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You are here: MacNN Forums > Software - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Applications > Pretty quiet at FWB...what's up with RealPC?

Pretty quiet at FWB...what's up with RealPC?
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PubGuy
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Jun 22, 2003, 11:00 PM
 
FWB was suppose to be showing a new OS X native version of RealPC on June 1st. They've moved that back to July 1st. Their web site makes scant reference to it, but is not very informative.

Anybody here know the inside info? If they're only a week or so from a public showing/preview/release, shouldn't we have some idea as to what to expect? Is this going to be all it's cracked up to be? Will it blow the doors off VirtualPC?

Anybody?
     
vipe
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Jun 23, 2003, 12:12 AM
 
     
tikki
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Jun 23, 2003, 04:04 AM
 
Hope Xyber doesn't see this. He thinks RealPC is the second coming of Christ

Personally, I am going to consider if vaporware until it is occupying sectors of my hard drive.

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xyber233
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Jun 23, 2003, 11:59 AM
 
Originally posted by tikki:
Hope Xyber doesn't see this. He thinks RealPC is the second coming of Christ

Personally, I am going to consider if vaporware until it is occupying sectors of my hard drive.
Ha! Too late. Anyways.......PLEASE let this not be vaporware . FWB, where are you!?!?!?!
     
PubGuy  (op)
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Jun 23, 2003, 10:25 PM
 
I was hoping to see a demo of RealPC running windows faster than a Windows machine....

The week is young....
( Last edited by PubGuy; Jun 30, 2003 at 10:21 AM. )
     
PubGuy  (op)
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Jun 30, 2003, 10:21 AM
 
Well, today is June 30th. FWB's web site still states:

"RealPC & SoftWindows!!!
FWB has pushed back the release date of its Beta Version of PowerWindows (formerly SoftWindows) to July 1 due to issues relating to Microsoft."

Wonder if they will really have a beta release on July 1st. Anybody here have the inside info?
     
King Bob On The Cob
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Jun 30, 2003, 12:16 PM
 
I somehow doubt they'll have 3D acceleration on the 1st. It'd be nice. Being able to play Tiberian Sun at a decent speed would kick ass but :-\
     
clarkgoble
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Jun 30, 2003, 12:45 PM
 
From what I heard, Microsoft may very well own the rights to RealPC. I seem to recall a discussion of this over on Slashdot or Ars. As the story goes (which I can't verify) the VirtualPC folks bought the rights to RealPC. When they sold out to Microsoft the RealPC folks took their old code base, expanded it, and prepared it for sale.

Presumably Microsoft will (legitimately if true) claim that RealPC can't do this due to the agreement with VirtualPC.

Depending upon the nature of the agreement there may be no RealPC.

Anyone know anything more on this?
     
xyber233
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Jun 30, 2003, 01:06 PM
 
Originally posted by clarkgoble:
From what I heard, Microsoft may very well own the rights to RealPC. I seem to recall a discussion of this over on Slashdot or Ars. As the story goes (which I can't verify) the VirtualPC folks bought the rights to RealPC. When they sold out to Microsoft the RealPC folks took their old code base, expanded it, and prepared it for sale.

Presumably Microsoft will (legitimately if true) claim that RealPC can't do this due to the agreement with VirtualPC.

Depending upon the nature of the agreement there may be no RealPC.

Anyone know anything more on this?
I hope for the sake of my sanity and the safety of others that you are greatly mistaken......
     
JLL
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Jun 30, 2003, 01:18 PM
 
Originally posted by xyber233:
I hope for the sake of my sanity and the safety of others that you are greatly mistaken......
The problems was naming.

Microsoft own the name SoftWindows which Insignia licensed.

FWB haven't licensed the name and they had to change it everywhere it's mentioned in the app.
JLL

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RooneyX
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Jun 30, 2003, 04:41 PM
 
If worse comes to worse and Microsoft does try to screw OSX users out of a good product, I hope FWB sticks to fingers up and released the program for free on peer to peer networks and just claims it was stolen.
     
JLL
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Jun 30, 2003, 05:06 PM
 
As I said it was a naming issue - nothing else.

This is from the press release on Oct. 18 1999 when FWB bought the app from Insignia:

SoftWindows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation, and is used by Insignia Solutions under license from owner.
And this is from MacCentral:

In mid-May, FWB briefly stopped development of its forthcoming Mac OS X-native version of RealPC following the arrival of a cease and desist letter from Microsoft. "It was a trademark dispute," explained Prewitt.

Prewitt told MacCentral that following Microsoft's acquisition of the SoftWindows trademark, a brand name previously associated with the product, Microsoft requested that FWB remove any references to SoftWindows from its own RealPC product line. That briefly caused FWB to stop developing RealPC as references to SoftWindows had to be pulled from the actual code.

