Apple Computer, Inc.


For Immediate Release

Apple Enhances
Macintosh Application Environment
For HP and Sun Workstations


Upgrade is Faster, More Flexible and Easier to Use

COMDEX, Las Vegas - Nov. 18, 1996 - Apple Computer, Inc. today introduced an enhanced version of Macintosh Application Environment (MAE). This innovative software product brings the functionality and ease-of-use of the Mac OS operating system to SPARCstations from Sun Microsystems, Inc., and workstations from Hewlett-Packard Co., that run popular versions of the UNIX operating system. Like its predecessor, MAE 3.0 enables users of these UNIX workstations to run off-the-shelf Macintosh applications but adds substantial performance improvements, floating licenses, System 7.5.3 support, better integration with UNIX, and a wider range of security options.

"MAE 3.0 is the product that the market asked for, as determined by extensive market research, including a Customer Advisory Council and UNIX user surveys." said Ellen Hancock, Executive Vice President of Apple Research and Development, and Chief Technical Officer. "Apple is very pleased that a significant number of UNIX users surveyed stated that the Mac OS was their PC platform of choice. This version of MAE will let them know that we are hearing them loud and clear."

HP and Sun Support MAE 3.0

"With MAE 3.0, Apple continues to enable Hewlett-Packard to provide our workstation customers with access to some of the best productivity tools found on the market today," said Bill Russell, General Manager of Hewlett-Packard's Technical Computing Business Unit. "The new capabilities found in MAE 3.0, particularly support for Multiple Independent Volumes and a performance increase of up to 20 percent over the previous version, will be particularly useful to our HP-UX users."

"MAE 3.0, provides better integration for SPARC and Macintosh users," said Steve McKay, vice president and general manager Solaris Products Group, Sun Microsystems, Inc. "The new features provided by this update will allow our Solaris customers running on SPARC workstations to even more easily share information and networked resources with Macintosh users."

What is Macintosh Application Environment?

UNIX workstations users traditionally enjoy access to a variety of software tools that are well suited to perform technical, scientific or computationally-intensive tasks. In addition to these primary functions, UNIX workstation users often need to perform tasks, such as desktop publishing, spreadsheets, task scheduling, and electronic mail, as well as interact with administrative desktop systems. Currently, there is a very limited selection of these typically inexpensive, industry standard business productivity applications for UNIX users.

Macintosh Application Environment is a software application that provides a virtual Macintosh environment in an X window to users of Hewlett-Packard's workstations running HP-UX 9.0.x or HP-UX 10.10 or later Sun Microsystems SPARCstations running Solaris 2.4 or later. Through 68LC040 emulation and native extensions, MAE lets users run off-the-shelf Mac OS-compatible, 680x0-based business productivity applications. MAE provides significant interoperability with other Mac OS-based systems in the enterprise, while giving users the ability to easily manipulate UNIX files and execute UNIX applications from within a Macintosh environment. Users can also copy and paste text and graphics between UNIX and Mac OS-compatible applications.

MAE 3.0 Improvements and New Features

MAE 3.0 adds several important new features in three categories:

Faster

Easier

More Flexible

Additional improvements

Availability and Pricing

MAE 3.0 (product number 449000U) will be available Dec. 2, 1996, through the Apple Developer Catalog or directly from Claris at (800) 293-6617 ext. 1399 in the US or (800) 361-6075 ext. 1221 in Canada, for the retail price of U.S. $459; pricing may vary at authorized Claris software resellers. MAE volume licenses are also available through ClarisPLUS and authorized Claris software resellers. Availability and pricing outside the United States and Canada varies by country. Both Solaris and HP-UX versions are now available on a single CD-ROM. Customers of MAE 2.0 can upgrade to MAE 3.0 for $199, or for $29 shipping and handling if MAE 2.0 was purchased after October 18, 1996, with proof of purchase.

Demo Software

Starting today, users may try MAE 3.0 for 30 days at no charge, by connecting to the MAE Web site at www.mae.apple.com to download the software and request a 30-day demo license. This is a fully functional version of MAE 3.0, which will expire 30 days after obtaining the demo license. Alternatively, users may obtain a demo CD by calling Claris at (800) 293-6617 ext. 1399 in the U.S or (800) 361-6075 ext. 1221 in Canada (request product number 449001U). After purchase, customers only need to install a license key to upgrade to a full license -- re-installation is not necessary.

Customers can learn more about MAE 3.0 by exploring the wide variety of information that is available via the Internet. Users can access the MAE web site at: www.mae.apple.com or at Apple's FTP site at www.mae.apple.com (/pub/mae directory).

Apple Computer, Inc., a recognized innovator in the information industry and leader in multimedia technologies, creates powerful solutions based on easy-to-use personal computers, servers, peripherals, software, personal digital assistants and Internet content. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Apple develops manufactures, licenses and markets solutions, products, technologies and services for business, education, consumer, entertainment, scientific and engineering and government customers in more than 140 countries.

Press Contacts:

Nathalie Welch                         Russell Brady
Apple Computer, Inc.                   Apple Computer, Inc.
(408) 974-5430                         (408) 974-6877
email: WELCH.N@apple.com               email: BRADY1@applelink.apple.com
Apple's home page on the World Wide Web: http://www.apple.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: To access Apple press releases, background material, and contact information on the web, visit The Source at: www.apple.com/source/. If you are interested in receiving Apple press releases by fax, call 1-800-AAPL-FAX (1-800-227-5329) and enter your PIN number. If you do not have a PIN number, contact Apple's Media Helpline at (408) 974-2042 to request one. If you would like to receive Apple press releases by email, please send an email message to listproc@guisel.austin.apple.com. Include the text "subscribe pressrel [your full name]" in the body of the message. To remove your address from the mailing list send an email message to listproc@guisel.austin.apple.com. Include the text "remove pressrel" in the body of the message.

Apple, the Apple logo and Macintosh are registered trademarks. Macintosh Application Environment and Mac are trademarks of Apple computer, Inc. FLEXlm is a trademark of Globetrotter Software, Inc. Additional company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of the individual companies and are respectfully acknowledged.

MAE Back to the top level MAE page

Updated for Sun CDWare on Wed Jan 22 09:39:16 PST 1997 by skwirl