mlyons@pro-fla.cts.com (mlyons, SysAdmin) (04/14/91)
| Notes and Comments - Macintosh | Dedicated to Macintosh Users Everywhere, April 1991 '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' Inside this issue: -More Macs -More Macs for less money -Shifting software markets -New protection in software =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- New high end-Macs: ------------------ By August, when Motorola can ship its 68040 chip in large enough quantities for Apple, Apple will start shipping its first 040 Macs. Apple's tall high end Mac, the Tower model, will cost between $10000 and $15000. It should be a good server platform--it has 5 internal SCSI bays and supports 8 more external SCSI devices. It will have 6 NuBus slots. The workstation desktop model should be similar in size to a Mac IIci. It should have 3 NuBus slots, multiple SCSI bays, and cost less than $10000, and will replace the IIfx. Both computers will utilize the 68040 processor running at 25MHz (about twice as fast as the IIfx). Both will include built in Ethernet. ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) will play a large part, taking care of secondary tasks, an extension of the design of the IIfx where ASICs speed data I/O. The NuBus slots will run at 20 MHz, and will acccept old NuBus cards as well. But new 040 NuBus cards will not work in the old Macs. More Low Prices from Apple: --------------------------- Apple recently slashed it's prices on its high end computers and printers. Here's acomparison of the new and old prices: Model Old New Mac IIfx 4MB/160MB HD $10969 $8669 4MB/80MB Hard drive 9869 8069 4MB/Floppy drive 8969 7369 Mac IIci 5MB/80MB Hard drive 6669 5969 5MB/Floppy drive 5969 5269 Mac SE/30 4MB/80MB HD 5569 3869 1MB/40MB Hard drive 4369 3369 Personal LaswerWriter NT 3299 2599 LaserWriter IINT 4499 3999 LaserWriter IINTX 5999 4999 Changing PC software markets: ----------------------------- In 1990 the Macintosh software market underwent many changes. Here's a breakdown of the changes in sales from 1989 to 1990: Word Processors 6.4% Spreadsheets -13.2% Databases 46.1% Integrated 0.8% Graphics 10.3% DTP 61.3% Languages/Tools -16.2% ---------------------- Total 16.6% The Mac software arena surpassed all others for growth in the areas of integrated software, DTP, and databases. The Mac market also had the lowest growth in the word processor, spreadsheet, and languages/tools areas. Strangely, we've seen a number of new integrated products (like Taste, T/Maker's bundle, Desk) in an area with almost no growth. In the fourth quarter of 1990 Windows sales accounted for 13% of the market, while Mac sales only accounted for 12%. While this may seem a harbinger of doom for the Macintosh, it may also prove the the graphical user interface is becoming legitimized. Apple's suit has limited success: --------------------------------- Apple's three year old suit against Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard has begun to come to a conclusion. Recently a judge ruled that Microsoft's Windows and HP's violated Apple's copyright on 10 different issues: 1. Overlapping windows 2. Windows partially off screen 3. Top window is active 4. Window brought to foreground when clicked on 5. Sizable windows 6. Movable windows 7. Movable icons 8. Background "underneath" windows 9. Icons behind windows 10. Icon titles There still is no ruling on the "look-and-feel" claim of Apple, and a 1985 licensing agreement may have permitted Microsoft to use these items of Apple'g GUI. New Printers: ------------- Last month Apple released two new printers: The Personal LaserWriter LS and the StyleWriter (see NC March 91 for specs). Providing a picture for you is difficult in this periodical, but just open any recent issue of Time, US News and World Report, or Business Week and you'll probably see a photo of these new printers. The StyleWriter stands almost vertical, and comes with a sheet feeder as well. Both printers come bundled with TrueType. With the release of True Type came Bitstream's release of Font Packs I and II. For $89 these will provide one font in four text styles and three other decorative fonts. Other font manufacturers promised to have more than 200 True Type fonts available by year's end. Software news: -------------- Protecting your Macintosh will now be easier than ever. Magna will release ScreenLock for $69 this June. ScreenLock works like a screen saver by locking the computer after a period of disuse. Magna also upgraded Empower I and Empower II to versions 4.0. New versions allow more flexibility with passwords and a hot-key to blank the screen immediately. These products should ship for $169 and $296. Now virus protection has also been increased. Symantec released SAM 3.0. For $99, the new package adds System 7.0 compatibility which adds many new features. DAs can be scanned at launch, better network features are available, and selected files can be scanned instantly. Look for Aldus PrePrint 1.5 later this year. This upgrade will include arbitrary page selection for printing separations, compatibility with PageMaker 4.0 and 4.01, FreeHand 2.0, 2.02, and 3.0, EPS and DCS (Quark) files, and Adobe Ilustrator '88 and 3.0, and image resamping capability which compensates for data lost during scanning. While we're talking about DTP, we also might mention that Ventura Publisher, one the the DOS world's DTP champs, has been released as version 3.0.1 for the Mac. Upgrades will be free for all registered users. Its large user base in the DOS world may help it, but some feel that its limited graphics capabilities and non-WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) handling of some layouts may hurt it. Available for $795 from Ventura Software, or $725 before April 15. Latest line on 1 MEG SIMMS: --------------------------- MacTel 1-800-950-8411 advertises $43 for 70/80ns MacProducts USA 1-800-MAC-DISK advertises $44 for 70/80ns 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. =========================================================================== Sources: -------- New high-end Macs: InfoWorld 3/18/91 p. 5 Apple's suit has limited success: InfoWorld 3/11/91 p. 8 New Printers: InfoWorld 3/11/91 p. 8 More low prices: InfoWorld 3/18/91 p. 38 Changing PC software markets: InfoWorld 3/25/91 p.41 Software news: -Empower, SAM, PrePrint: InfoWorld 3/25/91 p.37 -Ventura Publisher: InfoWorld 3/25/91 pp.79-82, InfoWorld 3/18/91 p.38 =========================================================================== Publisher note: Notes and Comments will now be posted by the second wednesday of each month with the deadlines at the last day of the month. =========================================================================== 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. If you wish to submit an article, or disagree with anything contained on these bytes, write or ask your sysop to send your message to; INET: editor@pro-fla.cts.com | Notes and Comments UUCP: crash!editor@pro-fla | Macintosh Editor ProLine: pro-fla!editor | 9623 Sun Dial Dr. AOL: Handles | Tampa, FL 33635-1125 Call Pro-Fla (813)885-1552. <8N1> 1200-9600 Next month deadline: 04/30/91 *Copyright (c) Michael A.Lyons* Editor, founder, publisher, and gofor: mlyons@pro-fla.