EvangeList Digest Tuesday, March 10 1998 Volume 01 : Number 1119
In this issue:
Tidbit - Free CD for Educators PR - SPECTRUM Educational Content Service PR - 4D 6.0.5 Ships Followup - Installed Base Market Share Numbers Job - Mac Systems Engineer Position (Iowa/Nebraska) Tidbit - Old Macs Still Work $$ - MovieWorks 4.0 Special Promotion PR - Enhance 4.0 Image-Editing & WildRiver SSK Plug-In Filters PR - MakeItGrow 2.3 Released Tidbit - Letter Sent To PC Makers Asking for "Windowless" PCs
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Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 02:11:08 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: Tidbit - Free CD for Educators
Keyword: Market by market, Education
This tidbit is from:
Gary R. Morrison, <morrison.gary@coe.memphis.edu>
The Project SMART CD is a collection of computer integrated lesson plans developed by K-12 teachers during our three year project. The lesson plans were developed with ClarisWorks.
If you are an educator and would like a free copy. Send an email to
<ProjectSMART@coe.memphis.edu>
In the body of the email, include your name and full U.S. Mail address.
We will ship the next batch in a few weeks.
We also run a technical support listserv for K-12 teachers and invite all educators and other evangelist willing to provide help to join the list.
Send email to <lists@coe.memphis.edu>
In the body put-- subscribe TeachTech
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Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 02:11:10 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: PR - SPECTRUM Educational Content Service
Keyword: Market by market, Education
This announcement is from:
Aper, <aper@ture.com>
Need a reason to buy a new G3 educational server and upgrade the performance of classroom computers? IncWell's SPECTRUM Educational Pages uses the power of web-browsing to deliver high-quality, just-in-time, interdisciplinary content for K-12 education at a cost starting at only $1/student/year.
SPECTRUM is an educational content service available for delivery on high-speed Internet or local Intranet systems. The SPECTRUM Educational Pages is a project which will never stop growing. Unlike textbooks, SPECTRUM will remain current and support multiple approaches to subject matter.
SPECTRUM Educational Pages is an outgrowth of the critically acclaimed SPECTRUM-The Family Internet Magazine. SPECTRUM pages have been recommended by the Discovery Channel Online, America Online, Classroom Connect, Prodigy Home Schooling Center and the Catholic Educational Network, among others.
While 80% of the Educational Pages are Windows Compatible, IncWell has designed SPECTRUM for optimum delivery on Apple PowerPC computers. It requires 800 x 600 pixel minimum screen resolution and 32mb RAM. SPECTRUM is powered by Apple QuickTime technology and Allegiant Technologies' ROADSTER plugin. SPECTRUM can be licensed on a school district or state level. It will be available for delivery to local servers in July, 1998.
SPECTRUM strives to meet the needs of education by...
- - being affordable
- - being current
- - being easily accessible
- - being highly interactive
- - supporting current media technologies
- - supporting multiple teaching methods
- - its ability to be scaled to meet local and individual needs
- - empowering teachers and students to create their own content without being programmers
- - its stimulating spirit of innovation, adventure, and discovery
SPECTRUM Educational Pages can be previewed at <http://www.incwell.com>.
Less than a year after the release of its major product upgrade, 4th Dimension version 6.0, ACI has engineered a significantly enhanced version for the entire ACI Product Line - version 6.0.5.
The benefits provided by this maintenance release include improved functionalities and an extremely stable and robust design environment. ACI Product Line version 6.0.5 is proof of ACI's commitment to providing quality development tools to its 7,000-strong developer community. Version 6.0.5 also includes some new features, such as new management of picture field compression, and a new procedure for converting 4D version 3 applications to 4D version 6.
The success of 4th Dimension version 6.0, released in early 1997, can be measured by the large proportion of professional developers who have already upgraded to this new version to build powerful cross-platform applications. Among the highly acclaimed features of 4th Dimension and 4D Server v6 are a built-in Web server, a revamped interface, triggers, stored procedures, a visual, interactive debugger, and an object-based forms editor.
The ACI Product Line stands out in the RDBMS market as an integrated and fully scalable solution and is comprised of the following products:
4th Dimension 6.0.5 - ---------------------------- ACI's flagship RDBMS application, 4D, provides a rhobust GUI, comprehensive programming language, and multi-platform capabilities.
