Review:
SoftWindows95
by: Bob Horgos
Good Lord!! When I decided to terminate my life's work and I entered into
retirement, I thought that I had seen the last of computer screens containing
the likes of MicroSoft MS-DOS or Windows. Three years ago, I would have never
dreamed that those images would be showing up on my Macintosh computer
monitor. But Lo and Behold --there it was and is... Me!! A died-in-the-wool
Mac User hosting that hated "WINDOWS" program on my desk top. But yes,
it is
true!! I am now running a Windows program on my Macintosh. Is nothing sacred
anymore?
As much as I despise and detest MS-DOS and Windows computers, I have got to
say that it was a pleasure to be able to load SoftWindows 95, by Insignia
Software, onto my Mac and to operate it for two primary reasons:
(1) Having the opportunity to run Windows was a reminder and reinforcement of
just how simple, efficient, and easy it is to operate a Macintosh computer
and the Mac Operating System.
(2) But more importantly, it proves that computer technology and the computer
industry has advanced to the point where those of us who love and enjoy Macs
no longer need to worry that our equipment and our investment will become
obsolete. True cross platform capability is here. No matter what happens in
the computer world we will be able to continue to use the very best, the most
effective and the simplest operating system and hardware with a very small
investment in emulation software.
My one major complaint with operating and testing SoftWindows 95 is related
to the fact that the program must, out of necessity, utilize the MS-DOS basic
operating principles that we Mac users find to be ridiculous and cumbersome.
Although Windows is a major improvement over DOS, Windows must also retain
the DOS basics. Any Mac devotee that wishes to use SoftWindows on his/her Mac
will have to learn the basic structure of MS-DOS and its prehistoric mode of
commands that utilize such things as the infamous DOS C:\> prompt. And even
more!! For example, when SoftWindows 95 is installed on a Mac it must also
install "simulated" hard drives that emulate the multiple drives that a
typical DOS machine uses. These "simulated" hard drive require disk space.
But I want to stress that we cannot nor should not blame Insignia Software or
its SoftWindows 95 program for the punishment that DOS syntax imposes on us.
I must admit that I had some problems starting up and running Windows 95
because I am so mentally disciplined to operating in the Mac mode and style.
It took me a couple of trials to get the knack of it.
I think that this is the appropriate time to remind one and all that Windows
is best described as a very poor copy of the Macintosh Operating System. Ten
or so years ago the DOS community derided the Mac Operating System as a
"gimmick" and as a "toy" and now that they have copied it and
demonstrated to
the DOS world just how easy it is to operate in an "Icon" mode we don't
hear
much about the "toy".
My only other complaint about operating SoftWindows 95 on my Mac, and again I
do not blame Insignia Software for this problem, is that I did not have any
Windows or DOS applications that I could test out during this trial. The lack
of Windows applications did not totally prevent me from testing SoftWindows
95 because there are some resident applications built-into SoftWindows 95.
But I do have some old DOS files that I accumulated when I was working for a
living, and I attempted to use them to try out SoftWindows 95. Unfortunately,
I did not have the parent application and could not work with them.
Insignia Software has done a tremendous job with SoftWindows 95 Version 4.0.
I find many of its features and capabilities to be almost unbelievable.
SoftWindows 95 includes the latest version of Microsoft Windows 95 software.
The program has very extensive built-in features including: Internet-Ready
with MicroSoft Internet Explorer 3.0, Supports ActiveX and Java, Includes
pre-configured utilities such as: Macromedia Shockwave, Real Audio, Adobe
Acrobat Reader, Microsoft Office Viewers (that allows the user to read
MicroSoft Word, Excel and Power Point documents even though the computer may
not have the original applications installed), Aladdin StuffIt Expander,
PKWare, PKZip and PKUNzip (all of which are PC equivalents of the Stuffit
program). SoftWindows also has some unique features built-in such as: a PC
window appears on the Mac desktop; in Windows 95 the user can Copy and Paste
from Windows 95 to Mac and vice versa; the Mac file system is accessible from
Windows 95, and SoftWindows 95 takes full advantage of Apple Guide for
on-line Help and utilizes AppleScript to create scripts to execute PC
commands. And as an additional bonus SoftWindows 95 includes Microsoft CD-ROM
extensions which enable PC CD-ROMs to be used in Macintosh CD drives which at
the same time automatically runs Windows 95 CDs . But more importantly its
support for Mac peripherals is outstanding. My printer, modem, and CD-ROM
drive worked instantly and without problems from within SoftWindows 95 and
did not require any special setup or configuration on my part. SoftWindows
recognized and identified Mac disks that were left in my Floppy drive, Mac
disks in my Zip Drive, and any Mac CDs that were in my CD-ROM.
