SOFTWARE ISSUES
Q) How compatible are today's applications with the PowerPC Macintosh?
A) Today's Macintosh applications should run, without modification, on
Power Macintosh models. Apple expects their performance to be
surprisingly responsive. In actual use, performance will range from a
fast 68030 to a 68040 based Macintosh. Apple has been testing third
party software at developer conferences throughout the world, as well as
in our own labs. After testing over a thousand packages, we are
confident that compatibility will be excellent.
Q) What about DOS or Windows?
A) Power Macintosh computers gives us a greatly improved story for
DOS/Windows users. InsigniaSolutions is working on a native version of
SoftPC, which they call SoftWindows, for Power Macintosh models. The
PowerPC 601 microprocessor is a far better platform for their emulator
than today's 68040. Consequently a DOS or Windows program can run at
speeds comparable to a 486. With this technology, Power Macintosh
offers a migration path for the two operating systems that really matter
in the large marketplace today -�? Macintosh and DOS/Windows.
Q) Will my existing peripherals work (CD-ROM, hard drives, scanners,
printers)?
A) YES! AppleTalk devices (such as printers), SCSI devices (such as hard
disks, scanners, and CD-ROMs), ADB devices (such as mice, trackballs and
keyboards), and other Macintosh cards and peripherals are compatible
with Power Macintosh. If a hardware device works with the new Macintosh
AV systems, the odds are excellent that it will work on Power Macintosh
with no problems.
Q) Will PowerPC and 680x0 based microprocessor systems co-exist on the same
network or environment?
A) Yes. You will be able to mix RISC based and 680x0 based Macintosh
systems on the same networks, exchange files and disks between them, and
enjoy all the other benefits expected from a Macintosh.
Q) Which applications will be ready at release and when will a substantial
number of native applications be available?
A) Because Power Macintosh is being initially introduced at the mid to high
range, areas of emphasis are business applications, high end graphics
and publishing applications and higher education science and engineering
applications.
Q) Will Apple be publishing a list of Power Macintosh compatible software?
A) Nearly all software that currently runs on 680x0 based Macintosh models
will run on Power Macintosh. A list of exceptions is more likely than a
list of compatibles, since most all applications will be running at
introduction.
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