gasser@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Nate Gasser) (03/04/91)
Calling all hypertext/multimedia fans,
I'm looking to create a hypertext/multimedia educational product
and I'm still at the which-platform stage. Anyone care to comment
on the relative merits of:
HyperCard 2.0
SuperCard 1.5
Guide (Owl International)
PLUS (Spinaker)
...anything else?
Specifically, I'm looking at PLUS. Anyone used it? How well does
it cross from Mac to IBM?
I need heavy graphics support - how's Guide in this area?
If PLUS doesn't do it, I'm going with HyperCard, 'cause I can't stand
developing at the molasses rate SuperCard restricts you to.
Anyone with PLUS experience (good or bad), I'd appreciate a reply.
E-mail, please, to gasser@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (i.e. reply to this...)
advTHANKSance,
NateLarry@postgres.Berkeley.EDU (Larry Rowe) (03/05/91)
In article <38667@netnews.upenn.edu>, gasser@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Nate Gasser) writes: > From: gasser@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Nate Gasser) > Subject: Desktop hypertext/multimedia platforms > Date: 4 Mar 91 15:26:40 GMT > > I'm looking to create a hypertext/multimedia educational product > and I'm still at the which-platform stage. Anyone care to comment > on the relative merits of: > ... > Nate I don't have direct experience with PLUS, but I talked to someone who has used it and they weren't really enthusiastic about the product. The biggest problem seemed to be the redraw speed for complex graphics images composed of many overlayed images. They do the quick and dirty redraw (farthest-to-closest object). Another possibility. There is a company in Walnut Creek Calif, named Heizer Software (I think), that sells a product that converts Hypercard stacks to ToolBook stacks. ToolBook runs on IBM PC's under windows. I don't know if they've updated the product to handle Hypercard 2.0, but I'm sure they will over time. And, of course, you'll have to be careful about what features you use in Hypercard, but it may provide a more paletable solution. Larry Rowe
alb@cognos.UUCP (Al Belyea) (03/06/91)
In article <38667@netnews.upenn.edu> gasser@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Nate Gasser) writes: > >Calling all hypertext/multimedia fans, > > I'm looking to create a hypertext/multimedia educational product ^^^^^^^^^^^ Which educational market are you targetting? Primary? Grade? High-school? University? If you are targetting anything from primary to high-school levels, you may want to consider using a Mac with HyperCard 1.25 (instead of 2.0). Why you ask? Well, a LOT of schools also have Apple IIGS's. And Apple just released HyperCard GS which is basically HyperCard 1.25 with full colour support and better sound support. Contains full HyperTalk support too. Apple also released a utility called HyperMover which will convert from Mac HC to HCGS and vice versa. (actually its one stack on the Mac and a similar stack on the GS). So, by going with HyperCard, you can also very easily double the size of your target market machines, and if you can easily convert HyperCard stacks to an IBM-type machine, then you can triple your target market machines. BTW, HCGS with full colour support (ie for individual objects) looks real fine. It'll be nice when Mac HC supports that too. -- Allan Belyea UUCP: 3755 Riverside Dr. Cognos Incorporated alb@cognos P.O. Box 9707 (613) 738-1338 x3822 uunet!mitel!cunews!cognos!alb Ottawa, Ontario "... when in a Desparate situation, challenge." Sun Tzu CANADA K1G 3Z4
Taylor_Crandall@mindlink.UUCP (Taylor Crandall) (03/14/91)
I've just tuned in to the group. Can I have A QUICK HIT OF CATCH-UP ON: Guide (OWL International)? Thanks -- TaylorCrandall@mindlink.UUCP Capilano College North Vancouver BC INFOTECH PROGRAM
ssingh@watserv1.waterloo.edu (Sneaky Sanj) (03/15/91)
In article <38667@netnews.upenn.edu> gasser@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Nate Gasser) writes: > >Calling all hypertext/multimedia fans, > > I'm looking to create a hypertext/multimedia educational product >and I'm still at the which-platform stage. Anyone care to comment >on the relative merits of: > [...] >Guide (Owl International) > >I need heavy graphics support - how's Guide in this area? > We are also looking into a multimedia based CAL system for PCs and it would appear Guide is a good product. I haven't explored fully its functionality, but I know of a guy at Occidental College who has used it to develop courseware for philosophy of science. Guide has an embedded programming language (LOGiiX), support for full motion video, and what seems to be a strong commitment for support from OWL. In the documentation, OWL said it would develop applications for people on a contractual basis. So if anyone has anything to add, please do so. I myself would like to hear how you people have used Guide (or anything else) for a multimedia CAL system. Yours for more interactive learning, Ice. -- "No one had the guts... until now!" $anjay $ingh Fire & "Ice" ssingh@watserv1.[u]waterloo.{edu|cdn}/[ca] ROBOTRON Hi-Score: 20 Million Points | A new level of (in)human throughput... !blade_runner!terminator!terminator_II_judgement_day!watmath!watserv1!ssingh!