Microsoft Announces Microsoft Word 6.0 for Macintosh and Power Macintosh

World's Most Popular Macintosh Word Processor Delivers Unprecedented Ease of Use

Cross-Platform Solution for Macintosh Integrates Seamlessly with Office Applications

REDMOND, Wash., Aug. 2, 1994 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq: MSFT) today announced Microsoft(R) Word 6.0 for the Macintosh(R) and Power Macintosh(TM), major upgrades to the world's best- selling word processor for the Apple(R) Macintosh. Word 6.0 makes everyday tasks easier and faster, simplifies complex tasks, offers consistency and integration with other Microsoft Office applications, and supports all Apple System 7 technologies.

"Users' input was an integral part of the design process for Word 6.0 for the Macintosh," said Peter Pathe, general manager of the Word business unit at Microsoft. "Their feedback resulted in the creation of innovative features that simplify their everyday word processing tasks."

The more than 150 new features and enhancements in Word 6.0 make it a compelling upgrade for Macintosh users.

-- One-hundred-level undo and redo. Users no longer need to worry about making mistakes, because any of their previous 100 actions can be undone with point-and-click ease.
-- Table AutoFormat. Users can automatically format their tables in one step. More than 30 table-formatting styles are provided.
-- Improved Tables. New improvements make tables even easier to use. These improvements include a new, more intuitive user interface that allows for dragging the column widths and heights, carryover of table headings to new pages, and much more.
-- Fully editable print preview with thumbnail views. Users can view multiple pages at once and edit them using Word's new, fully editable Print Preview.
-- WordBasic. This cross-platform macro language containing more than 800 commands similar to the Visual Basic(R) programming system, allows users to build custom solutions using Word. WordBasic can work together with AppleScript(TM) to build multiapplication solutions on the Macintosh.
-- ToolTips. ToolTips displays a small description when the cursor is placed over a toolbar button to help users easily find out what any toolbar button does.
-- New Drawing Layer. A new drawing layer has callout boxes to highlight documents graphically.

Word Makes Everyday Tasks Easier and Faster

IntelliSense(TM) technology in Word 6.0 makes everyday tasks automatic and complex tasks easier. It senses what users want to do and intelligently produces the desired result. With IntelliSense, Word 6.0 continues Microsoft's 10-year tradition of bringing innovations to the Macintosh.

Examples of IntelliSense technology in Word 6.0 include AutoCorrect, AutoFormat, AutoSelect and AutoText.

-- AutoCorrect. The innovative AutoCorrect feature -- pioneered by Microsoft -- automatically corrects mistyped or misspelled words. For example, if the user accidentally types "teh," it is automatically replaced with "the" as soon as the spacebar is pressed. Users can also add their own commonly mistyped or misspelled words.
-- AutoFormat. With the revolutionary AutoFormat feature in Word 6.0, users can automatically format an entire document with one click on the toolbar. Attractive formatting and styles are applied while undesirable formatting such as hard carriage returns are automatically cleaned up. Then users can also choose from more than 20 predesigned styles provided in the Style Gallery or create their own styles.
-- AutoSelect. Word intelligently selects complete words when
highlighting text for editing.
-- AutoText. With AutoText, users can insert frequently used text or graphics with one mouse click.

Word Simplifies Complex Tasks

Word 6.0 for the Macintosh also helps the user by simplifying complex tasks such as creating newsletters and forms or marking revisions. Users no longer need to learn complex sequences of steps because Word acts as a guide, helping users through the process.

-- Wizards. Wizards are intelligent guides that interactively direct the user in creating newsletters, resumes, calendars, faxes and other documents and create a document design based on
the user's responses.
-- Forms. Users can now easily create custom business forms or select from predesigned forms, such as purchase orders and invoices.
-- Revision Marking. Word now offers revision markings that can be tracked by author and can be used to compare versions and to merge revisions with one click.

Provides Cross-Platform Compatibility; a Great Application for the Macintosh

With core code, Word 6.0 also provides a great cross-platform solution, allowing users to share files easily between versions of Word for the Macintosh, Power Macintosh, Windows(TM) and, when the versions become available, the Windows NT(TM) operating systems, without any file conversions. Because the application is core code, it looks and works the same on every platform, thus vastly reducing training, transition and support costs.

