New Year - New Talk

Happy New Year to all. We hope 2003 proves to be peaceful, successful and prosperous for all our registered users.

Merry Christmas to those who follow the Gregorian calendar, as today is their Christmas.

There is nothing better than starting a new year with good news and this issue is dedicated to just that - “good news”.

This issue of PowerTalk features:
• An announcement of PowerCADD v6 for OS X.
• A review of “things to come”.

PowerCADD v6 for Mac OS X

PowerCADD v6 for OS X has been officially announced by Engineered Software, after two and a half years of development, testing, redevelopment, and retesting.

PowerCADD v6 starts a new era for PowerDraw and PowerCADD users because Apple’s OS X for Mac is different, very different.

Despite all the “differences”, Engineered Software paid careful attention to all the detail that would ensure the PowerCADD experience. Registered users will still find that comfortable familiarity, yet will find PV 6 to be easier to use. This is accomplished while taking full advantage of the strides OS X offers, and lays the ground work for the future.

PowerCADD v6 is truly easier to use than its predecessors. Just as PowerDraw v6 was easier to use than previous PowerDraw versions, and just as PowerCADD 2000 was easier to use than previous PowerCADD releases.

We always get a chuckle out of the reaction of our registered users who claim “PowerCADD is easy enough to use now. How can it be made easier to use?”

After much conversation, they remain skeptical - until - they get their hands on the “latest and greatest” to run it through its “paces”.

We always appreciate the phone call feedback that always starts off with “Unbelievable ! They did it again.“

Truly, you will find PowerCADD v6 to be easier to use than all of its predecessors, but be aware that PowerCADD v6 and OS X are significantly different in their capabilities than PowerCADD 2000 (& earlier) and Mac OS 9.2.2 (& earlier).

Simply put PowerCADD v6 provides access to the real POWER that is available in OS X that was not available in earlier Apple Macintosh operating systems.

Does this mean you will have to go through a learning curve?

For OS X, the answer is - Yes.

For PowerCADD v6, the answer is - really No. A One hour adjustment to find things that have been better organized is really all that is needed.

The biggest disruption will be your disbelief at what PowerCADD v6 now enables you to do. “Cool” and “Wow” will become common words in your initial PowerCADD v6 vocabulary.

As they say the “devil is in the details”. For more information, go to our Products page of this web site and click on “PowerCADD v6 • OS X”.

Advanced notice of what is coming has been provided ahead of the product release so that you can plan your 2003 strategy for “change”.

We realize moving to Apple’s OS X is a significant commitment that requires computer upgrades and software upgrades.

We realize there are users who are running OS X now and that there are users who will be delaying any movement to OS X to later in the 2003.

As there is a significant upgrade policy change coming with the release of PowerCADD v6, it is important for those who will delay their adopting of OS X until later in the year, to understand the policy change well to protect their investment and to protect their opportunity to upgrade in the future.

“PowerCADD v5 2000” and “PowerCADD v6 • OS X” found in the Products section of this web site provides explanations of the policy change and the current options available.

Things to Come

WildTools for PowerCADD v6

WildTools for PowerCADD v6 is in earnest development but few “official” details have been released by the author, Alfred Scott of Sequoia Aircraft.

It is fully expected that WildTools for PowerCADD v6 will ready for release at the same time as PowerCADD v6 is released.

Apple Computer Inc.

.Mac
Reviewing the e-mail addresses of our Canadian users, shows few have discovered the advantages of subscribing to .Mac.

.Mac has significant advantages for a small professional firm, who is using OS X. More on this in later PowerTalk issues.


What is NEW !

Apple announced today:

iLife - the full integration of iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, and iDVD, with new versions of each of the last three to complete their “Digital Hub”. All free except iDVD which is available for $49 US on CD. This CD includes all current versions of iTunes, iPhoto, and iMovie.

Safari - a turbo fast, easy to use web browser - free. No need to have M$ Explorer.

Keynote - a fully comprehensive and easy to use application for preparing presentations. Price is $99.

Airport Extreme - a wireless capability that increases throughput from 11 mbs to 54 mbs.

Airport Extreme Base Station - a 54 mbs base station that is backward compatible with older 11 mbs Airport cards. This new base station has USB built-in for sharing printers.

A 17” PowerBook - rated as the largest screen laptop available. It uses a 1 ghz G4.

A 12” PowerBook - rated as the smallest laptop available. It uses a 867 ghz G4.

If you need details visit Apple’s web site.