> MMessieh: Apple NEEDS HyperCard since it is NOT cross > platform. HC apps ensure that consumers buy Macs. > Seth: ... HyperCard is NOT cross platform which > ensures that if a consumer wants an application > (created in HC) he HAS to either HAVE or BUY a Mac. Alain: Who can afford to be Mac-only these days? I am a freelance entrepreneur that provides turn-the-key value-added Web solutions. A freedom that, up to now, has allowed me to impose my preferred hardware/OS: The Mac. But this is becoming increasingly difficult as time goes by, and as my customers get larger, even if I suggest throwing in the Mac for free!! Alain: In my opinion, even Apple cannot afford to be Mac-only, as evidenced by: 1. Apple's very-minority share of the computing market; 2. Their move toward open standards in recent years; 3. The windoze version of QuickTime; ... etc ... Alain: Don't stick your heads in the sand, folks. Open standards and seamless multi-platform deployment are necessary and desirable. And who better to do it than Apple? What have they got to loose? They couldn't do much worse than MS did! And if they do (much) better than MS did, then the Win Universe will be conquered by the never-say-die, build-it-and-they-will-come, think-different upstart that we all know and love: Apple. _________________________ MMessieh: To ensure that HC survives, donations from members on the list can be used in many ways: ... Alain: Have you got all of the organizational details worked out? Who collects? Who audits? ... MMessieh: 2. Give expert scripters a fund to draw from to help develop HC *APPLICATIONS* Alain: This is my personal favorite! No mystery here, eh, given the fact that I am hosting the UFP -- a group of expert HyperTalk scripters to create a coherent collection of ready-made scripts and stack-solutions for HyperCard; and given that I am also participating in the FreeCard project -- a group dedicated to the creation of an open source multi-platform equivalent of the HyperCard application. MMessieh: 3. Quantify *objectively* the commitment to HC Alain: The list's commitment? Apple's commitment? How would you gauge this "objectively"? Apple has given us the silent treatment on HyperCard 3.x for at least two years now. We have been waiting for HC 3.x for even longer than that. Apple has never put much effort into the marketing of HyperCard. Developers criticized HC when it came out because it was "going to put them out of business". Many other xCards have cropped up over the years that are better than HyperCard in many respects, lack of native colour being our pet-peave here, eh! The two previous sentences of mine also point to another major reason why Apple will abandon HC: if they go ahead with HC, they might anger large developers again, and they might be stepping on the toes of some of its partner-like associates ... HyperSense comes to mind. And FileMaker Inc, too, given that HyperCard has often been miscontrued as database management software. MMessieh: 4. Acquire the aid of commercial companies... Alain: Or to financially support C/C++ programmers that are willing to work together, as a community, to design, develop, and distribute a free, open-source equivalent of HyperCard. Colour, multiplatform deployment, etc. Suggestions and help are welcome. Power to the People! Alain Farmer mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. http://messenger.yahoo.com