From what I have read about the development of SoftWindows 95 Version 4.0, it
has major improvements and operating speed advancements over previous
versions. I frankly did not find any major slowing down of my computer
operations when using Windows 95. In fact, Apple Computer periodically likes
to claim that Windows programs operate faster on Macs, even in an emulation
mode of operation, than on Pentium computers. Insignia Software claims and
advertises that SoftWindows 95 features TurboStart(TM), which is breakthrough
technology that allows the Mac user to start Windows 95 in a matter of
seconds, compared to the several minutes it takes on a hardware PC.
SoftWindows 95 gives you two computers in one, enabling you to use all your
Mac peripherals like a PC. SoftWindows 95 installs readily and easily just
like any other Power Mac application. This enables the user to work in both
Windows and Mac environments side-by-side. The user can use his/her Mac or
Windows applications, or both. Text and graphics can easily be copied and
pasted between the two, PC to Mac as well as Mac to PC. Any Mac user that has
friends or relatives that own and use a PC can now amaze them with a
capability that they cannot enjoy, the Mac User can perform all the
activities they can on their PCs while having the access to superior graphics
and multimedia capabilities of the Mac.
For many years the DOS world enjoyed some unique software features that we in
the Mac world could not obtain. With SoftWindows 95, this is no longer
necessary. Any time a new Windows CD or program shows up, Mac users can now
take advantage of them. "We support Apple's continuing commitment to
cross-platform compatibility, and look forward to seeing their new PC cards
when they ship this summer," said Dr. Robert P. Lee, Insignia Solutions'
president and CEO. "Power Macintosh customers today can have complete Windows
compatibility with SoftWindows 95 and SoftWindows 3.0, and can expect
ever-increasing performance."
I really enjoyed working with SoftWindows 95. But it was not without some
problems. I experienced some "unusual" crashes or freezes. These were very
similar to the "Type 11" crashes that were quite common with various versions
of Operating System 7. Since I installed Operating System 8 the "Type"
11
crashes became a thing of the past until I installed SoftWindows 95--they
seem to have reappeared when using Windows in conjunction with OS 8. And
although I give raves and kudos to Insignia Software for the great job they
did with SoftWindows 95, I cannot be as enthusiastic with the job they did on
the User Manual and the installation and operating instructions. Mayhaps I
would not have had the difficulties that I experienced if I were more
knowledgeable and experienced with DOS or Windows machines. It has been three
years since I used a Windows computer and in that time I have frankly
forgotten all the ins and outs of working in DOS and Windows. But I had some
hard times during both the installation and initial operation of the Windows
program. Some of these problems could possibly be related to the "supposed"
problems with the MicroSoft Windows 95 program. I continue to read of
difficulties that Windows 95 users are experiencing in the PC world. I even
read somewhere that Windows 95 may be the "devil's workshop." Other problems
may be associated with some incompatibilities between SoftWindows and Mac
Operating System 8.0, although I have not come across any definitive comments
about possible conflicts or incompatibilities.
SoftWindows 95 offers many advantages to the Mac user. But obviously there is
a price to pay. That price includes the need for a Power Macintosh that
should have at least 32 MB of RAM, a Power PC 604 processor and at least 200
MB of hard disk space. And also, in order to take full advantage of
SoftWindows 95 it will be necessary to purchase some Windows compatible
applications. And of course, it will be necessary for the Mac user to become
familiar with the intricacies of the DOS/Windows computer culture. The
original U.S. street price for SoftWindows 95 was $349 to $379. However, I
recently read that Insignia Software has cut the price of SoftWindows 95 by
50% to a very affordable current street price of $199.00.
(C) 1997 Mid-Columbia Macintosh User Group
System Requirements
* Any Power Macintosh computer with 16MB RAM (24MB RAM recommended)
* System 7.1 or later
* Application size: 12MB RAM
* Disk space: 200MB of disk space for Window 95
Insignia Solutions
2200 Lawson Lane
Santa Clara, CA 95054
(800) 848-7677
http://www.insignia.com
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