc. etc.

And long documents, full color magazines, newspapers, etc. I have 4 issues
of RC (Radio Control) Magazine from England. It looks just like the
MotorTrends/People high quality magazines, and is done entirely in
Publisher, and sold at their magazine stands and drug stores. Granted, they
don't have as fancy of camera's, so the pictures are not quite as perfect as
say GQ, but it's awesome quality none the less.

Sure Publisher is a good program, but it has far to many limitations and
falls down in so many areas to do a larger document, and especially a
weekly
newspaper where speed and functionality is so important.

Not true. If you wanted to get nit picky, I could ramble on how PagePlus
doesn't have a translation feature, isn't supported in as many
countries/languages, doesn't support *.mht output, doesn't support File
Send as an embeded email in Outlook, doesn't support a catalog merge with
images, doesn't support a Pack & Go, doesn't support the ability to save as
older versions to share with other PagePlus users for editing, 24 item
clipboard, hundreds of professional online templates free for download from
Microsoft, continuous online help updates, graphics manager for locating
multiple objects in a Publication for replacing (at least not that I have
found), smart tags that connect to stocks, encyclopedias and searches (which
also include the ability to add parental controls to the smart links/tags in
Publisher publications), shared workspace for sharepoint services, design
checker, and let me know if I should keep going.

However, I do enjoy Serif's advantage with built in PDF, with PDF Hyperlink
support, and PDF security, it's drawing tools and it's ability to center
webpages in browsers, unlike Publisher. And I enjoy the Serif Community as
much as I do the Publisher community. Great people, great ideas. And Dale
and Patrick at Serif are also excellent guys.

Again, to each his own. I do recommend both products of course, but I am a
bit biased to what I know very well. And I know Publisher very well.
--
Brian Kvalheim
Microsoft Publisher MVP
http://www.publishermvps.com
~pay it forward~

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
confers no rights.