Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!jarthur!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!sdd.hp.com!samsung!know!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!julius.cs.uiuc.edu!apple!applelink@apple.com!maller From: maller@applelink@apple.com (Steve Maller) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hypercard Subject: Re: HyperCard 2.0 (press release) Message-ID: <10477@goofy.Apple.COM> Date: 27 Sep 90 21:33:39 GMT Sender: usenet@Apple.COM Organization: Apple Computer Lines: 67 References:<44987@apple.Apple.COM> <3920@tellab5.tellabs.com> <45145@apple.Apple.COM> <1990Sep26.004233.25633@nada.kth.se> <90270.081033SAS102@psuvm.psu.edu> Here is the latest word (paraphrased) from Mike Holm, Claris HyperCard Product Manager, as expressed in an online conversation Wednesday evening 26-Sep on CompuServe: CPU Boxes ---------------------- Beginning Real Soon Now, every new Macintosh CPU will contain one HyperCard disk, including the *FULL* HyperCard 2.0 application, a very simple Home stack with the buttons for Authoring, Painting and Scripting disabled, and Address stack, an Appointments stack, maybe another stack or two, and a 30-page (or so) welcome to HyperCard book/brochure. The reason given by the people who made the decision for the disabling of the userlevels above #2 is that they wanted to keep naive users from accidentally destroying their stacks. An experienced HyperCard user will notice that there is just an opaque button hiding the other userlevel selections. Upgrade Package ---------------------- Also beginning Real Soon Now, there will be a telephone number at Claris to call to order an upgrade package. According to Mr. Holm, you need to be able to spell your name, have a home address, say "HyperCard 2.0", and have (access to) a major credit card. For the $49 that Claris will charge you, you will receive four of the five 2.0 distribution disks (the HyperCard Tour is not included), and an as-yet undetermined amount of documentation. Mike says they want to ship the HyperCard Script Language Guide with the upgrades, and maybe that will be it, the rationale being that "upgraders" will already know the theory of operation, and will mainly want to start enhancing their stacks' capabilities. Mike stressed that the upgrade is only meant for 1.x users, but didn't say how this would be enforced. There also may be a time limit on the upgrade, but that also seems to be TBD. Full Package ---------------------- At some point in the not-too-distant future, there will be a fully shrink-wrapped Claris HyperCard package on dealers' shelves. Claris has not determined the retail pricing of the package. This may or may not coincide with the expiration of the upgrade deal, but that was not made clear. Also, there will be a full set of documentation with this product, and possibly additional items. Again, this is TBD. User Groups ---------------------- Unknown to many of you, there was recently a mass mailing of the release version of HyperCard 2.0 to all licensed User Groups. Any group with a HyperCard license from Apple Software Licensing should already have their disks. Many of you should be able to "upgrade" through this channel at far less than the $49 offer, and sooner, too. Check with your local User Group for more information. As you can read from this news, there will NOT be a "crippled" version of the HyperCard 2.0 application. All of your input and suggestions have been read, and are appreciated by all of us. I don't want to speak for Kevin, Martin, or any of the other members of the HyperCard team, but for my part, it makes me feel like a million bucks to know that you all care about the product enough to fight for what you feel is right. I think this plan will allow us to move on, and most importantly, all of you will finally get to start building some awesome stacks! Thanks! Steve Maller HyperCard Engineering Team Apple Computer ------------- I speak solely for myself in these matters