Windows 95 on the Mac may seem redundant, but Orange Micro's latest software makes it possible to run The Other OS on the Mac with the company's OrangePC 486 cards. On the hardware front, the company introduced the first PCI-based PC coprocessor cards for the Mac.
Version 3.8 of the OrangePC driver software lets OrangePC 486-card owners run Windows 95 and OS/2 Warp. The software ships with all new OrangePC cards and is available as a $129 upgrade for current card owners. The next version of the software, due by year's end, also supports Windows NT.
Orange Micro is coming out with two lines of PCI-based coprocessor cards for distinctly different markets. The current line of OrangePC cards will remain aimed at corporate customers. These PCI cards will have faster graphics, space for more RAM (64 MB), and lower prices than previous NuBus models. The top-of-the-line configuration, which includes Windows 95 software, ships with 16 MB of RAM, a 100-MHz 486 DX4 chip, a 256K Level 2 cache, and 2 MB of VRAM. It costs $1,786. A low-end model with the same VRAM and cache configurations but a less speedy 66-MHz 486 DX2 and 8 MB of RAM will sell for $1,266.
Orange Micro also unveiled the first in its MacPC line of consumer-oriented coprocessor cards. MacPC ($699) is a PCI card containing a 66-MHz 486 DX2, 4 MB of RAM, 16-bit Sound Blaster hardware, and ports for gaming peripherals. 714-779-2772.
