CompuServe Messages

Since I haven't seen a CD32 I can't say what an AVPro performance using it would look like, but you would be able to use AGA graphics. I think you need around 4 megs RAM to make full use of AVPro in the development mode, but it will run on a system with as little as 2 megs. I don't know of any problem loading flows from older AV versions. The right tool for the right job. AVPro is a good all-around authoring system with some powerful features. I wouldn't say AVPro is a hypertext processor, since everything is object oriented. You can create a text "glossary" that will bring up a short definition of a word. You can use a text-variable or text-window object to create text-based display objects that will react to mouse clicks or whatever, but that doesn't seem as straightforward as using, say, Hyperbook or Thinker if you're creating a text document to browse. Then again, you probably can call up Thinker or Hyperbook from within AVPro to do something specialized like that. There, perhaps, comes the complexity vs. system performance you were asking about. For hypertext, Helm seems more suitable — it's sort of like Hyperbook on amphetamines. Meanwhile, AVPro's graphical, interactive database functions are quite powerful. So if you intend users to access info in a more controlled way, AVPro is perhaps superior. The CD32 is a double-speed drive, capable of twice the loading rate of CDTV. CDTV with its CDXL extension can handle quarter-panel limited-motion video (HAM mode at around 15 frames per second). I suppose CD32 could double that speed and increase the color and resolution. It will also, however, offer an optional MPEG module for full-motion full-screen video with apparent VHS quality. Since CD32 can read CDTV discs, one probably could program an application that either was upwardly or downwardly compatible (ie., lesser graphics if the disc is inserted in a CDTV; but I don't know for sure if it's possible to program dual format (CDTV and CD32) on one disc. Helm was getting rave reviews over on GEnie for its simple to use interface, AGA support, CDTV hooks, etc. I've seen a demo and it indeed it looks nice. And it's cheap — only around $130 retail. Scala is dongled, so to play back a Scala presentation, you need a legal copy of the program on every computer. Very annoying, but the company is gearing it to kiosk and broadcast use, so for many users that's not a problem. AVPro has a freely distributable playback module, as does Helm. On the other hand, Scala is quite powerful; again, less suited to hypertext than for interactive presentations. You can do a nice menued touch-screen presentation, for instance. I would say making a really sharp looking presentation for little effort is Scala's strength; it's easy to get rolling. Gold Disk's Showmaker was pretty nice in many ways as a Scala alternative, but apparently is discontinued, or least development is frozen. Its little brother, MediaShow, is available for around $60 and is an easy way to program a quick video presentation. I've used it for titles and transition effects and it was very easy to operate; uses the same timeline-based metaphor that Showmaker has. Again, not really useful as a hypertext or database tool; its forte is elsewhere. — Ron Legro from Milwaukee via AUTOPILOT (The only way to fly)