Microsoft Corporation has released a CD-ROM package for the Macintosh that incorporates four Microsoft office applications and a number of third-party programs. The collection is Microsoft's first CD-ROM offering for the Macintosh, although the company has other CD-ROM products for IBM-compatible PCs.
Microsoft Office, as the collection is called, includes Microsoft's Excel spreadsheet, PowerPoint presentation graphics software, word processing and electronic mail. It also incorporates software from 27 third-party developers, including a type library from Adobe Systems, Inc., clip art packages, text retrieval and document comparison software.
Apple lately has been trying to stimulate the CD-ROM market by offering discounts on CD-ROM drives to independent software vendors working with the upcoming Macintosh Os 7.0 and by encouraging dealers to demonstrate and stock CD-ROM products.
The CD-ROM package for the Macintosh includes multimedia presentations, including animated segments and voiceovers, that give an overview of the product and explain some of the functions. Also included are online documentation for the Microsoft applications and search facilities for the documentation.
The software is incorporated under a HyperCard-based graphic user interface. Microsoft Office for CD-ROM is available from retailers at a suggested retail price of $949.
