mlyons@pro-fla.cts.com (mlyons, SysAdmin) (05/03/91)
| Notes and Comments - Macintosh | Dedicated to Macintosh Users Everywhere, May 1991 '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' Inside this issue: -Video enhancements -System 7 -Faster Macs =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Apple Delivers "Road Pizza" --------------------------- Apple plans to release a hardware/software combination for multimedia compression, code-named "Road Pizza." This package should deal with all NTSC, S-VHS, and genlock video standards, and with a video compression chip be able to decompress and compress JPEG and MPEG files. Apple's product will also use Quick Time, an enhancement to allow system independent usage of JPEG and MPEG files. This means that DOS and Windows video files will be accessible to Mac users. No pricing is yet available, but more than likely there will be two systems: one for only the playback of video; the other for the creation and manipulation of video images. One of the less tangible effects of this release will be the de facto definition of a standard. Currently many vendors are unsure which standard to accept. The introduction of Apple's package will give developers a model of compatibility to which they should conform. IAC? OLE? ---------- Perhaps the most touted feature of the forthcoming System 7.0 is Apple's Interapplication Communication (IAC). This will allow applications to communicate more easily with one another. Starting with Publish and Subscribe, sophisticated updates to the Cut and Paste functions, IAC moves on to Apple Events and beyond, allowing applications to pass data between themselves. With the advent of Windows 3.0, the IBM world began to see its own interapplication communication through Microsoft's Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) technology. OLE allows the linking and embedding of data between applications. Now, with Excel 3.0, Microsoft brings OLE to the Mac. Since both technologies claim the same goal, it a confrontation seems imminent. Although Microsoft claims that the technologies are complimentary, the existence of two such similar systems will confuse users and developers. Microsoft entices developers to support OLE with the promise of increased compatibility between the IBM and Mac worlds. Apple's IAC also has numerous advantages: it is built into the system; it has much room to grow, yet already has power; it will always be supported by the system and compatible with the system. Hopefully, the users will be able to chose the better technology in the end. 030 is greater than 040? ------------------------ Radius is shipping the Rocket, an accelerator which uses Motorola's 25-MHz 68040 processor. The processor can use up to 128 megabytes of RAM, and has special graphics handling capabilities. The $3495 card comes with Radius' QuickColor Graphics Engine and the QuickCAD Graphics Engine from faster graphics. Fusion Data systems joined Radius in the 040 club with its TokaMac line of 68040 accelerators. Fusion Data claims the TokaMac LC, which fits into the processor direct slot of the LC, can run 250% faster than a Mac IIfx. Fusion Data is aiming the TokaMac LC at the educational and scientific communities who need a fast but inexpensive Mac. However, for $2995, it might just be cheaper to get a new machine. Fusion Data is also shipping the TokaMac SX, another 040 accelerator for the same price that fits into the processor direct slot of either an SE/30 or a IIsi. DayStar Digital Inc. met the introduction of Radius' 68040 Rocket and Fusion Data's TokaMac accelerators with...nothing. DayStar wasn't plagued by engineering problems, or any other troubles. They simply chose not to release a 68040 accelerator yet. DayStar reasons that until Apple releases its own 040 workstation (see April '91 NC) there won't be any software to take advantage of the increased processor performance. Waiting for Apple's own 040 also makes the usual software patches unnecessary. DayStar also cited the small difference in performance between a less expensive 50-MHz 68030 accelerator and the 25-MHz 68040 as a reason to wait on a 040 accelerator. Videophiles rejoice! ----------------------- Radius Inc. has begun to ship the Radius FPD (full page display). This monitor is a 15-inch display with 4-bit gray scale (for Macs with built in video capabilities). It has a resolution of 640 by 870 (versus the 512 by 342 for the standard Mac screen). It works with the Mac SE/30, SE, IIci, IIsi, and II. It can connect to the Classic's 68000 processor directly and to the processor direct slot on the Mac LC. The monitor will sell for $895. Technology Works is shipping a VRAM (video RAM) module for the Mac LC. This module replaces the LC's 256K VRAM SIMM with a 512K VRAM SIMM, doubling the memory. The extra memory allows the Mac LC to display 256 shades of gray or with the 256 colors (and up to 32000 colors when used with certain monitors). The module costs $149. Lawsuit Drags On... ------------------- The Apple-Microsoft-HP lawsuit continued, and instead of lessening it increased. Apple has formally included Windows 3.0 in the suit. Previously, the suit was filed against Windows 2.03 and any derivative works. By specifically mentioning Windows 3.0, Apple doesn't have to prove that Windows 3.0 is a derivative work of Windows 2.03. With the inclusion of Windows 3.0, the lawsuit becomes much more important. An Apple victory could have a profound effect on one of the hottest IBM software packages, and a loss for Apple could end any chance of any future legal action on the issue. On May 23 there will be a conference on the case. Still remaining is the issue of whether Apple's copyrights to the ten GUI elements in question (see April '91 NC) are valid. Apple Reduces Prices -------------------- Apple recently cut the prices on the SE, Mac IIci, and Mac IIfx. The new prices