War of the Words - by Carol Karels (Paperback)

About the Book

The story of a company at the dawn of the word-processing age.

Book Synopsis

War of the Words explores the dramatic transformation of the workplace during the 1980s, when computers, office automation, and--most notably--word processing began reshaping the modern office. At the heart of this story are two Texas brothers, Hank and Everett Karels, who developed MASS-11, a groundbreaking word processor that ran on Digital Equipment Corporation's (DEC) VAX minicomputers as well as IBM PCs and compatibles.

Despite its clunky name, MASS-11 was a powerhouse--loaded with features, lightning-fast in performance, and trusted by a Who's Who of the Fortune 500. Scientists, engineers, and office workers alike used it to document pivotal developments, including the Patriot Missile, the Hubble Space Telescope, the Alaska Pipeline, the first HIV test, and major pharmaceuticals like Zoloft, Zithromycin, and Prozac.

The Karels brothers, through their company MEC, saw the untapped potential of the VAX computer before DEC itself realized its impact on office automation. The author, a nurse by profession who joined the family startup from the beginning, offers an insider's view of an industry undergoing rapid and radical change--an industry that would ultimately reshape society.

She reflects on the grueling world of office work before digital transformation, where secretaries typed on IBM Selectrics from nine to five, only to retype entire documents the next day for even minor corrections. With vivid detail, she captures a rarely told slice of history: the monochrome, repetitive rhythm of office life before the rise of word processors, email, fax machines, and the Internet changed everything.

Review Quotes

"Entrepreneurial journeys are demanding and immersive. Carol Karels narrates the story of her family's business, MEC, a leader in word processing and office automation, with the same passion she exhibited while helping build it. If you were in business during the '80s or '90s, you'll recognize many of the competitive products and discover the story of MASS-11's rise and fall."

-Hope Player, CPA, Small business consultant

and author of Find the Numbers For Your Business Plan