Path: network.ucsd.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!not-for-mail From: tjc@insignia.co.uk (Tony Cunningham) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.announce Subject: Apple to Offer SoftWindows on Macintosh with PowerPC Followup-To: comp.sys.mac.misc Date: 17 Feb 1994 02:00:53 -0600 Organization: Insignia Solutions Ltd. Lines: 119 Sender: daemon@cs.utexas.edu Approved: werner@rascal.ics.utexas.edu (Comp.sys.mac.announce Moderator) Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu Contact Insignia Solutions Inc. Paul Kerr/Nancy Tatum (415) 694-7600 Apple Computer Betty Taylor (408) 974-3983 Maureen O'Connell (408) 862-6689 Apple to Offer SoftWindows on Macintosh with PowerPC Software Solution Provides New Macintosh Systems with Windows and MS-DOS Compatibility Mountain View, Calif--February 9, 1994---Insignia Solutions and Apple Computer, Inc. announced today that they have reached an agreement for Apple to include Insignia's new SoftWindows (TM) PC-compatibility solution on selected configurations of Macintosh (R) with PowerPC (TM), Apple's next generation personal computers. Commercial terms of the agreement and pricing were not disclosed. SoftWindows is software that will let people using a Macintosh system with PowerPC run MS-DOS (R) and Microsoft Windows (TM) applications on top of the standard Macintosh operating system. Apple plans to offer specific Macintosh with PowerPC configurations with SoftWindows preinstalled when it debuts the new RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing)-based computers in the first half of 1994. This software bundle will be available in the U.S., and other selected international markets. Insignia also plans to distribute SoftWindows separately through its existing worldwide distribution channels. SoftWindows on Macintosh with PowerPC SoftWindows will give DOS and Windows users an easy path to the powerful new Macintosh computing platform--and the promise of hundreds of new applications now under development that will harness the full benefits of PowerPC technology. Depending on system configuration and applications, SoftWindows will provide Macintosh with PowerPC users with DOS and Windows application performance that is comparable to the speed of entry-level 386 and 486 personal computers. SoftWindows provides full MS-DOS and Windows in standard mode, as well as built-in PC network support for Novell NetWare, LAN Manager, Banyan Vines, Windows NT Advanced Server and TCP/IP. SoftWindows is also compatible with the full range of PC devices and systems, including COM and LPT ports, floppy drives, memory systems, video displays and CD-ROMs. To leverage the performance of Window's applications on Macintosh with PowerPC systems, Insignia's engineering optimized the latest Microsoft Windows release, Windows 3.1, and wrote features such as the display driver that maps Windows operations directly to the Macintosh Quickdraw graphics system. Customer Acceptance Customers and third party developers who have had access to pre-release systems say SoftWindows provides a compelling solution to meet the needs of a range of business and professional users who desire the power of Macintosh with PowerPC and need access to DOS and Windows applications. About SoftWindows Through its ongoing strategic alliance with Microsoft, last year Insignia received source code and a distribution license for the Windows operating system. A complete licensed copy of Windows 3.1 and MS-DOS forms an integral part of SoftWindows, enabling Insignia's products to support all current and future versions of Windows and Windows applications. Additionally, Insignia is a beta test site for upcoming Microsoft applications and technologies such as the new versions of Microsoft Word, Excel and Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) 2.0. The close relationship allows Insignia to produce current and future 100-percent PC compatible solutions. SoftPC (R) Support for Macintosh 680X0 Insignia will continue to distribute and improve its SoftPC compatibility solutions for Macintosh computers based on other Motorola 680X0 processors. When Macintosh with PowerPC becomes available, Insignia also plans to offer an inexpensive software upgrade for Insignia customers to SoftWindows. Insignia has not yet announced the retail or upgrade pricing of SoftWindows. About Macintosh with PowerPC-based Systems Macintosh with PowerPC is based on a new RISC-based microprocessor family under development by Apple, IBM and Motorola. The next generation of Macintosh personal computers will bring a new level of performance and functionality to personal computing at low prices. Apple plans to offer a full line of products, initially from mid-range to high-end systems, and provide many upgrade paths for current Macintosh customers. Insignia Solutions Inc. is a leading developer of PC emulation solutions for Macintosh computers and UNIX workstations. The company develops, markets and sells products designed to run Microsoft Windows and MS-DOS applications on Macintosh computers and HP, DEC, IBM, SGI, NeXT and SPARC workstations. SoftPC is a software product that allows Macintosh and UNIX users to run native DOS applications on their existing software platforms. Insignia also recently announced SoftWindows, a new product that allows Windows applications to be run on a variety of UNIX platforms and on Macintosh with PowerPC platforms. In addition, the company provides utility products for increasing user productivity on a variety of computer platforms. Insignia currently employs 170 people worldwide. -- Tony Cunningham, Insignia Solutions Ltd. (tjc@ed.ac.uk or tjc@insignia.co.uk) .