are as follows: Macintosh SE 1 meg RAM/40 meg hard drive $3369 4 megs RAM/80 meg hard drive $3869 Macintosh IIci 5 megs RAM/floppy drive $5269 5 megs RAM/80 meg hard drive $5969 The Mac IIsi will now come with 3 megabytes of RAM instead of 2 megs. The top of the line IIfx had price cuts ranging from $1600 on base models to $2300 for the top model. Apple had better be careful, or they'll gain a reputation for having low prices. System 7.0 ---------- On May 13, we'll finally see what we've all been waiting so long for. On that date, System 7.0 will be released. But if you don't have two megabytes of memory, looking is all you can do. The new system will require 2 megs of RAM, and more is recommended. To refresh your memory about what to expect, here are some of the new features: -Virtual Memory:if you have a Paged Memory Management Unit (PMMU) your Mac can think it has as much memory as you have free space on your drives. Virtual Memory will allow the Mac to swap nonactive RAM onto parts of your hard disk, thus limiting your available memory to you available storage. The only disadvantage is that swapping memory can be slow. -IAC: Interapplication communication (IAC) will permit applications to communicate with each other on three levels: The Edition Manager is the lowest level, providing an extension to the clipboard with the Publish and Subscribe functions, an active form of Cut and Paste. The Event Manager will allow programs to share Apple Events, which are requests for information from other applications. The final layer is the PPC Toolbox which allows applications on the same or different machines to exchange low level messages and non-event-related code. The Edition Manager will be the most visible, but in the end the Apple Events and the PPC Toolbox will provide the greatest functionality behind the scenes, permitting unprecedented cooperation among programs. -Finder: Numerous revisions in the Finder include aliases, which allow programs and files to appear in two folders at once. Balloon help provides quick descriptions of the various functions on Mac. A new Find feature replaces the Find File DA with a much more powerful function. Small details, like preserving comments when rebuilding the desktop, icons in the Apple menu, and others also improve the Finder. -True Type: System 7.0 will include True Type, Apple's own font manager. True Type is much like Adobe Type Manager (the speed is close, and so is the output quality). True Type utilizes a new font technology similar to Postscript fonts, based on the mathematical descriptions of characters rather than a map of pixels. Software news: -------------- ComputerLand is now stocking its shelves with a new package. Called ComputerLand Business Solutions, it is comprised of Claris' MacWrite II, MacDraw II and Filemaker Pro. The package retails for $699. T/Maker is offering WriteNow 2.2, Grammatik 2.0, and MacTools Deluxe 1.1 for $89.95 if you trade in your copy of Microsoft Word or Works, or Claris' MacWrite. Offer only good through May 31. WordPerfect 2.0.1 for the Macintosh allows users to import and export Word 3.0 and 4.0 documents. This upgrade is $17.50 from WordPerfect or free from a dealer. Recently, LaCie changed their upgrade policy from $5.- (plus the original disk) to $25.- (plus the original disk). This move comes at a time when System 7 is just around the corner, and most owners of previous versions of the disk formatting utility will have to upgrade to be able to install the new system software. LaCie admits that no new functionality has been added to the program recently, but only bug fixes and compatibility problems have been addressed. They give no further explanation for the price hike. The latest version of SilverLining is 5.28. ========================================================================== Latest line on 1 MEG SIMMS: --------------------------- MacProducts USA 800-MAC-DISK advertises $44 for 70/80ns Bottom Line Distribution 900-420-3737 advertises $35 for 120ns Know of a better price on SIMMs? Tell us the price and where it was printed and we'll put it here. We do not endorse any of the companies mentioned here, but only mention them to keep you informed of the latest and lowest prices around. =========================================================================== Errata: -------- In "Apple's Suit Has Limited Succe.$$JP\.- ) JJQ]M%9 violated Apple's copyright on 10 different issues" Actually, as Russell S. Finn pointed out, the ruling was that the 10 issues were not covered by a previous license agreement made between Microsoft and Apple in 1985. The corrected text should state, "Recently a judge ruled that 10 different issues of Microsoft's Windows and HP's New Wave were not covered in the 1985 Microsoft license with Apple." =========================================================================== Sources: -------- Apple Delivers "Road Pizza": InfoWorld 4/1/91 p. 6; 4/8/91 p.6,41 IAC? OLE?: InfoWorld 4/8/91 p.8 030 is greater than 040?: InfoWorld 4/1/91 p.36; 4/8/91 p.41; 4/15/91 p.38; MacUser 5/91 p.49 Videophiles rejoice!: InfoWorld 4/15/91 p.38 Lawsuit Drags On...: InfoWorld 4/22/91 pp.1, 105; Russell S. Finn Apple Reduces Prices: MacUser 6/91 p.55 Software news: -ComputerLand Business Solutions: InfoWorld 4/15/91 p.40; ComputerLand -Word Perfect: InfoWorld 4/1/91 p. 36; -Silver Lining: Edgar Knapp; La Cie -T/Maker's bundle: InfoWorld 4/22/91 p.39 =========================================================================== Macintosh editor: Peter Kovac (pkovac@pro-fla) General Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within these bytes do not necessarily reflect the views of Pro-Fla or any other electronic bulletin board service where this is found. Trademarks, logos, brand and product names are registered trademarks of their respective holders. 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