Article-I.D.: aurora.386
Posted: Tue Sep 10 16:18:30 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 18-Sep-85 05:33:54 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Mtn. View, CA
Lines: 21
Xref: watmath net.micro.mac:2655 net.lang.c:6448

Productivity Products Inc. is porting Objective C to Mac using Aztec C as 
the target compiler (Objective C is a pre-processor).  Unfortunately, 
some people in the company do not want to release a product because
they believe there is little market.  

The basic technical work will 'be done in a few weeks'.  I would like to 
have Objective C on the Mac.  If you would too, write or call

	PPI
	Marketing
	27 Glen Road
	Sandy Hook, CT 06482
	(203) 426-1875

Objective C is a preprocessor for C that adds the SMALLTALK constructs 
object, message, and inheritance to C.  All of C is available to
the Objective C user, as well as much of SMALLTALK.  This style of
programming, called object programming, is very nice.  I would hate to 
go back to functions and data structures.  If there is interest, I will
elaborate on what Objective C does.  For now, I'll just say that it
revolutionized my C programming ...

Article-I.D.: datacube.19400003
Posted: Thu Sep 19 22:41:00 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 22-Sep-85 23:59:02 EDT
References: <386@aurora.UUCP>
Lines: 38
Nf-ID: #R:aurora:-38600:datacube:19400003:000:1458
Nf-From: datacube!berger    Sep 19 22:41:00 1985


The rumors I have heard from reliable sources are:

They are waiting for an Official Apple C compiler before they release
the MacIntosh  Objective C  tools.   The Apple  C compiler  is over 7
months late.  Now we all know about  Official Apple  Software that is
late sometimes never happens (ie MacBasic).   Objective  C is working
with Aztec C.  A student at Drexel U ported it in a few weeks.  

My feeling is that PPI in general is BLOWING IT BIG.  The Objective C
compiler is indeed revolutionary.  It is the bridge between today and
tommorow  (structured  programming and  object oriented programming).
Their pricing structure makes it  difficult to  impossible for normal
humans or frugal corporations to work with it.  

They just need to get it out to a critical mass of people and make it
inexpensive enough to be affordable in  a prototype  environment.  It
will take  off and  transform the  way people  are writting programs.
They could be very rich.  

But NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

They  wait  for Apple  to screw  them with  another dropped compiler.
They charge $5000 / user on unix systems.  (NOTE:  It will  be < $500
on the Mac) 

They should be giving it away to universities!

It should be on the Mac TODAY!   Objective C  and the  Mac were meant
for each other.  

			Bob Berger 

Datacube Inc. 4 Dearborn Rd. Peabody, Ma 01960 	617-535-6644
	
ihnp4!datacube!berger
decvax!cca!mirror!datacube!berger
{mit-eddie,cyb0vax}!mirror!datacube!berger

Article-I.D.: ames.1174
Posted: Tue Oct  1 13:46:38 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 4-Oct-85 05:41:42 EDT
References: <386@aurora.UUCP> <19400003@datacube.UUCP>
Organization: NASA-Ames Research Center, Mtn. View, CA
Lines: 42

 >  
 >  The rumors I have heard from reliable sources are:
 >  
 >  They are waiting for an Official Apple C compiler before they release
 >  the MacIntosh  Objective C  tools.

They quit waiting and are now hosting on Aztec C.  They have not decided
to release a product. Call (203) 426-1875 or write PPI, 27 Glen Road,
Sandy Hook, CT, 06482 and tell them to release this system as soon
as possible!

 >  
 >  My feeling is that PPI in general is BLOWING IT BIG.  The Objective C
 >  compiler is indeed revolutionary.  It is the bridge between today and
 >  tommorow  (structured  programming and  object oriented programming).
 >  Their pricing structure makes it  difficult to  impossible for normal
 >  humans or frugal corporations to work with it.  

I couldn't agree more.  I've told them several times to lower the
price if they really want to make it big.

 >  They charge $5000 / user on unix systems.  (NOTE:  It will  be < $500
 >  on the Mac) 

Last prices I heard are $1000 on the Sun, $10000 on a VAX.  No
per user pricing.  My data is very recent (we're in procurement).
They will also give some customers a 60 DAY FREE DEMO of the system.
This is a great thing.  Take advantage of it.

 >  
 >  They should be giving it away to universities!
 >  

They do have a University discount.  UCSC got it for $1000 on their VAX,
mostly 'cause they only had $1000 to spend.  Talk to the salesman, they
are flexible.

 >  It should be on the Mac TODAY!   Objective C  and the  Mac were meant
 >  for each other.  
 >  

Hear, Hear.