From: Apgar@Apple.com (Gar)
Newsgroups: comp.newprod
Subject: AppleLink CD-ROM
Date: 16 Oct 92 02:15:26 GMT
Followup-To: poster
Organization: Apple

Apple Announces AppleLink CD
 
New CD-ROM Product Brings Valuable Information to Macintosh Users
for a Single Annual Fee
 
CUPERTINO, California--October 7, 1992--Apple Computer, Inc. today
announced AppleLink CD, an information resource product on CD-ROM.
AppleLink CD delivers regular editions of Apple and third party
product and support information for a single annual subscription fee.
    AppleLink CD offers Macintosh computer users access to a wealth of
information previously available only through AppleLink, Apple's
global electronic communications and information service.  Unlike
most on-line services, however, the new product requires no modems,
special phone lines, or extra software.  With only a Macintosh
personal computer and a Macintosh-compatible CD-ROM drive, users can
explore technical, product, program, and special interest information
without time or cost limitations.
    "AppleLink CD helps to create an information rich computing
environment for Macintosh users," said Peter Friedman, director of
Apple Online Services.  "AppleLink CD will bring together much of the
high quality information from Apple and third parties that's behind
AppleLink--essentially making it the easiest and most cost effective
way to access AppleLink information without actually going on-line."
    The familiar Macintosh interface, combined with an on-line help
feature, makes AppleLink CD easy to setup, learn and use.  And the
yearly one-time fee means users don't have to worry about cost or
time limitations as they would if they were accessing the information
on-line.  The multi-user version of AppleLink CD will allow
additional users to access the information as a shared volume on an
AppleTalk network.
 
Information Content
    Each edition of AppleLink CD will include an extensive technical
information libraryQthe same one used by Apple's own technical
support staffQas well as product data, public articles, and
documentation for solutions to hardware and software problems.  Also
included on the CD will be descriptions of Apple products, and
technical, marketing, and support materials from more than 400
Macintosh-compatible hardware and software manufacturers.
    A special Software Sampler section will contain 15MB of Apple
software updates as well as free software and shareware for the
Macintosh.  Users will be able to download free software
demonstrations and review new software programs.
    In addition, the special interest areas will allow users to browse
numerous bulletin board conferences from the extensive AppleLink on-
line discussion areas or investigate specific topic areas such as K-
12 education, multimedia, enterprise computing, and design &
publishing.
    AppleLink CD is produced by Apple's information services unit, Apple
Online Services (AOS). Other Apple Online Services products include
AppleLink, Apple's global on-line professional service.  Introduced
in 1985 to enhance communication between Apple Computer, its business
partners and customers, AppleLink today includes over 50,000
subscribers in the worldwide Apple Community in 55 countries.
 
System Configuration
    AppleLink CD requires a Macintosh computer running System 6.0.7 or
later and a Macintosh-compatible CD-ROM drive.  4MB (RAM) random
access memory is required.
 
 
Price and Availability
    AppleLink CD will be available worldwide in January 1993.  Initially,
AppleLink CD will be available through an annual subscription for
four quarterly editions; other options may become available in the
future.  Pricing and availability will vary by country.
    In the U.S., a one year subscritpion, which includes four quarterly
editions, is available in a single-user version for $299 or a mutli-
user version for $649.  Please check with your Apple representative
or in the United States, call the Apple Online Services HelpLine at
408-974-3309 for more information or to order (after January 1,
1993).  A special evaluation version of AppleLink CD is available
through a limited offer in the U.S. by calling 408-974-3309.
 
 -30-
 
Press Contact:
Lynda Lucero
Apple Computer, Inc.
(408) 974-7899