4D Server 6.0.5 - ---------------------------- Integrated client/server development and deployment tool for workgroups and enterprise-wide systems.
4D Backup 6.0.5 - ---------------------- An integrated, transaction-based backup utility that offers programmable backups, mirroring, log file, and a host of other backup and restore features.
4D Compiler 6.0.5 - ------------------------- A cross-platform, multi-target compiler that generates code adapted to your machine's processor (486, Pentium, PPC, 68k)
4D Insider 6.0.5 - --------------------- A code servicing system that provides a complete dictionary of 4D databases and displays the interdependencies between objects.
4D Productivity plug-ins - ---------------------------------- Provide a complete cross-platform office automation system within 4th Dimension and 4D Server applications. These plugins behave as compound database objects and include the following products: - 4D Write 6.0.5 - --Word processing application - 4D Draw 6.0.5--Drawing application - 4D Calc 6.0.5--Spreadsheet application
4D Connectivity plug-ins - ----------------------------------- Allow 4D or 4D Server applications to become front-end clients to SQL databases. These plugins include the following products: - 4D SQL Server 6.0.5--Enables connections to MS SQL Server or Sybase SQL Server) - 4D for ORACLE 6.0.5--Enables connections to ORACLE - 4D ODBC 6.0.5--Enables generic connections to ODBC-compliant data sources. - 4D Open 6.0.5--The API for 4D, allowing any foreign client application to connect to 4D Server.
ODBC Driver for 4D Server 6.0.5 is a driver that allows all Windows-based applications to connect to 4D Server and execute database tasks.
About ACI US - -------------------------- ACI US, Inc. was founded in 1987 as the US publisher of 4th Dimension and the 4D product line which has set the relational database standard for over ten years. In 1995, ACI extended 4th Dimension technology to the Windows platform.
ACI US, Inc. 20883 Stevens Creek Boulevard Cupertino, CA 95014 <http://www.acius.com> Tel 800-881-3466 408-252-4444 Fax 408-252-4829
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Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 02:11:12 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: Followup - Installed Base Market Share Numbers
This follow-up message is from:
Clarence Feng, <cfeng@idt.net>
Around May of last year I researched some information related to the market viability of the MacOS in the industry as a whole and for business in particular. Here's some of what I found that might be applicable.
Total installed OS base as of Q3 1996 (millions of units):
DOS 180 Win 3.1 130 Win95/NT 53 MacOS 25 Sum 388 (Eighth Computer Industry Almanac, 1996)
It's been very difficult to find information relating to the relative number of PowerMac sales vs. 68k, but here's a quote that may help:
"PowerMac Desktops were 8 percent of January's [1997] domestic PC sales, up from 7 percent in 1996 [I assume the same month]. Throw in the clones, and Mac OS PC's were more than 11 percent of the business computers sold." (Computer Reseller News, April 21, 1997 'PC At Work: Macophiles still have a lot to like' by Peter Coffee)
Of course, one part of the context for Macs when considering development or deployment is their lower level of tech support requirements for both hardware and software, and the generally higher level of customer satisfaction and loyalty. As this yearly study indicates, the Mac enjoys good numbers in these areas:
Brand loyalty (ranked by percentage of users who would buy the make again):
I'll just throw in an aside not to totally disregard 68k Macs. Some businesses were still using IIci's, SE/30's and even MacII's for work as of last year, meaning that they were able to amortize the higher purchase cost of the computer over six to eight years instead of three or four. On a pure cost basis, the Mac is a computer you can keep using after amortizing the capital expense.
__________________________ Digital Guy Sez:
Well this is a start, though I'd like to see some numbers through '97. Compbined Win95/NT installed base only 25% of the Win3.1/DOS installed based?! Hmmmm....
