Re: AW Six-Point-Zero

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

obsbedia2@aol.com (Obsbedia2) wrote:

><< Tutor-Tech is a great program and certainly high octane
>hypermedia for the Apple IIe and Apple IIc, but what
>can it do that HyperCard and HyperStudio cannot, other
>than actually run on a IIe? >>
>
>	I'm paraphrasing from Techware's old (I figure about version 2.3 (the
last
>version is 2.7) mail out literature here and it doesn't included the latest
>upgrades.  The Lamperts (Tutor-Tech's Creators) were comparing Tutor-Tech to
>HyperCard, not HyperStudio, with which they were more friendly towards
>(Techware and Roger Wagner had an agreement at trade shows: they sent IIgs
>users to HyperStudio's booth and HyperStudio sent 8-bit users to Tutor-Tech's
>demonstrations).
>    -=--==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
>Tutor-Tech exceeds HyperCard:

Jay, the Lamperts must be comparing the Mac version of
HyperCard because much of this does not apply to the
IIGS version.

>[]  HyperCard can't do any scoring, unless you program features yourself in
>HyperTalk language.  This, frankly, would take even an experienced programmer
>a bit of effort.  Tutor-Tech's optional Gradebook, on the other hand, has all
>of the features (Curving, Grading, Plotting, Printing and Score Keeping)
>built-in,

This is an advantage for the teacher, that's true.  But
HyperCard's complexity is also its strength.  While
you need to program to do lots of things in HyperCard,
it also means HyperCard can end up doing more.
HyperTalk is like Applesoft for the IIGS only it does
more and is easier to learn.

>[]  Drawing, instead of a paint program.  Drawing, for instance, would allow
ou
>to directly construct a box and then stretch or move it.  The box is and
object
>which can be picked up and changed.  On the other hand, painting the same box
>would reduce it to pixels (screen bits) and, to change it, you would need to
>erase it and paint another box.  Drawing and painting, however, each have
their
>strengths,

This I agree with.  I wish they had put draw tools into
HyperCard.  AppleWorks GS, for example, has a mixed
draw/paint integrated module.  HyperCard could have
had draw tools integrated with the paint tools in a
similar way.  Too bad they didn't.

>[]  offering color and conveniences, such as a duplicate feature, a drawing
>grid, and a Gradebook manager,

Sounds nice.  The IIGS version of HyperCard is in
color too, though.

>[]  Tutor-Tech files are limited to 32K but can be linked together, thus
>creating an overall unlimited size.  HyperCard files are disk-based, limited
>only by disk capacity.

Yup.  However, you can certainly link stacks together
in HyperCard.  Yes, it requires a tiny bit of HyperTalk,
but putting the following into a button is quite easy:

on mouseUp
     open stack "stackname"
end mouseUp

>[]  allowing you to choose fromn 17 famniilies of printers, and more always
>being added to the list, vs. HyperCard's 4 printers,

HyperCard can use any printer you have a GS/OS
driver for.  It is not limited to 4 printers.  You can, for
example, install Harmonie from shareware solutions
II which will give you DeskJet, DeskWriter, LaserJet,
Epson Stylus, and Canon BubbleJet printer
capabilities.  Apple includes ImageWriter and
LaserWriter drivers.  Harmonie also provides support
for a range of 9-pin and 24-pin dot matrix printers.

>[]  HyperCard does not support color (even on the color Macintosh II,

But it does on the IIGS.  ;-)

The Mac version didn't support color.  The IIGS version
does.  You should download some of the stacks on
the ground ftp server to see.

>[]  sometimes, text and graphics can pile up on the screen like they might on
>your desk. Some items cover up other itmes. So, "Bring to front" and "Send to
>back" features are helpful,

HyperCard can do this.  It has background and card
layers.  Stuff can move independently in each layer.
Buttons and fields can float on cards.  There are some
nice stacks on ground that demonstrate this capability.

>[]  Unlimited sound effects can be produced using external sound devices,

There are XCMDs for HyperCard for playing synthLAB
files.  HyperCard can also command a MIDI device
through the Media Control tool.

>[]  a separate runtime disk means students absolutely, positively cannot
tamper
>wth lessons.  Tutor-Tech offers a " Student disk" for just this purpose
>(presenting lessons only)

There's a "HyperCard Player" runtime on ground.

>[]  Tutor-Tech does not offer as many different buttons as HyperCard, but the
>Tutor-Tech samples disk does come packed full of artwork for making your own
>buttons.
>		--Jay's note:  Tutor-Tech version 2.5 had
>		 upgraded this feature with Transparent/
>		 Stretchable buttons,

HyperCard has this.  It also comes with a button editor.

>While I know little about HyperCard, from my Tutor-Tech Update notes, I can
see
>these impressive features added on:
>
>	�  SUPPORTS MUSIC FROM LOW C (OCTAVE O) TO HIGH B (OCTIVE 7).  THIS IS
A
>GREATER RANGE THAN A GRAND PIANO.  Handles all sharps and flats, staccato
notes
>and triplets and all durations down to sixty-fourth notes.  You can also
>control volume, tempo, staccato lenght, and key transposition.  You can even
>play two notes at one time and hear the full sound on any Aple IIe, IIc, or
>IIgs speaker.

That's impressive through the Apple speaker.

But the IIGS has better standard music than that.  It
does after all have a 32-channel wavetable synthesis
sound chip which is not in earlier Apples.  There is
a HyperCard XCMD that lets you play synthLAB files
in stacks.  You should download some of the stacks
on the ground ftp server to take a look.

>	�  CHANGE DIRECTORIES, LAUCH APPLICAITONS, RUN XCMDs,
>	�  CREATE BACKGROUNDS WITH PAGE REFERENCES.

Same with HyperCard.

>	�  NETWORKABLE

HyperCard can run off a LocalTalk network.

>	�  VIDEO OVERLAY CAPABILITY

HyperCard supports this through the Media Control tool.

>	�  ECHO/CRICKET FEATURES

HyperCard does not support this, but the IIGS has its own
sound chip.

>	�  VCR/VIDEO TAPE CONTROL
>	�  TAPE CASSETTE CONTROL

HyperCard supports these through Media Control tool.

>	�  MUPPET LEANING KEYS COMPATIBILITY
>	�  TOUCHWINDOW COMPATIBILITY

I'm not sure about these.

I still feel that HyperCard is more powerful and can do
more.  The IIGS version, that is.  However, I do agree
that Tutor Tech is a great program that pushes the
8-bit models of the Apple II to the limit!

Both are fine products.