Apple Unveils New Operating System For Macintosh Computers

Macintosh System 7.5 includes suite of productivity-enhancing features, is compatible with virtually all Macintosh systems and software

Cupertino, California--July 11, 1994--The computer platform that defined the concept of "user-friendly" is about to become even easier to use--and streamline the way people use computers to get work done.

Apple Computer, Inc. today lifted the veil on the next release of the operating system for the company's flagship Macintosh  personal computers. Called Macintosh System 7.5, the new release is based on customer feedback, and incorporates an array of new capabilities designed to enhance the productivity of people using a Macintosh. Macintosh System 7.5 includes technologies that can automate or guide people through many of the more complex tasks associated with using a computer.  It simplifies the exchange of information between Macintosh and MS-DOS or Windows computers.  And, Macintosh System 7.5 integrates a number of time-saving features previously available at additional cost.

The company believes that Macintosh System 7.5 will greatly enhance its competitive position in all its traditional markets, as well as with users of MS-DOS and Windows-based personal computers.  Apple expects to ship Macintosh System 7.5 to the market in the late summer, and plans to preview the operating system publicly at the Macworld Exposition on August 2-5 in Boston, Massachusetts.

"With our Power Macintosh  systems, we became the industry's price/performance leader," said David Nagel, Apple senior vice president and general manager of the company's AppleSoft division. "And with Macintosh System 7.5, we greatly extend our leadership in providing people with systems that are not just easy to use, but also make it easier for people to get their work done."

Added Nagel, "As our competitors struggle to bring to market hardware and software systems that attempt to emulate the Macintosh of a decade ago, we continue to raise the bar to a new level.  System 7.5 underscores our commitment to deliver technologies that are focused first and foremost on solving people's real-world work needs."

Macintosh System 7.5 brings significant improvement to the Macintosh operating system in what Apple believes are five key areas for computer usage in the future:  Active Assistance, Personal Productivity, Compatibility, Collaboration, and Advanced Printing and Graphics.  As such, Macintosh System 7.5 incorporates a wide collection of new features and technologies (over 50 in all), in an effort to make the experience of using the Macintosh computer more productive and enjoyable.  (Note to editors: for a full listing and explanation of all the new features and technologies in Macintosh System 7.5, call 1-800-227-5329.)  The following provides a brief summary.

Active Assistance

Macintosh System 7.5 integrates technologies that make computing easier for people by simplifying difficult or routine computing tasks.

For example, Apple Guide is a built-in, interactive guide that leaps beyond traditional help systems by guiding the user, one step at a time, from query through the completion of a task.  It provides on-screen visual cues to highlight items so that the user can proceed through to the next step.  Apple Guide can be customized to lead users through tasks that are unique to their company or organization.

A new Scriptable Finder , based on the AppleScript  technology, lets users easily automate system tasks with scripts.  For example, people can use one of the many scripts included in Macintosh System 7.5 to set up a File Sharing "drop" folder that automatically enables File Sharing, specifies privileges and creates a folder that can be shared with others on a network.

Personal Productivity

Independent research consistently concludes that Macintosh users are more productive than users of other computing platforms.  Macintosh System 7.5 aims to extend that leadership by streamlining the way people get work done on a computer.

Macintosh Drag and Drop makes it even simpler and faster for users to implement basic computing tasks by moving objects around the Macintosh screen to get things done.  For example, when a user drags text or graphics to the desktop, a clippings file is automatically created.  Another feature, Hierarchical Menus, enables faster and easier access to items that are kept in folders under the Apple menu by displaying sub menus of recent documents and applications that have been used.  In addition, an improved Find File capability presents a list of all found files and the path to an individual file, as well as allows the user to drag-and-drop the file to a new location, or even open the file.

Compatibility

One of Apple's major company-wide strategies is to make it easier for MS-DOS and Windows users to move to the Macintosh platform, and to make it easier for Macintosh customers to work in mixed computing environments.

