mha%baka.UUCP@theory.TN.CORNELL.EDU (Mark Anbinder) (10/23/90)
Date: 10/18/90 Subject: BAKA TN: Mac IIsi Compatibility ( BAKA Technical Memo Mac IIsi Software Compatibility 18 October 1990 Mark H. Anbinder Our research into software compatibility on the new Macintosh IIsi pointed up a couple of oddities in spreadsheet software, specifically Excel and WingZ, due to the absence of a math co-processor in the IIsi. Excel 2.2 does not work properly with the IIsi because Microsoft originally believed Apple when Apple DTS said that developers could expect all future 68020 and 68030 machines to include a math co-processor. However, 2.2 can be made to ignore the math co-processor (and thus will not fail if one isn't present) if you hold down the Command, Option, and Shift keys during the program's startup. Excel 2.2a, which has been shipping since shortly after Apple informed developers this spring that they could not count on the presence of a co-processor, does not assume anything and therefore works fine with the IIsi. If you are using WingZ, you can not use the Mac II version, which is designed to use a math co-processor. The "WingZ Lite" version works fine on the IIsi. Naturally, none of this is relevant if the IIsi has had one of the Apple slot adapter cards (NuBus or SE/30) installed, since either card has a 68882 math co-processor on it. Thanks to Linda of Microsoft's tech support department for her assistance with Excel. Mark H. Anbinder BAKA Computers Inc. Technical Support 607-257-2070 --- Forwarded with permission from the BAKA Technote mailing list. Please distribute this information as you like. If you do so, please leave the entire document as is, and credit BAKA Technical Support for the information.