ckix@vax5.cit.cornell.edu (George Paci) (04/09/91)
We just had a big Mac conference here at Cornell, at which I got a
chance to talk to a guy from Claris. I asked him about the "crippled"
version of HyperCard, and he said it's the same software you get when
you send in the $49 for the upgrade, it's just that the UserLevel
global is set low initially. Since anyone who doesn't know how to set
the UserLevel probably doesn't know how to script, paint, etc., this
is a reasonable way to ship the software. If you know what you're doing,
you up the UserLevel. If you don't, you're not in any danger of screwing
anything up.
I also asked about the upgrade vs. the Developer's Kit, and he said that
the DK includes lots of docs and nifty tools and stacks that not everyone
needs, which is why it's a separate (and more expensive) package.
Finally, I asked about legal ways to get HC 2.0 for free. He said that
most user groups have unlimited distribution licenses from Apple, so you
don't have to shell out $49 unless you want the manual (which anyone
reading comp.sys.mac.hypercard won't need: I mean, if you have a question,
you can always post it to the net, saving yourself $49 and costing the
net.community who knows how much (plus the cost of RTFM flames...) :-)
He brought up one point which I hadn't heard before:
If you buy the upgrade, you're contributing financially to HC's future.
Apparently, Apple was losing a significant amount of money on HC (I'm
willing to bet this accounting doesn't factor in the sales Apple wouldn't
have made if HC weren't (a) in existence or (b) free!), which is why
version 2.0 is officially Claris's baby. This seems like an odd line,
more appropriate to a PBS station than a software publisher, and I'm
pretty sure I don't buy it (pun acknowledged), but it's worth mentioning.
--George Paci (ckix@cornella.cit.cornell.edu)
"Great: the Bloodsucking Brady Bunch." --Edgar Frogdnewman@cantor.ACA.MCC.COM (David Newman) (04/09/91)
Can someone post a note indicating what stacks and tools and documents one
gets with the developer's kit? I have the cheap upgrade, but I'm curious if
there are things that I am really missing that I really want.
If this has already been posted, I apologize.
>>Dave
P.S. Oh yeah, if you do post, can you mail me a copy as well?
That way, I won't miss the note in the flood of news.Harry.Myhre@p2.f863.n102.z1.fidonet.org (Harry Myhre) (04/10/91)
George Paci writes in a message to All on 08 Apr 91 GP> Finally, I asked about legal ways to get HC 2.0 for free. He GP> said that most user groups have unlimited distribution licenses GP> from Apple, so you don't have to shell out $49 unless you want GP> the manual IMHO, the Script Language Guide is worth the price of the $49 upgrade. I preferit to Winkler's book because it's more concise. There are times when I stillpull Winkler's book off the shelf, though. The only problem I had with the $49dollar upgrade is I still don't have any docs on how to run the reports. Luckilyit's easy enough to figure out by brute force, but it took some time. -- : Harry Myhre - via FidoNet node 1:102/851 (818)352-2993 : ARPA/INTERNET: Harry.Myhre@p2.f863.n102.z1.fidonet.org : UUCP: ...!elroy!bohica!mcws!863.2!Harry.Myhre : Compu$erve: >internet:Harry.Myhre@p2.f863.n102.z1.fidonet.org