Macintosh PC Exchange  and Macintosh Easy Open, for example, are a set of utilities that allow MS-DOS, Windows and OS/2 data files to be opened and edited with compatible Macintosh applications. MacTCP offers built-in TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol)--a major and pervasive communications protocol for UNIX networking--at the software level.  TCP/IP is also the standard protocol for the Internet communications network.

Collaboration

Today, the Macintosh is the most networked brand of personal computer, due in part to Apple's pioneering efforts to develop and build in collaborative tools and technologies.  With Macintosh System 7.5, collaborative technology becomes part of the standard Macintosh operating system.

For example, PowerTalk --Apple's first collaboration solution for individuals--allows users to send electronic mail, share files and digitally "sign" and forward documents from within an application. PowerTalk includes the universal desktop mailbox--a single mail box for all incoming and outgoing mail--including on-line services, fax, voice, electronic mail from various sources, and documents from any application.

Advanced Graphics and Simplified Printing

Macintosh has long been acknowledged as the industry's preeminent system for graphic design and production.  Macintosh System 7.5 greatly advances this position with the integration of the QuickDraw GX technologies.

QuickDraw GX offers easier printing, color management, typography and document portability.  For example, to print a document in QuickDraw GX, a user can simply drag the file to the desktop printer icon.  The print queue status can easily be viewed and rearranged by double clicking on the printer icon.  As well, the user can easily drag the document to a different printer icon.

A new type of document file-format in QuickDraw GX also allows users to create a file that can be opened, viewed and printed from any other Macintosh with QuickDraw GX installed, without having the original fonts or application installed.

Advanced features of QuickDraw GX that will appeal to the publishing community include sophisticated typography, international support for languages such as Kanji or Arabic and enhanced color matching.

Support for Macintosh System 7.5

Current third-party developer support for Macintosh System 7.5 is strong and growing.  Among the vendors that will be supporting the new operating system are WordPerfect Corporation, Microsoft, Aldus, Adobe and many more.

"The new features in Macintosh System 7.5 give us new opportunity to differentiate our word processing application.  Specifically, we are getting tremendous feedback from our beta users regarding the Apple Guide and Macintosh Drag and Drop enhancements," said Dave Harding, product manager for WordPerfect 3.1, WordPerfect Corporation.

System Requirements

Macintosh System 7.5 will run on Macintosh computers with appropriate Random Access Memory (RAM) and at least a 68020 processor.  This includes all currently shipping desktop Macintosh models, PowerBook notebook computers, and all of Apple's recently introduced Power Macintosh systems.  The new release will be compatible with virtually all Macintosh applications software currently available.

On a 680x0-based Macintosh computer, Macintosh System 7.5 requires a minimum of four megabytes of RAM to run the core elements with most applications and a minimum of eight megabytes of RAM to use PowerTalk and QuickDraw GX.  When installed on Power Macintosh systems, Macintosh System 7.5 requires a minimum of eight megabytes of RAM for the core elements and 16 megabytes to use PowerTalk and QuickDraw GX.

Apple plans to make Macintosh System 7.5 available in CD-ROM and floppy disk formats.  The CD-ROM package is expected to include an "Extras" folder containing third-party applications such as "mail gateways" for PowerTalk communications, printing extensions that allow customizing print output, and other utilities.

Headquartered in Cupertino, Calif., Apple Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) develops, manufactures and markets personal computers, servers and personal interactive electronic systems for use in business, education, the home, science, engineering and government.  A recognized pioneer and innovator in the information industry, Apple does business in more than 120 countries.

Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, PowerBook and MacTCP are registered trademarks, of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.  AppleScript, Finder, Macintosh PC Exchange, Power Macintosh, PowerTalk and QuickDraw are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.  Other products or companies mentioned may be trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies and are used with no intent to infringe upon that trademark.

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Contact:
Whitney Greer
Apple Computer, Inc.
(408) 974-3886