Apple Unveils Its Internet Server Solution for the World Wide Web

All-in-one solution provides a low cost and easy way to establish a presence on the World-Wide Web--without the hassle of UNIX

INTERNET WORLD, San Jose, CA--April 10, 1995--Apple Computer, Inc. today introduced the Apple Internet Server Solution for the World Wide Web, an affordable and easy way to establish a presence on the Information Superhighway. The new server solution is an all- in-one package that includes a PowerPC processor-based Workgroup Server and all the software needed to make the server accessible to others on the World-Wide Web (WWW). This product extends Apple's market leadership in publishing from print to cyberspace, giving customers a robust, easy-to-use and cost-effective solution for establishing a presence on the Internet.

"Internet publishing is a natural extension of Apple's traditional strengths in the publishing market," said Jim Groff, vice president and general manager for Apple Business Systems. "With the Apple Internet Server Solution for the World Wide Web, Apple is leveraging those strengths with a rich set of content creation and networking tools."

The Apple Internet Server Solution is designed for individuals or groups, including marketing professionals, customer service organizations, educational institutions and IS managers in large corporations, who are interested in building a presence on the World-Wide Web. It is built on Apple's high-performance PowerPC processor-based Workgroup Server, so it delivers the reliability and speed needed to be responsive to multiple requests from many users. It also comes with a range of software, including content development tools that allow Web server managers, known as Webmasters, to develop home pages and other pages quickly and easily on the Internet--without having to know UNIX.

"Our customers are looking for solutions that enable them to get up on the Internet quickly and painlessly--as a way to communicate and do business. The Apple Internet Server Solution helps them do that in a very cost-effective way," Groff said.

The Apple Internet Server Solution consists of a Workgroup Server 6150/66, 8150/110 or 9150/120 and a CD-ROM that combines all the software components necessary for customers to easily establish a presence on the World-Wide Web, including:

MacHTTP from BIAP Systems Inc. [ http://www.biap.com/ ], which turns the Workgroup Server into a WWW server by allowing it to serve documents to the rest of the WWW.
BBEdit from Bare Bones Software Inc., which lets users create and edit the pages they intend to publish on the WWW.
Netscape [ http://www.netscape.com/ ] from Netscape Communications Corp., a WWW browser that lets Webmasters view the content they develop.
AppleSearch, Apple's information search and retrieval software that lets Webmasters index files on their server so WWW clients can search for information stored on it.
Adobe [ http://www.adobe.com/ ] Acrobat Pro, which allows Webmasters to publish their documents in the exact format in which they were developed. It enables documents to maintain their formatting so that when viewed, the image seen is the same image that was posted.
Common Gateway Interfaces (CGIs), which are easy-to-use applications based on AppleScript that let MacHTTP interact with other applications in pre-designed ways. For example, "clickable" maps that bring up information about particular cities when the user clicks on city icons or electronic mail that allows WWW clients to fill out pre-formatted forms and send them to a specified e-mail address.
Apple RAID Software for data protection and disk mirroring
AppleShare Client for Windows software, which allows Windows users to access AppleTalk-based file and print services.

MacDNS, a domain name server software for the Mac OS, is expected to be available on the Workgroup Servers in early summer 1995. MacDNS makes the Workgroup Server recognizable to other servers on the WWW and does not require UNIX knowledge to use.

The Apple Internet Server Solution also comes with a variety of sample WWW pages (home pages, catalog pages and forms), sample databases, on-line documentation and "how-to" tutorials to help Webmasters create their own server pages.

Apple's Web Advantage

The Apple Internet Server Solution is a natural choice for customers who are already using the Macintosh platform for print and multimedia development. Because it is based on the intuitive Mac OS, the Apple Internet Server Solution is easy to set up, operate and manage, which are not leading characteristics of UNIX- based servers.

The Apple Internet Server Solution is also less expensive. UNIX- based servers today cost from $6,000 to $12,000 in the United States, while the Apple Internet Server Solution starts at less than half the price of the lowest cost UNIX-based server. In addition, the ease of use of the Mac OS cuts down on maintenance time and money that normally accompanies UNIX-based server administration. The Apple Internet Server Solution is also very reliable. If a power failure occurs, the Workgroup Server can be up and running within minutes, with data intact. And because the Mac OS does not allow remote administration (a feature of UNIX), the server is less susceptible to unauthorized access.

The Internet and the World-Wide Web

According to the Internet Society, the number of people connected to the Internet is expected to grow from 20 million users to 100 million users in the next three years. Apple's current estimate is that 1.7 million Macintosh systems are connected to the Internet. There are currently over 2,900 visible Macintosh systems on the Internet being used as WWW servers, making it a natural platform for the Internet and publishing on the WWW.

The World-Wide Web is a network of servers communicating via the HyperText Transport Protocol (HTTP), accessed by clients on a variety of platforms. Documents published on the WWW are written in HyperText Markup Language (HTML), allowing publishers to format "pages" using text, graphics, sound and QuickTime movies to present information to the WWW audience. Highlighted text blocks on a page provide links to other related sources of information, stored anywhere on the WWW.

Availability and Pricing

The Apple Internet Server Solution is expected to be available in May 1995. The Apple Price for the Internet Server Solution in the U.S. ranges from $2,909 to $8,209 and includes both a Workgroup Server from Apple and the Internet Server Solution software CD. Prices outside the U.S. may vary. MacDNS is scheduled to be available in early summer 1995. In the meantime, domain name service can be obtained from an Internet service provider.

                                                          Apple Price

The Workgroup Server 6150/66	                            $2,909
16MB RAM/700MB hard-disk drive/
Quadruple-speed CD-ROM/Internet software CD

The Workgroup Server 8150/110	                            $5,319
16MB RAM/1GB hard-disk drive/
Quadruple-speed CD-ROM/Internet software CD

The Workgroup Server 9150/120	                            $8,209
16MB RAM/Two 1GB hard-disk drives/
Quadruple-speed CD-ROM/DAT drive/Internet software CD

Customers interested in more information on the latest Internet Server Solutions from Apple should contact the ABS Network Information Hotline at (408) 862-3385 (AppleLink:abs.netinfo; Internet e-mail: abs.netinfo@applelink.apple.com). Customers can also get more information on Internet Server products by phoning Apple's Fax-On-Demand at (800) GO APPLE; or Apple's World-Wide Web page at http://abs.apple.com">http://abs.apple.com. In Europe, customers interested in more information should contact their Regional European Apple Office.

Apple Computer, Inc., a recognized pioneer and innovator in the information industry, creates powerful solutions based on easy-to- use personal computers, servers, peripherals, software, on-line services and personal digital assistants. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) develops, manufactures, licenses and markets products, technologies and services for the business, education, consumer, scientific & engineering and government markets in over 140 countries. APPLE'S WORLD-WIDE WEB PAGES: Can be accessed through http://www.info.apple.com/apple.support.area.developer; also Apple Business Systems Virtual Web Site User Group Information Exchange can be accessed through http://abs.apple.com.

Apple, the Apple logo, AppleSearch, AppleShare, AppleTalk and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. AppleScript is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. PowerPC is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation, used under license therefrom. Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. UNIX is a registered trademark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries, licensed exclusively through X/Open Company, Ltd. All other companies and products may be trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective company.