"Unfortunately, the same guys that do the development had to do the rebranding," said Prewitt. "We're all wearing different hats. We ended up ceasing development on it for about a week," he said.

Things are back on track, although FWB's timetable for RealPC's relaunch has changed. The company had hoped to release RealPC for OS X this month, but they now plan to launch a beta test program starting in July. Should everything go well, RealPC will be on retail store shelves later this summer, perhaps by August.
JLL

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xyber233
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Jun 30, 2003, 06:01 PM
 
So in theory.....the beta should be coming out tomorrow right?
     
CheesePuff
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Jun 30, 2003, 07:02 PM
 
Now says Summer 2003 for the beta release of SoftWindows.
     
SpringArmor
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Jun 30, 2003, 08:18 PM
 
Originally posted by CheesePuff:
Now says Summer 2003 for the beta release of SoftWindows.
Try Summer 2004.

People, get real! They don't even have a screen shot to show the users!

I hate to say it, but this thing smells like vapourware to me.

And please blame MS on the cease and desist letter. How long does it take to do a group search and replace?
     
xyber233
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Jun 30, 2003, 08:49 PM
 
Originally posted by SpringArmor:
Try Summer 2004.

People, get real! They don't even have a screen shot to show the users!

I hate to say it, but this thing smells like vapourware to me.

And please blame MS on the cease and desist letter. How long does it take to do a group search and replace?
Well, we will know tomorrow whether or not this is real.
     
tikki
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Jun 30, 2003, 09:00 PM
 
Originally posted by xyber233:
Well, we will know tomorrow whether or not this is real.
I am staying away from you tomorrow if they don't release a beta

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xyber233
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Jul 1, 2003, 11:28 AM
 
Hmmmm....
Yesterday
RealPC & SoftWindows!!!
FWB has pushed back the release date of its Beta Version of PowerWindows (formerly SoftWindows) to July 1 due to issues relating to Microsoft.
Today
RealPC & SoftWindows!!!
FWB has pushed back the release date of its Beta Version of PowerWindows (formerly SoftWindows) later this summer due to issues relating to Microsoft.
Interesting.....No beta and no screenies make me go something something. Go crazy? Don't mind if I do. Heheheheheheheehewwweeeeeeeee.
     
tikki
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Jul 1, 2003, 11:30 AM
 
call them up, Xyber. See what they say.

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[APi]TheMan
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Jul 1, 2003, 11:57 AM
 
Originally posted by xyber233:
Interesting.....No beta and no screenies make me go something something. Go crazy? Don't mind if I do. Heheheheheheheehewwweeeeeeeee.
FWB is sounding pretty sheisty to me. Vaporware... yikes, I was looking forward to this. I am utterly pissed off that Microsoft is "excited to announce that Connectix Virtual_PC� for Mac is the most recent addition to the line-up of great products we make for the Macintosh computer." Heh, as if they made VirtualPC in the first place.

Come on, FWB!
( Last edited by [APi]TheMan; Jul 1, 2003 at 12:03 PM. )
"In Nomine Patris, Et Fili, Et Spiritus Sancti"

     
tikki
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Jul 1, 2003, 12:03 PM
 
Originally posted by [APi]TheMan:
FWB sounds pretty sheisty to me. Vaporware... yikes.


Hope no one bought the previous version in hopes of the free upgrade.

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austeros
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Jul 1, 2003, 12:19 PM
 
but imagine what a dual g5 could do with emulation...

specially if its unix based. come one fwb, there is a market here

There's someone in my head but its not me...
     
SpringArmor
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Jul 1, 2003, 12:51 PM
 
Originally posted by tikki:


Hope no one bought the previous version in hopes of the free upgrade.
I feel sorry for those who bought version 1.1 in hopes of the free upgrade. It will be a long summer for them.
     
PubGuy  (op)
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Jul 4, 2003, 01:00 PM
 
Looks like REALPC = VAPORWARE.

Usually SOMEONE has some type of info if a product is that close to being released. FWB's web site is terrible. They've now pushed back the release date twice, and aren't giving any specifics of what's happening on their web site. It would be nice if they had a RealPC for OS X section with some initial specifications on what to expect and some screen shots ... but ... NOTHING ???

What a let down -- was really hoping for something to blow the socks off of VPC.

     
RooneyX
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Jul 4, 2003, 02:02 PM
 
Originally posted by PubGuy:
Looks like REALPC = VAPORWARE.

Usually SOMEONE has some type of info if a product is that close to being released. FWB's web site is terrible. They've now pushed back the release date twice, and aren't giving any specifics of what's happening on their web site. It would be nice if they had a RealPC for OS X section with some initial specifications on what to expect and some screen shots ... but ... NOTHING ???

What a let down -- was really hoping for something to blow the socks off of VPC.

