Sep 93 Letters
Volume Number: 9
Issue Number: 9
Column Tag: Dialogue Box
Dialogue Box 
By Neil Ticktin, Editor-in-Chief
I want my disk!
This is just a quick note, to express my general satisfaction with MacTech
Magazine. I have just received the May issue and e specially enjoyed reading Dave
Marks on-going column, "AppleEvents 101" and "The Secrets of the Machine". From
this you probably can deduct, that I program in C, as probably at least half of your
readers do. So even though C is prominent already, I'm inclined to ask for "more
examples in C, please".
Concerning the code examples, why don't you include a floppy with the source
code instead of listing it in the Magazine? It would be so nice to see some of these
examples run on your own system, and since most of us haven't got an OCR system, a
floppy a month would be a great solution. In the May issue I counted roughly 22 pages
with listings out of a total of 96 pages. Alone on a weight basis, the paper needed to
print these listings amount to more than two times the weight of a floppy. Besides
source code, you could include demos of different utilities, charging enough to cover the
cost of floppies and duplication. You already ship the magazine in a plastic bag, which
should be adequate as packaging for a floppy. You would be saving on printing costs and
improving on the service delivered to your readers.
- Piet Seiden
[Thanks for your comments. First, as far as a disk with the magazine, it comes
down to cost. We do make a disk subscription available at an extra cost for those that
would like it. See the mail order store in this issue for more information.
Second, the source code files are now available for downloading on America
Online, AppleLink and CompuServe (see the article in the May issue). This seems to be
helping a lot of people.
Third, you should know that only the foreign subscriptions are sent in a bag.
This is according to international mailing requirements. All U.S. subs are sent with no
cover or bag so as to be more ecological.
We’ll keep experimenting with ideas though. Keep that input coming. We do
listen. - Ed.]
Multi-platform disks?
I am not sure if this is the proper place for this, but I was curious if anyone
knew of a solution to the problem of putting applications on ISO disks that wouldn't
require additional software (such as binhex).
The company I work for basically deals with pre-mastering software/-hardware
for Unix boxes but some applications are supported on multiple platforms. Some of
our clients would also like to have a clean solution to this problem.
- Casey Jenkins
Young Minds, Inc.
[Well readers does anyone know the answer? If you submit it as a tip, you’ll
get paid for it! - Ed.]
Gestalt for QuickTime?
Actually, I'm asking for a tidbit here...Is there a new Gestalt call to determine if
QuickTime is installed? One is not listed in Think Reference 2.0 and I don't get any of
the developer mailings.
- Anonymous
[Readers, if you answer and it gets printed, you’ll get paid for this too. - Ed.]
Simula, don't short it
Gary Odom states (Understanding Object Systems, MacTech, March 1993, Pg.
74) that Simula had its beginnings in 1967. It was earlier than that.
I may be the first object-programmer in the United States, at least the first
Simula programmer. In the mid-1960s, I was responsible for the maintenance of the
Algol compiler at Univac. Christian Nyaarg and his associates implemented Simula by
extending the Univac Algol compiler; therefore it fell to me to learn and maintain
Algol/Simula. In 1966, I was connected with the development of Exec 8, the operating
system for the Univac 1108. As I didn't start with maintenance of the Algol compiler,
my involvement with Simula would have been between 1964 and 1966.
I advocated developing Exec 8 in Simula rather than in the assembler because I
thought it would be much easier to code a more reliable product. I wish I had made a
stronger case.
- Melvyn D. Magree
Plymouth, Minnesota
[Mel, I’ll have to take your word on this one. I wasn’t in the business at that
time. Thanks for the info. - Ed.]