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Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 02:10:21 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: Job - Mac Systems Engineer Position (Iowa/Nebraska)
This job announcement is from:
Mark Lockridge <mark.Lockridge@haddockcorporation.com>
MAC SYTSTEMS ENGINEER position open for presales support in IOWA/NEBRASKA. Assist in Selling Macs to Colleges/Universities. The Haddock Academic Techologies is the exclusive HIGHER EDUCATION sales agent for Apple computer in the 10 central states of the United States. We are looking for a System Engineer that has Macintosh technical knowledge relating to higher education market. Compensation in $30K range. Fax/e-mail resume to Mark Lockridge <@> 316-686-5914 or <mark.Lockridge@haddockcorporation.com>.
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Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 02:10:48 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: Tidbit - Old Macs Still Work
Keyword: Advocacy, Why Macs Are Better
This tidbit is from:
Rex Sanders, <rex@octopus.wr.usgs.gov>
Greg Lefevre writes "Surfing Silicon Valley" for CNN Interactive. This week:
he starts with a short bit on the rapidly falling price of computers, and how your old PC or Mac are almost worthless as trade-in, so you should keep it.
"Make it your spare unit (the Mac will probably still work)."
__________________________ Digital Guy Sez:
You know what the problem with good news is? It isn't. News, that is. Like the year 2000 problem...PC's have a large share of the problems, so they get all the press. Notoriety is sometimes more lucrative than fame...look at Mike Tyson. :/
BTW, read further into this argument and we note that Intuit has an 83% market share of the PC Financial market. Microsofts share is a mere 3%. This was after they gave away Microsoft Money. Last time I checked, Intuit was still charging for Quicken. Could it be an early sign of hope that consumers are starting to get a clue? Ok, so maybe that's too optimistic...but I can still hope.
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Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 02:10:24 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: $$ - MovieWorks 4.0 Special Promotion
Keyword: Market by market, Multimedia
This special offer is from:
Bill LaCommare, <bill@movieworks.com>
Interactive Solutions is pleased to offer Evangelist subscribers a great value MovieWorks. MovieWorks is an award winning multimedia authoring tool and QuickTime movie editor that is fun, easy-to-use and powerful. Scenes created in MovieWorks are saved in the industry standard QuickTime format and may be easily imported into other applications, or played on any Mac, over the Internet and on PC's.
MovieWorks allows you to take advantage of QuickTime 3.0's new compressors for video, voice and music, as well as the real-time, formula-based transitions. The bottom line is that you can now create QuickTime movies that will look and sound 2 - 3 times better, and be 5 - 10 times smaller in file size. MovieWorks just received a 5 star rating from MacHome Journal <http://www.machome.com/movieworks.html>, and a 1997 Editor's Choice award from Design, Typography & Graphics Magazine.
MovieWorks regularly sells for $99.95. Though March 31st, MovieWorks is available to Evangelist subscribers at the special price of $49.95, and 50% discounts on Lab Packs. To order, visit the MovieWorks web site <http://www.movieworks.com> or call 1-800-668-4353.
Bill LaCommare, President Interactive Solutions, Inc.
Bob Kindschuh, VP Sales & Marketing <MicroFrontier<bob.kindschuh@microfrontier.com>
Due to an overwhelming response rate, MicroFrontier is extending the $100.00 special pricing for Enhance 4.0 Image-Editing Software and WildRiver SSK Plug-In Filters for 60 days.
MicroFrontier's special pricing is in effect until April 30th, 1998. The retail cost for Enhance is $349.95 and WildRiver SSK is $99.95. The $100.00 special pricing provides a total savings of $349.90. More than 75% off the suggested list price. Owners of previous versions of Enhance or Color It! may upgrade for just $69.95.
