Insignia Ships SoftPC with Windows for NeXT Computers
Conrad Geiger - Manager, International NeXT User Groups
SoftPC with Windows for NeXT Computers
IS NOW SHIPPING
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Insignia Solutions Inc.
Darlene E. Ducharme
Sales Administration
(508) 682-7600
Allison Thomas Associates, Inc.
Emily Brower
Public Relations
(415) 775-8599
Insignia Solutions Inc.
Shannon Auten
Marketing
(415) 694-7635
Insignia Solutions Inc. Announces SoftPC Product Family for NeXT
Computers
Ships SoftPC with Windows for NeXT Computers
ANDOVER, February 8, 1993 - Insignia Solutions announced today the
SoftPC 3.0 Product Family for NeXT computers. The SoftPC 3.0 Product
Family is the best and most flexible suite of solutions for running
MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications on NeXT computers. The 3.0
Product Family, based on Insignia's third generation emulation
technology, includes SoftPC with Windows and softPC Professional.
All versions of SoftPC ship with MS-DOS 5.0 pre-installed, and SoftPC
with Windows ships with Microsoft Windows 3.1 pre-installed. The new
versions of SoftPC replace the current SoftPC 2.0 product.
"These new versions of softPC are our response to the changing needs
of the NeXT marketplace. As the use of commercial Windows
applications increase, corporate NeXT users need better, faster
solutions for accessing mission-critical information available only
through DOS- and Windows-based applications," said Bill McCarthy,
Vice President of UNIX Packaged Products at Insignia Solutions. "The
release of our new SoftPC 3.0 Family of products reflects our
commitment to the NeXT market by providing the best solution for
interoperating with DOS and Windows environments."
The SoftPC Product Family
The SoftPC 3.0 Product Family includes two new products, SoftPC with
Windows and SoftPC Professional. SoftPC with Windows is best used
with Microsoft Windows-based applications including graphics packages
such as presentation and draw programs. SoftPC Professional is best
used with most PC applications such as database, word processing,
communication, and spreadsheet applications as well as other
applications requiring extended memory or SVGA graphics.
Both versions of softPC provide tight integration between the MS-DOS,
Microsoft windows and NeXTSTEP environments. SoftPC with windows
users can interchange data between the Windows clipboard and the
NeXTSTEP clipboard. SoftPC supports file transfer between the MS-DOS
and the NeXT file system using standard MS-DOS commands. SoftPC users
can cut and paste graphics and text between NeXT and PC applications.
Users can also configure the type of PC hardware, disk size and
memory emulated by SoftPC using the familiar NeXT user interface.
Both versions of SoftPC enable PC applications to print to NeXT
printers. The NeXT floppy disk drive functions as a PC floppy disk
drive, the NeXT keyboard becomes the PC keyboard, the NeXT Mouse
becomes a Microsoft Mouse and the NeXT serial ports function as PC
serial ports and can be used to access peripherals, such as modems.
SoftPC with Windows
SoftPC with Windows is the most fully-featured member of the SoftPC
3.0 Product Family. It offers the same PC compatibility as SoftPC
Professional, and adds the ability to run Windows applications in the
NeXTSTEP environment. Every copy of SoftPC with Windows includes a
pre-installed copy of Microsoft Windows 3.1
Insignia has written special Windows display and mouse drivers that
improve performance of windows applications in the NeXTSTEP
environment. The windows display driver maps Windows display calls
directly to NeXTSTEP Display Postscript. The Windows mouse driver
maps Microsoft Mouse calls to the mouse driver in the NeXTSTEP system
software, providing NeXT mouse performance in the Windows
environment.
SoftPC with Windows is easy to install and configure. After
completing the standard NeXTSTEP software installation and starting
SoftPC, the user can begin a Windows session simply by typing "WIN".
The Windows setup, including display, mouse and printer installation
is complete, saving users time with Windows installation. New options
allow the user to select the number of colors displayed and the
Windows desktop size through the familiar NeXTSTEP interface.
SoftPC Professional for NeXT Computers
SoftPC Professional for NeXT Computers is designed for users who
require emulation of fully featured PC hardware to run high-end Pc
applications such as word processors, databases, spreadsheets and
communication software. SoftPC Professional, which replaces SoftPC
2.0 for the NeXT, now includes protect mode emulation of the 80286
processor, supports extended memory and SVGA, VGA, EGA and CGA
graphics, and includes MS-DOS 5.0 pre-installed.
Many PC applications now require the protected-mode 80286 operation
to access more than 640 kbytes of conventional PC memory. Support for
protect mode and extended memory allows SoftPC Professional users to
run virtually and MS-DOS application available today.
Pricing and Availability
The SoftPC 3.0 Product Family is available now, through NeXT software
retailers and Insignia Solutions. The SoftPC 3.0 Family for NeXT
ships on NeXT-formatted CD-ROM disks. For product or upgrade
information, call Insignia Solutions Inc., at 508-682-7600.
About Insignia Solutions
Insignia Solutions Inc. develops and sells high-quality, low-cost
software solutions for emulating PC hardware in non-MS-DOS operating
environments. The company has strategic relationships with Microsoft
and the industry's leading computer manufacturers. Insignia Solutions
Inc. is headquartered in Mountain View, Calif. with sales, marketing
and support operations in Mountain View, Calif. and andover, Mass.
Insignia solutions Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Insignia
Solutions Ltd., headquartered in High Wycombe, U.K.
Insignia and SoftPC are registered trademarks of Insignia Solutions
Inc. MS-DOS is a registered trademark and Windows is a trademark of
Microsoft Corporation. NeXTSTEP is a registered trademark and NeXT is
a trademark of NeXT Computers Incorporated. All other product names
mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
holders.