There's a screenshot of it running on OS9 with Tomb Raider 1 running in DOS.

Awesome.
     
Mr. Blur
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Jul 4, 2003, 07:17 PM
 
Originally posted by PubGuy:
Looks like REALPC = VAPORWARE.

Usually SOMEONE has some type of info if a product is that close to being released. FWB's web site is terrible. They've now pushed back the release date twice, and aren't giving any specifics of what's happening on their web site. It would be nice if they had a RealPC for OS X section with some initial specifications on what to expect and some screen shots ... but ... NOTHING ???
hey, delays happen all the time in software development. what about alsoft....diskwarrior was originally supposed to come out last fall and when did we finally get it - april.....micromat - techtool pro 4 has been pushed back a few times already too. yeah, i agree they should maybe post something but then if they do and can't meet that date everyone whines still...they can't win no matter what they do. until they close their doors and say "we are out of business", it's a bit early to scream vaporware.
Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity...
     
tikki
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Jul 4, 2003, 07:21 PM
 
They should at least update the website with a preview to show us what they are doing rather than quietly changing the date.

work: maczealots blog: carpeaqua
     
xyber233
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Jul 5, 2003, 12:06 AM
 
Originally posted by tikki:
They should at least update the website with a preview to show us what they are doing rather than quietly changing the date.
Exactly. How hard is it to post of screenie of the damn program working in X. I'm tired of them always changing the date.
     
RooneyX
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Jul 5, 2003, 12:14 AM
 
Originally posted by xyber233:
Exactly. How hard is it to post of screenie of the damn program working in X. I'm tired of them always changing the date.
They don't even have a screenie of it running on Solaris.
     
Angus_D
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Jul 5, 2003, 06:38 AM
 
Methinks they announced it prematurely.
     
barney ntd
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Jul 5, 2003, 10:07 AM
 
Originally posted by Angus_D:
Methinks they announced it prematurely.
Isn't this a perfect definition of vapourware? Announcing things which don't (yet) exist?

Barney.
     
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Jul 5, 2003, 10:21 AM
 
Originally posted by barney ntd:
Isn't this a perfect definition of vapourware? Announcing things which don't (yet) exist?
I'm still confident COS will be released.
Nasrudin sat on a river bank when someone shouted to him from the opposite side: "Hey! how do I get across?" "You are across!" Nasrudin shouted back.
     
PubGuy  (op)
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Jul 10, 2003, 11:07 PM
 
Well, I took the chance that they will be true to their word. I bought a copy of RealPC version 1.1 today so that I would qualify for the free upgrade to the OS X version when its released.

Come to find out, the all the Version 1.1 files are dated in 2000....not exactly a refreshed release!

FWB's web site says "NEW!!! RealPC v1.1". Somehow, files dated in 2000 is NOT new. I didn't even bother installing it.
     
Ian McEwan
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Jul 11, 2003, 05:05 AM
 
Originally posted by PubGuy:
Well, I took the chance that they will be true to their word. I bought a copy of RealPC version 1.1 today so that I would qualify for the free upgrade to the OS X version when its released.

Come to find out, the all the Version 1.1 files are dated in 2000....not exactly a refreshed release!

FWB's web site says "NEW!!! RealPC v1.1". Somehow, files dated in 2000 is NOT new. I didn't even bother installing it.
Go get a refund.

Real PC hasn't been updated since 2000. It has no USB (other than mouse and keyboard), and doesn't support the newer CD-ROM drive in machines such as iMac, etc...
     
Angus_D
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Jul 11, 2003, 08:51 AM
 
I wouldn't buy it until they at least have screenshots.
     
thefamousmred
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Jul 21, 2003, 11:17 AM
 
*bump*

I can't find any references to softwindows/powerwindows/whatever on their site anymore....
     
CheesePuff
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Jul 21, 2003, 12:03 PM
 
Originally posted by thefamousmred:
*bump*

I can't find any references to softwindows/powerwindows/whatever on their site anymore....
http://www.fwb.com/html/realpc.html

But now it doesn't say ANYTHING about a new Mac OS X version or a free upgrade anymore.

Also PowerWindows/SoftWindows is not listed on their site.
     
ambush
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Jul 21, 2003, 12:36 PM
 
oh my god......

yep,

another


VAPOURWARE
     
bronto
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Jul 22, 2003, 05:17 AM
 
The answer as to why the information was taken down can be found here.

www.hardmac.com/niouzcontenu.php?date=2003-07-22#244

If this information is true, there could be a story waiting to be told.
     
CheesePuff
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Jul 22, 2003, 11:40 AM
 
Originally posted by bronto:
The answer as to why the information was taken down can be found here.

www.hardmac.com/niouzcontenu.php?date=2003-07-22#244

If this information is true, there could be a story waiting to be told.
Oohh, now this is getting interesting!
     
   
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