A powerful image manipulation program with professional-level control, Enhance 4.0 offers 16 levels of Undo, multiple layers, support for pressure-sensitive tablets and Photoshop-compatible plug-ins, multiple-acquire capability and 33 built-in filters. Enhance offers many of the features found in other more expensive programs, but at a fraction of the price, such as CMYK separations, levels, curves, unsharp masking and multiple acquire. It also includes many unique capabilities, including ruler and angle tools, the ability to assign any tool to the Wacom stylus eraser, a fully-integrated image browser, and an abundance of filters including Auto Enhance, Adjust HSL and Replace Color along with special filters for removing dust, scratches and red-eye. Web-oriented features including image map creation, options for previewing images in the web browser of the user's choice; automatically generating HTML image tags, and saving files with minimized color tables for quicker downloads and sm
As a extra bonus, a full copy of WildRiverSSK, a suite of seven plug-in filters that provide spectacular effects in a virtually effortless and timely manner. These filters include Chameleon a color manipulation tool, Magic Curtain a gradient designer, Magic Mask a special effect designer, TileMaker a versatile tool for posterizing or tiling images, DekoBoko a 3-D button designer, MagicFrame a frame and border designer, and TV Snow a virtually infinite control to apply noise to an image. Enhance ships on a CD-ROM with hundreds of royalty-free photos, free Pattern Sets and a Pattern Library sampler set, free Kai's Power Tools 3.0 SE plug-in filters from MetaCreations, free Eye Candy 3.0 demo filters from Alien Skin Software, free images and fonts from Bright Ideas, and BBEdit Lite, a demo of BBEdit and utility programs from Bare Bones Software. Also included is a 240-page printed manual with step-by-step tutorial.
The special pricing for Enhance and WildRiver SSK is available by contacting MicroFrontier at (515) 270-8109 or (800) 388-8109 toll-free, via FAX at (515) 278-6828, or via e-mail at <sales@microfrontier.com>. Visa and MasterCard are accepted. Shipping and handling charges are $7.95 (U.S.), $9.95 (Canada) and $15.00 for international orders. Visit MicroFrontier's Web site at <http://www.microfrontier.com/> for more information.
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Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 02:10:17 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: PR - MakeItGrow 2.3 Released
This announcement is from:
John Spicer, <spicerj@mail.islandnet.com>
MakeItGrow 2.3 is a garden layout package for your Macintosh. It will allow you to lay out a garden up to 200' x 200', using 96 of the most common types of vegetables, herbs, and fruits, 52 common flowers, and 44 water lillies, rushes, and grasses. Each icon is drawn in the correct scale for the spacing required for the plant. The program also supports line drawing in eight colors, for garden boundaries, etc, plus a wide selection of fill patterns and the ability to draw circles, rectangles, and rounded rectangles, as well as text entry (with support for font, size, and style selection), in either the vertical or horizontal mode. The grid is fixed at 6" per square, or 15 cm, allowing for a 200'x200', or about a 65x65 meter plot.
* User database support for three types of data: [1] New Pests [2] New Plants [3] Result notes for each plant tried. * Note window for each plot * Importing of plants * Companion Plant checking * Zoom (Max 16:1) * Plaintalk (if installed) * Select and move items * Balloon Help * Printing (both vertical and horizontal) * Floating Palettes for selection of plants * Unlimited windows (within available memory) * Exporting of plots as either PICT or to the clipboard * Creation of Estimated Yield based on the number and type of plants in the plot * Drawing of lines, circles, rectangles with fill patterns * Creation of a text list (export all text entered in the plot) * Text entry (vertical or horizontal), with support for font, size, and styles * Live palettes - see the plant names by just passing the cursor over the buttons * Rulers displayed in either cm or inches * Information on companion planting * Information on pests and diseases * Backround information on most edible plants * Layers (8)
Changes from version 2.2.4: Fixed a bug which occurs only under OS 8.1. The program was very unstable, and would crash randomly. Added database support. Rearranged the menus and added the database menu.
"On Monday, the Consumer Project on Technology sent a letter to six top personal computer makers. Signed by founder Ralph Nader, the letter asks the original equipment manufacturers to start allowing consumers to buy computers with non-Microsoft operating systems preinstalled.
"The letter was sent to the heads of Dell, Gateway, Micron, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, and Packard Bell-NEC. It recommends that they offer such operating system alternatives as Linux, Caldera's Open DOS/Spider, and forthcoming operating systems including Apple's Rhapsody or the BeOS from Be Inc."
Now, the old excuse was that Microsoft forced PC manufacturers to pay royalties for the Windows OS based on how many units were shipped, and NOT how many actually had Windows installed onto them (this led the the original consent decree the Justice Department negotiated with Microsoft, specifically to stop this practice). The NEW excuse seems to be that they don't want to deal with the testing to check for driver compatibility. It will be fun to watch this one play out. :-)
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End of EvangeList Digest V1 #1119 *********************************
