PowerCADD and Intel
When we began work on PowerCADD 8, it was our intention to produce a Universal Binary version that would run well on both PPC and Intel machines. Apple’s Xcode makes it possible to do this, and we have had PowerCADD 8 running on both types of computers.
Our main objective has been to make PowerCADD as fast as possible, and we have used OpenGL to achieve this in the Overview Window and for an optional fast drawing mode in the PowerCADD document window. OpenGL is a graphics system like Quartz and QuickDraw, but it is ten to a hundred times faster than Quartz. Video games use OpenGL for their fast-moving animations.
As we progressed, we saw problems on the PPC machines. On one machine, lines did not draw at all. On other machines, bitmaps and PDFs with bitmaps did not show on the screen. On still others, we found that drawing and user response was up to a hundred times slower. These problems are significant because our testing machines represent only a small portion of the total PPC population. The behavior we observed was erratic and often unpredictable on various models. This meant that testing and fine-tuning the software would ultimately have been required for each vintage of PPC.
Testing on PPC machines could add a year or more to the release of PowerCADD 8, and the time devoted to this would diminish our ability to take advantage of the features of the Intel machines. Our first responsibility is always to prepare for tomorrow and to advance our software to take advantage of improvements in the operating system. Attempting to work on both PPC and Intel machines would compromise our efforts.
All of this has led us to concentrate on Intel machines alone. This will enable us to maximize the benefits of the new features and graphics effects that are now available. Accordingly, PowerCADD 8 will be Intel-only. I recognize that this will disappoint some of you, and I ask for your consideration and understanding.
We will, of course, continue to offer PowerCADD 7 for PPC machines as we work to advance the software on Intel machines. PC7 and PC8 use the same file format, so you will be able to use both in the same office on the same drawings.
As we go forward, we will focus on optimizing PowerCADD 8 for Intel processors. We are confident that these efforts will offer the greatest benefit to you in the future. We hope you will support us in this effort.
Bill Stanley
Engineered Software
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