Nantucket to Support GO’s Pen-Based Operating System; Continues Multiplatform Strategy

January 22, 1991 — Nantucket Corp. announced Tuesday its intent to support GO Corp.’s PenPoint operating system as part of the compa-ny’s multiplatform strategy.

That strategy is a key component of Nantucket’s Future Technology (NFT), a program to deliver an object-oriented application development system, on all major microcomputer platforms including DOS, Windows, OS/2, OS/2 Presentation Manager, the Macintosh and PenPoint. NFT will accommodate both the Clipper procedural language and an object-oriented counterpart.

“Applications developed on any of the NFT-supported platforms will be completely platform adaptive,” said Larry Heimendinger, president and chief operating officer, of Nantucket. “This will allow, for example, the huge population of DOS-based and Clipper developers to program and test PenPoint applications on the platform with which they are most familiar.”

“We are very excited about the platform. The PenPoint operating system’s object-management capabilities make it a natural host for object-oriented applications including those to be developed using NFT techniques.”

“Nantucket has an existing commitment to provide developers with practical object-oriented technology. Our ability to add PenPoint to our multiplatform strategy demonstrates the flexibility of this approach.”

The PenPoint operating system provides a natural, mobile way to use a pen and computer. It incorporates a familiar notebook metaphor that does not require acquired expertise.

“Recent laptop sales have increased dramatically,” said Heimendinger. “We believe this reflects an inherent desire for smaller and lighter computers with portability ultimately enhanced by the absence of keyboards. This technology will open up a multitude of untapped areas for application development where data must be acquired or used in the field.”

GO Corp., a privately held company with headquarters in Foster City, was founded in 1987 to develop pen-based computing technology.

Founded in 1984, Los Angeles-based Nantucket is the leading developer of application development systems for micro-computers. Its flagship product, Clipper 5.0, is an open architecture application development system that includes user-extensible command and function sets, a compiler with a preprocessor, linker and a full set of development utilities.

NOTE: GO and PenPoint are trademarks of GO Corp.

CONTACT:
Nantucket Corp., Los Angeles
Don Leddy, 213/390-7923, ext. 331
or
Miller Communications, Marina del Rey
Eric Warren or Debbie Lacy, 213/822-4669