Re: AW Six-Point-Zero

[obsbedia2@aol.com (Obsbedia2)]

Subject: Re: AW Six-Point-Zero
From: <A HREF="mailto:obsbedia2@aol.com ">obsbedia2@aol.com </A> (Obsbedia2)
Date: Tue, 16 November 1999 01:22 AM EST
Message-id: <19991116012227.07354.00001319@ng-fl1.aol.com>

<< 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:

[]  HyperCard can't do any scoring, unless you program features yourself in
HyperTalk language.  This, frankliy, 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,

[]  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,

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

[]  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.

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

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

[]  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,

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

[]  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), 

[]  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:  by Tutor-Tech version 2.5 
		 this feature had been upgraded with
		 Transparent/Stretchable buttons,

[] Corvus compatIbiity,


	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.
	�  CHANGE DIRECTORIES, LAUNCH APPLICATIONS, RUN XCMDs,
	�  CREATE BACKGROUNDS WITH PAGE REFERENCES.
	�  NETWORKABLE
	�  VIDEO OVERLAY CAPABILITY
	�  ECHO/CRICKET FEATURES
	�  VCR/VIDEO TAPE CONTROL
	�  TAPE CASSETTE CONTROL
	�  MUPPET LEANING KEYS COMPATIBILITY
	�  TOUCHWINDOW COMPATIBILITY

	I really wish that the long promised Tutor-Tech version 3 would have made it
to market.  Alas, the Apple II marketplace shifted and the Lamperts focused
their talents on other projects.  Happily, they still sell Tutor-Tech and find
the time to answer questions from this busy school teacher.

	By the way, one of my "Mall Makers" learned how to make his stack speak today
and he about shot out of his seat!

Jay Edwards      -------------------------------
         ______ ( Welcome to the Millenium Mall!) 
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     |       !~!
     |  //e  | /
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     |-=-|-=-|/./ :     ;
     /######/ /  :    I :
     ~~~~~~~~~   .:  (")
                []