---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash SunSoft Introduces Wabi 2.0 SunFLASH Vol 70 #13 October 1994 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Electronic Journal For Sun Users Since 1988 John J. Mclaughlin, Publisher & Editor - flash@sun.com ____________________________________________________________________________ 70.13 SunSoft Introduces Wabi 2.0 SunSoft, Inc. introduced Wabi 2.0, the latest version of the company's breakthrough translation software technology that enables the most popular Microsoft Windows applications to run at high performance levels on UNIX-based workstations and servers. With the addition of eight new certified applications and two of the most popular integrated software suites, Lotus SmartSuite and Microsoft Office, Wabi 2.0 offers support for 24 of the most popular Microsoft Windows software applications and suites. Together, these applications account for more than 80 percent of the unit shipments of all Microsoft Windows-based applications. Wabi 2.0 also provides impressive performance enhancements over earlier versions of the product. (159 lines) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Sun is dedicated to making Wabi the preeminent translation software available to users who wish to run Microsoft Windows productivity applications on their UNIX- based desktops," said Scott McNealy, chairman and CEO of Sun Microsystems, Inc. "Sun has devoted extensive resources to the development of Wabi and will continue to provide that same level of commitment and enthusiasm for this innovative product into the future. Sun was founded on the premise of open systems and standards-based technology. Wabi is the latest result of Sun's efforts to build on that technology heritage." "Wabi is already in the hands of 150,000 users who want to enhance their UNIX desktop capabilities with a productivity environment to run the top Windows applications," said Dave Power, Vice President and General Manager of SunSoft's PC Desktop Integration. "With Wabi 2.0, we are providing our customers with eight more of the Windows applications and two suites they've asked for. In addition, many other applications, which we have not yet certified, will also run." SunSoft recently implemented a rigorous international beta testing program, whereby pre-release versions of Wabi 2.0 are being tested by users at more than 200 sites worldwide. "With Wabi 2.0, you not only get more applications than before," said Gregory Quinn, a systems administrator and scientist at the Molecular Biology Lab at the University of South Florida, "but they're vital apps, and Wabi runs them very well." Translation Technology Provides Optimum Performance and UNIX Integration Based on translation technology, Wabi 2.0 enables UNIX users to run applications written for Microsoft Windows with high performance on both RISC-based and Intel- based platforms. In addition to Application Programming Interface (API) translation, Wabi 2.0 on RISC-based platforms features enhanced CPU instruction translation, thereby doubling the speed of CPU-intensive operations such as spell-checking, installation of applications and spreadsheet recalculation. "Unlike competitive products that are based on emulation technology, Wabi translates Windows application function calls into those recognized by X Windows, significantly reducing processing overhead," said Andy Halford, Director of Engineering for SunSoft's PC Desktop Integration. "Wabi users can run more applications simultaneously than they can under Microsoft Windows. Wabi provides better integration with the native desktop than any other solution for running Microsoft Windows applications under UNIX. This improved integration breaks emulation's single window barrier." With Wabi, each Microsoft Windows application has its own icon on the desktop, can be launched directly from the desktop, and runs as a separate window, thus maintaining a familiar environment for the user. In addition, users can share files and access network printers from within Microsoft Windows applications. Wabi also enables users to cut and paste and drag and drop between Microsoft Windows and UNIX applications. Wabi 2.0 includes a selection of TrueType fonts from Bitstream Inc. Under an agreement with Bitstream, SunSoft licenses Bitstream's font-handling technology and makes a selection of TrueType fonts available to Wabi users. Wabi 2.0 Supports 24 Popular Windows Applications An additional eight Windows-based applications and two software suites have been certified to operate with Wabi 2.0. They include: * Intuit Quicken 3.0 * Lotus Approach 2.1 * Lotus cc:Mail 2.0 * Lotus Freelance 2.01 * Lotus Notes 3.0c * Lotus Organizer 1.1 * Microsoft Access 2.0 * Microsoft Mail 3.2 * Lotus SmartSuite 2.0 * Microsoft Office 4.3 Wabi 2.0 also supports newer versions of the following original 14 certified applications: * Aldus PageMaker 5.0 * CorelDraw 4.0 * Harvard Graphics for Windows 2.0 * Lotus AmiPro for Windows 3.01 * Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows 4.0 * Microsoft Excel for Windows 5.0 * Microsoft PowerPoint 4.0 * Microsoft Windows 3.11 * Microsoft Word for Windows 6.0 * ProComm Plus for Windows 1.02 * Microsoft Project for Windows 4.0 * Paradox for Windows 4.5 * Quattro Pro for Windows 5.0 * WordPerfect for Windows 6.0a. Users of Wabi 2.0 can install Windows applications directly on to their UNIX-based systems in exactly the same way they would install software on a PC, enabling them to leverage their investment in PC-based training and support. Distribution, Availability and Pricing Information Wabi 2.0 will be available from SunSoft to UNIX OEMs, including Sun, IBM, Hewlett- Packard, Novell and SCO. Today SunSoft is also announcing that Wabi 2.0 will be co- packaged with Solaris 2.4 this quarter. Other OEMs will announce their own plans for packaging, pricing, and availability. SunSoft, Inc., headquartered in Mountain View, California, is a subsidiary of Sun Microsystems, Inc. with offices worldwide. SunSoft's charter is to design, market, sell and support the industry's highest-quality software environment for enabling businesses to gain a competitive advantage through information systems. SunSoft delivers a suite of solutions that easily and cost-effectively connect, integrate and manage large enterprise environments. Products are licensed by SunSoft and distributed through major computer manufacturers and resellers worldwide. ### (c)1994 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Sun, the Sun logo, SunSoft, Wabi, and Solaris are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. Lotus is a registered trademark of Lotus Development Corp. Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corp. UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries exclusively licensed through X/OPEN Company, Ltd. TrueType is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. All other products mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners.