MESA, Arizona, — March 19 — Public Access Software today announces
its first ever hardware and software product called “MacStat”
(http://www.pasoftware.com/products/macstat/).
MacStat will allow you to view a variety of information about your
Macintosh computer including CPU load, computer uptime (length of
time since booting), total amount of free memory, the number of
currently running processes and a computer efficiency rating.
Using a small Mac OS application running in the background various
data is constantly and unobtrusively collected and displayed on an
external LCD display unit. The MacStat LCD display unit interfaces
through an unused serial port on your Macintosh and is controlled
entirely via the MacStat application.
MacStat Display Features:
* AppleScriptable MacStat application allowing the user to
display customized information as needed instead of using the default
features of the software.
* Continuous Macintosh Status updates via the external LCD screen.
* Easy to view large format LCD screen capable of displaying a
total of 32 characters on two separate lines of text. Includes
uppercase/lowercase, numbers, punctuation and special characters.
* Standard Macintosh Serial Port interface utilizing the Mac OS
Communications Toolbox (Serial Port expansion card-compatible)
NOTE: MacStat is not intended for use with portable Macs such as
PowerBooks or computers which lack a Macintosh serial port. MacStat
is not compatible with Mac OS X Server and is not intended to be used
in the Blue Box at this time.
MacStat is ideally suited for networked Macs acting as servers, Macs
used as terminals or for performance evaluation of specific computers
that are being heavily used in a variety of computing environments.
A Linux version of the software to provide similar features is
planned, but no release date is set at this time.
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Pricing is set at $99.95 US for a MacStat package which includes one
MacStat LCD display unit, MacStat software on floppy diskette, six
foot serial cable, mounting kit and hardcopy manual.
Public Access Software is anticipating shipment of the first MacStat
package in 3 to 4 weeks. The MacStat display screen is anticipated to
be available in the default of “ice” (frosted crystal clear)
initially with additional colors yet to be determined within 1 to 2
weeks of the first shipment.
The MacStatus display will be available primarily in the “English”
language and is subject to change without prior notice.