"A vast majority of Macintosh computers used in business are in sites that include multiple platforms," said Pieter Hartsook, industry analyst and publisher of The Hartsook Letter. "In providing cross-platform compatibility of documents, functionality and user interface, Microsoft Word is a tremendous advance in making these users more productive."

Microsoft Word 6.0 for the Macintosh also includes robust support for System 7 and new System 7.5 technologies. The product supports QuickDraw(TM) GX printing, which provides improved printer controls; PowerTalk(TM), for collaboration with other users; AppleScript, for building custom multiapplication solutions on the Macintosh; Publish & Subscribe; and a newly improved QuickTime(R) OLE server. It also gives users of PowerBook(R) a special toolbar minimum-install option and improved disk utilization for longer battery life.

Consistency and OLE Offer a New Level of Cross-Application Integration

Word 6.0 for the Macintosh now provides menus, toolbars and dialog boxes that are highly consistent with those in other Microsoft Office 4.2 applications. The product fully supports OLE, implemented as part of Microsoft's broader OfficeLinks technology. OfficeLinks delivers unparalleled integration of Office applications, making it easy to create, edit and publish richer documents by providing such features as in-place editing and cross-application drag and drop.

-- In-place editing. With in-place editing, it's easy to create compound documents using multiple Microsoft applications. Just one click on the toolbar enables a user to insert a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet into a Word document easily and manipulate it without ever leaving Word.
-- Drag and drop across applications. With OfficeLinks, users of Word 6.0 for the Macintosh can easily drag and drop information from one Office application to another using the mouse.
-- Interface consistency. The new Microsoft Office family now has menus, commands, toolbars and dialog boxes that are highly consistent across applications.

Product Support

All users of Microsoft desktop applications have access to unlimited, no-charge support by a toll line available Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific time. Customers can also choose additional, fee-based support options, including Priority Support, which provides 24-hour, seven-day-a-week support.

Pricing and Availability

Microsoft Word 6.0 for the Macintosh and Power Macintosh is expected to be available for a U.S. estimated retail price of $339. Current users of Word can upgrade for $99 after using a $30 rebate coupon included in the package that is valid until Dec. 31, 1994. (Prices may vary from store to store.) Microsoft Word 6.0 for the Macintosh is expected to be widely available to consumers in the United States and Canada by early September and to ship with a coupon qualifying all users for a free upgrade to Word 6.0 for the Power Macintosh. The versions for the Macintosh and Power Macintosh are expected to be shipping in the same box in October. A CD-ROM edition with both Macintosh and Power Macintosh versions together also is scheduled be available at that time.

Microsoft Word is also available as part of Microsoft Office 4.2 for Macintosh. Office is expected to be available for a U.S. estimated retail price of $499. Users of Word, any other Microsoft Office application, or Microsoft Works for the Macintosh can upgrade to Office for $259 after using a $40 rebate coupon, included in the package, that is valid through Dec. 31, 1994. (Prices may vary from store to store.)

Word 6.0 for the Macintosh is also scheduled to be available in more than 15 languages over the next nine months, including, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish.

System Requirements

Microsoft Word 6.0 for the Macintosh requires System 7 and a Macintosh with a 68020 processor or higher or a Power Macintosh. The product requires 4 MB of memory (8 MB is recommended). To ensure flexibility and accommodate various hard-disk space needs, users can choose from among various installation options, including compact (minimum), typical, complete/custom and scripted. A typical size when installed is 9.5 MB; a minimum size when installed is 4.5 MB.

Microsoft is the largest manufacturer of software for the Macintosh platform.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

NOTE: Microsoft and Visual Basic are registered trademarks and IntelliSense, Windows and Windows NT are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Macintosh, Apple, QuickTime and PowerBook are registered trademarks and Power Macintosh, AppleScript, QuickDraw and PowerTalk are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.

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8/2/94
/NOTE TO EDITORS: Windows NT is a trademarked product name. Please do not abbreviate in any way./
/CONTACT: Press Only: Carolyn Lathrop of Waggener Edstrom, 206-637-9097/
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