From: Conrad_Geiger@NeXT.COM (International NeXT User Groups)
Newsgroups: comp.newprod
Subject: Athena Design Releases Mesa Spreadsheet for the NeXT
Keywords: Lotus 1-2-3, spreadsheet, NeXTSTEP
Date: 25 Aug 92 15:52:52 GMT
Reply-To: user_groups@NeXT.COM
Followup-To: poster
Organization: Motorola Computer Group, Schaumburg, IL

Contact: Tracy Kugelman
Phone: (617) 783-9838

                   ATHENA DESIGN RELEASES MESA
               THE NeXT(tm) PLATEAU IN SPREADSHEETS

Boston - Today, Athena Design, Inc. released Mesa, the spreadsheet
for NeXTSTEP(tm).  Mesa, the first traditional spreadsheet written
exclusively for the NeXTSTEP operating environment, reads Lotus(r)
1-2-3(r) worksheet files and executes most 1-2-3 macros.  Mesa
defines the most advanced features of any spreadsheet product while
being very easy to use.

David Pollak, President and founder of Athena Design, stated, "We
were very pleased with Mesa's beta test cycle. Hundreds of people
have tested Mesa and virtually all feedback we received was positive.
Testers were clamoring for the release of the product."  J.Terrill
Brandon of Preferred Health Care, which is in the process of taking
delivery of more than 1,000 NeXT(tm) computers, said, "Mesa is the
most robust and reliable Beta software I have every used."  Preferred
Health Care has designated Mesa as the spreadsheet for use on its
NeXT computers.

Mesa will inter-operate with other NeXTSTEP applications including
programs from California-based Adamation.  Athena Design is working
closely with Pages Software to integrate Mesa functionality into
Pages' word-processing system. Pages' CEO Larry Spelhaug stated, "We
expect some very exciting results. Users will see a very tight
integration of a word-processor and spreadsheet functionality right
inside Page One."

Mesa includes the Mesa Object Library Interface (MOLI) which allows
custom programmers to manipulate data in Mesa worksheets, feed data
to worksheets in real time, print reports, and include worksheet
views and graphs in custom applications.  Paul Murphy, a custom
application developer with Marble Associates, said, "MOLI makes it
very easy for our custom applications to interact and exchange data
with Mesa worksheets."  Ronald Van Simmons of VNP Software,
consultants to First National Bank of Chicago, simply exclaimed,
"This is the coolest stuff I've seen."

Mesa's use of NeXTSTEP provides streamlined operations for control of
color, typeface, and the overall look of the worksheet.  Graphic
images and charts can be placed anywhere on the worksheet to generate
presentation-quality output.

Mesa defines some of the most advanced features currently available
in spreadsheet programs and sets the standard for many areas of
spreadsheet functionality.  These advanced features include:

 - Formula Inheritance
 - Savable Report Formats
 - AutoGrow Ranges
 - SmartFill
 - Cell Typing and Data Entry Verification
 - Drag & Drop Font and Color Selection
 - Animated Drag & Drop Range Moving and Copying
 - Series Functions
 - On-sheet and Formula Bar Data Entry

Mesa's most innovative feature is function inheritance.
"Spreadsheets allow users to change data and see the changes
reflected in cells that refer to that data," says Pollak.  "We simply
extended that paradigm to changes in formulas as well."  This
enhancement allows users to create spreadsheet models with fewer bugs
and in less time.  It also simplifies modification and maintenance of
spreadsheet models.

Previously, spreadsheet users wrote macros or repeatedly entered
complex print formatting commands in order to generate reports.  Mesa
allows users to define and save report formats using a visual report
builder, eliminating many superfluous print command steps.

Mesa provides users with the ability to build large spreadsheet
models.  Mesa worksheets can be over 100 times larger than 1-2-3
worksheets.  Mesa takes advantage of many advanced techniques to
speed up recalculation of large models. Bruce Henderson, NeXT
development team leader at Pages Software and co-author
of Appsoft Solution, an un-released spreadsheet for NeXTSTEP, stated,
"Mesa is one of the fastest recalculating spreadsheets I have ever
used."  In benchmark tests used by NeXTWORLD Magazine, Mesa performed
over 30 times faster than Improv(r), the Lotus spreadsheet for
NeXTSTEP.

Mesa creates graphic and text representations of spreadsheet data
which can be transferred into word-processing, database, presentation
software and other applications.  Mesa will fully support live data
links available with NeXTSTEP release 3.0.

Athena Design is committed to quality support of its customers and
views Mesa as a solution, not simply a software program.  All
registered users of Mesa are entitled to unlimited telephone support.
Capitalizing on NeXTSTEP's interpersonal computing features, Athena
Design will offer e-mail technical support. Users will be able to
send spreadsheet models directly to engineers to facilitate response
to the customer's issue.

Mesa is commercially available from NeXTConnection and authorized
NeXT re-sellers. It has a suggested retail price of $XXX. A version
that supports a floating license manager will be offered.  Many large
NeXT customers are evaluating Mesa.

Founded in 1989 by David Pollak, Athena Design develops and markets
NeXTSTEP applications.  In 1991, Athena Design released CultureShock,
a favorite game of NeXT users all over the world.  Since November
1991, the Boston-based software company has been developing Mesa, a
traditional paradigm spreadsheet for NeXTSTEP.

-----------------------------------------

NeXT and NeXTSTEP are trademarks of NeXT Computer, Inc.

Lotus, Improv, and 1-2-3 are registered trademarks of the Lotus
Development Corporation.
Newsgroups: comp.newprod