Apple Announces PC Card Compatibility Program

Macintosh PowerBook Qualified (MPQ) Program Assures PowerBook 5300 and 190
Series Customers PC Card Compatibility

CUPERTINO, California--October 24, 1995--Apple Computer, Inc. today
announced the launch of the Macintosh PowerBook Qualified (MPQ) program, a
PC Card quality testing and assurance program for PowerBook 5300 and 190
series computers. PC Cards that pass the MPQ program's qualification
standards will be licensed to display the Macintosh PowerBook Qualified
logo, which will give customers a recognizable compatibility symbol for
their PC Card products, which include modem, Ethernet and storage cards to
name a few.

"With MPQ, we've eliminated the PC Card guesswork for our customers, " said
Steve Andler, Apple's Senior Director of Mobile Systems Product Marketing.
"Our PowerBook 5300 and 190 series customers can just look for the MPQ
logo, and rest assured that their PC Cards have been tested and qualified
for use with their PowerBooks right out of the box.'

Independently Tested, Apple Supervised

The Macintosh PowerBook Qualified program is an Apple supervised and
initiated endeavor designed to assure PowerBook 5300 and 190 series
customers that the PC Cards they purchase will meet Apple's high standards
for plug-and-play compatibility and ease-of-use. To receive the official
Macintosh PowerBook Qualified logo, PC Card vendors must submit their
products to an Apple-designated, independent testing facility and pass
specific tests in six basic areas:

-  PC Cards and their drivers must conform to Apple's implementation of the
PCMCIA Standard Release 2.1.

-  PC Cards and their drivers that implement functions that permit user
interaction must adhere to Apple's Human Interface Guidelines.

-  PC Cards and their drivers must be compatible with currently shipping
Apple System Software and appropriate extensions. Developers must also
maintain compatibility with future versions of Apple System Software and
extensions that affect their cards' functionality.

-  PC Cards and their drivers must adhere to the PowerBook electrical
specification.

-  Developers must provide documentation that describes the hardware and
software installation for Macintosh computers. Products intended for sale
outside the U.S. and Canada must include documentation and localized
software for the countries/regions in which they will be sold.

-  PC Cards that must install drivers or other custom software components
must provide a Macintosh Installer and installation script.

Only when Apple's designated testing facility has certified that a PC Card
has passed all of the tests, will the product be licensed to display the
Macintosh PowerBook Qualified emblem.

Several industry-leading PC Card vendors including Farallon, Global
Village, Megahertz, Motorola and TDK have already embraced the MPQ program
with many others undergoing the qualification process.

Developers Contact Information:
Apple Computer, Inc.
Macintosh PowerBook Qualified Program
c/o PowerBook Product Marketing
1 Infinite Loop, MS: 306-2PM
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 974-6162
(408) 862-7263 (fax)
email: mpq@apple.com

Apple Computer, Inc., a recognized pioneer and innovator in the information
industry, creates powerful solutions based on easy-to-use personal
computers, servers, peripherals, software, online services, and personal
digital assistants. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Apple (NASDAQ:
AAPL) develops, manufactures, licenses and markets products, technologies
and services for the business, education, consumer, scientific and
engineering and government markets in over 140 countries.

Apple's home page on the World Wide Web: http://www.apple.com/

Apple's world wide mobility solutions group home page:
http://www.info.apple.com/gomobile/
 
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