Post by Howard Metcalfe on May 23, 2007 16:45:59 GMT -5
Q: What Macs and versions of the MacOS will run PAWriter?
A:Simply put, all Macs and all Mac OSs of any interest.
The OS 9 version of PAWriter runs natively on a PowerMac G3, G4 or G5 under OS 8.6, 9.0.x, 9.1.x and 9.2.x. (It also runs on a PowerMac 604E under OS 8.6, albeit slowly for larger files -- if anyone still has that system.)
The OS X version of PAWriter is a Carbon program that runs on a PowerMac G3, G4 or G5 under OS 10.0.x (Cheetah), 10.1.x (Puma), 10.2.x (Jaguar), 10.3.x (Panther), 10.4.x (Tiger) and 10.5.x (Leopard). (Apple has stated that Leopard and later will not support a G3.)
The OS X version of PAWriter also runs on Intel Macs under OS Tiger and Leopard, automatically translated (not emulated) by Rosetta. According to Apple, user-intensive programs such as PAWriter run very efficiently using Rosetta, and Rosetta will be a part of the Mac OS for the foreseeable future.1
Both versions of PAWriter are compiled simultaneously from a single source program of 60,000+ lines of code within the REALbasic integrated development environment.
With a few minor interface anomalies, the OS X version of PAWriter will run under 9.x.x with the CarbonLib extension installed. But why do that when the 100% compatible OS 9 version is available?
Version 88 was the first version of PAWriter that is a universal binary compilation, and its file name was changed to PAW2U. It reads and writes the same data files used by PAW2 (the OS 9 version) and PAW2X (the previous OS X version). Universal binaries run on both PowerPC Macs and Intel Macs without Rosetta.
This universal binary version 88 runs well on G3s, G4s, G5s and Intel Macs under MacOS 10.3.x (Panther), 10.4.x (Tiger), 10.5.x (Leopard) and 10.6.x (Snow Leopard with or without Rosetta). (I’ve tested it on Intel iMacs running Leopard and Snow Leopard, on a G4 eMac running Panther and Tiger and on a G4 tower running Tiger.) The universal version of PAWriter runs significantly faster than previous versions on any of the above-named platforms.
Henceforth, PAW2 and PAW2X are deprecated, and will no longer be updated nor supported. The last version of each will remain available for downloading; see Version 86 in the topic What's New. (Version 87 was not released since all effort went into production of version 88.)
Version 98 will be the last version to run under MacOS 10.3.x (Panther). Following versions will require at least MacOS 10.4 (Tiger) running on a PowerMac G4 or Intel Mac.
MacOS 10.7 Lion requires at least an Intel Core 2 Duo Mac, and Rosetta is dropped.
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1However, it is not out of the question that Rosetta may be discontinued after OS 10.6 Snow Leopard -- it is an optional installation in Snow Leopard. So, see my updates above.
A:
UPDATE
Version 88 was the first version of PAWriter that is a universal binary compilation, and its file name was changed to PAW2U. It reads and writes the same data files used by PAW2 (the OS 9 version) and PAW2X (the previous OS X version). Universal binaries run on both PowerPC Macs and Intel Macs without Rosetta.
This universal binary version 88 runs well on G3s, G4s, G5s and Intel Macs under MacOS 10.3.x (Panther), 10.4.x (Tiger), 10.5.x (Leopard) and 10.6.x (Snow Leopard with or without Rosetta). (I’ve tested it on Intel iMacs running Leopard and Snow Leopard, on a G4 eMac running Panther and Tiger and on a G4 tower running Tiger.) The universal version of PAWriter runs significantly faster than previous versions on any of the above-named platforms.
Henceforth, PAW2 and PAW2X are deprecated, and will no longer be updated nor supported. The last version of each will remain available for downloading; see Version 86 in the topic What's New. (Version 87 was not released since all effort went into production of version 88.)
ANOTHER UPDATE
Version 98 will be the last version to run under MacOS 10.3.x (Panther). Following versions will require at least MacOS 10.4 (Tiger) running on a PowerMac G4 or Intel Mac.
LATE NEWS
MacOS 10.7 Lion requires at least an Intel Core 2 Duo Mac, and Rosetta is dropped.
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