Mountain View, CA Ð Now that NeXTSTEP will soon be available on 80486-based computers, Insignia Solutions is set to roll out a family of products that will make it easier for users to run DOS and Windows applications under NeXTSTEP.
SoftPC Professional is a new version of the company's existing PC-emulation software for NeXT and other workstations. Unlike SoftPC 2.0, which provided emulation of the PC AT, SoftPC Professional emulates the 80386-protected mode. According to the company, it will run DOS and Windows applications on NeXTstation Turbos and future faster systems at speeds comparable to a 16MHzÐ20MHz '386 system. Insignia said it would be priced at about $500.
The company will also ship SoftPC With Windows, a version bundled with Microsoft Windows 3.1 and Insignia's Windows driver, for around $700. Both products will ship in late January.
A third product, SoftPC for NeXTSTEP '486, includes native Microsoft Windows and Mouse drivers that enable users to run Windows applications at near-80486 speeds. Availability and pricing have not yet been determined. A related product, Soft-Node, will provide NetWare client support for NeXTSTEP '486 systems.
NeXT CEO Steve Jobs demonstrated the '486 version during his Comdex presentation (see "Jobs takes shots at Windows"). "With SoftPC, our customers can move into the NeXTSTEP object-oriented environment without leaving behind critical applications," he said.
According to Marc Munford, Insignia's NeXT marketing manager, SoftPC Professional provides 50 percent to 75 percent improved performance for character-based applications over SoftPC 2.0. Graphics performance is "orders of magnitude faster," Munford said.
The new product also provides a more NeXT-like interface, with a new panel for setting preferences and configuring virtual drives. It also allows users to define a Windows "monitor" of any size within the NeXTSTEP screen, sizing windows to fit any application. It also includes support for VGA and extended memory. The product integrates the NeXT and Windows clipboards, easing cutting and pasting between applications.
"We believe these products offer the best of both worlds to NeXT customers. It reduces their risk in choosing NeXT," Munford said.
Insignia can be reached at 415/694-7600.