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From: gft_robert@gsbacd.uchicago.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hypercard
Subject: Re: HyperCard 2.0 (press release)
Message-ID: <1990Sep20.221700.1983@midway.uchicago.edu>
Date: 20 Sep 90 23:06:17 GMT
Sender: news@midway.uchicago.edu (News Administrator)
Organization: University of Chicago Graduate School of Business
Lines: 64

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In article <44996@apple.Apple.COM>, chuq@Apple.COM (The Wandering Phew) writes...
 
>emery@linus.mitre.org (David Emery) writes:
> 
>>Well, the great experiment is over, and we lose.  
> 
>Well, yet another Net.Expert goes off half-cocked based on incomplete
>information and a can't-wait-to-bash-Apple attitude. Feh
> 
>>Shame on you, Apple!!
> 
>Shame on you. What the facts are is that there is *one* hypercard. The
>difference in the versions is that on some of the lower end products, the
>ability to get out of browsing mode will be hidden. Not gone, hidden -- to
>protect someone who hasn't figured things out yet won't get themselves in
>deep trouble. Some of the authoring stacks -- the Ideas stuff -- won't be
>included as well (but are generally available if you decide you want them).
> 
>Yet another mindless flame. I guess if people can't find legitimate reasons
>to flame us, they'll go make them up from hearsay. Next thing you know,
              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>National Enquirer will start their own Macintosh section.



No no no.  I think that _this_ time the "flamers" had a point.  I'm usually an
"anti-flamer", and I'm sick of people dumping on Apple.  But read the press
release:

"     A version of HyperCard 2.0, which will run existing HyperCard stacks and
new HyperCard 2.0 stacks, will continue to be shipped with every Macintosh
computer.
     A complete HyperCard 2.0 authoring system, necessary for developing
stacks, will be sold by Claris. "

C'mon, be fair.  What does it sound like?  A version of HC 2.0 "which will
run...stacks, will continue to be shipped with every Macintosh computer."  OK,
why the word "run"?  To emphasize that it will run 1.0 and 2.0 stacks?  OK, but
it could also be legitimately be read as a run-time version, particularly when
directly followed by "A complete HyperCard 2.0 authoring system, necessary for
developing stacks, will be sold by Claris."  Look at that last line again:
"...necessary for developing stacks..."  After reading your post, Chuq, I
understand what Apple's doing, but what do the words say to someone who doesn't
already know the plan?  That you will _need_ (necessary!) Claris' kit to do
stack development.

So I think any objective observer could have gotten the wrong impression.  I
think Apple's press release authors are at fault, and they should perhaps
practice a bit more next time.

That having been said, I think people need to give Apple the benefit of the
doubt more often.  But I also think Apple has to regain some of the good will
it's squandered by questionable actions in the past few years (remember them
_raising_ Mac prices a couple of years ago??).

Robert


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= gft_robert@gsbacd.uchicago.edu * generic disclaimer: * "It's more fun to =
=            		         * all my opinions are *  compute"         =
=                                * mine                *  -Kraftwerk       =
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