Executor Review
Executor is a commercial program that is more Mac program enabler for the PC than emulator. It is a clean re-write of most of a Mac OS (i.e.none of Apple's ROMs or system files disassembled or in any other way examined by Executors group of authors). In effect recreating system 7, and software 68LC040 CPU, therefore not needing any Mac Roms or OS software to run. The company have put out demo's that were somewhat limited, in that they ran for 10 minute chunks. However the latest demos have extended that to one month. I was impressed enough to pay for the product under a student scheme they run, but compared to the price of a Mac itself - if Executor does what you want it is a very cheap option!

Although running an acceptable finder and front end, a quick glance could convince someone that box was a Mac, even running some programs faster than some Macs can, the power in this baby is hidden 'beneath the hood'. It has grown from a NextStep development to a Win32 and Linux sub-OS.Windows 3.x and Dos users have a DOS version, which is probably the quickest option in the Executor family.  Recently they have promised to release a 2.0w version to bring up the Win32 version to match the Dos version. ARDI, more fully known as Abacus Research and Development Inc.(Incorporated in Delaware) of Albuquerque are pushing on with the project of a second public release of their Executor, this time as version 2.1 on CDROM.

Executor has been around for over ten years now in its slow development phase, I found a demo version on a shareware CDROM that was in its 1.99n phase of development that seemed to go through every letter of the alphabet in its 'bleeding Edge' release scheme. Indeed the most recent release is 2.0v, which was a Win32 version and rather nicely able to cut'n paste between itself and Windows programs.

Not quite an everyday screenshot, a windows and an Apple logo side by side!

The Macintosh equivalent is back to the Quadra era running a 6.0.7 OS but is certainly capable running some programs that require system 7 by implementing or spoofing calls, itself fooled occasionally by apps calling on 'undocumented' traps. Technically the emulator will read/ write/ format 1.4Mb disk and scsi removable devices such as syquest and Zip drives, it could not format hard drives at the moment CDROMs are detected and read, the Win32 version requires a cd enabler, but the install routine includes this. I have been able to read use storage via a dos network already running before Executor is booted up. The software storage used to be in pre-created HFV volumes (i.e. Apple HFS volumes stored in a single file as virtual hard disk partitions) but the Win32 versions can now set-up and use native Windows/Dos directories.

Sound support often surprises, albeit limited, it works very well with some games. 
Port addressing is somewhat limited - but thanks to Aladding Ghostscript 5.x the Win32 (Ghostscript v3.x in the case of Executor/Dos) version can print direct to a PC printer  - very well actually, otherwise, without Ghostscript a postscript file is created to from any programs printing request. ARDI have promised a tidy install routine for Executor and printing software in version 2.0w.

The other port access is minimal, sadly at the moment modems and other serial devices (apart from the mouse) are not supported, although ARDI are well aware that this is something users would find useful. Usefully ARDI's staff notably, Cliff T Matthews who responds in the Usenet group regarding problems, wants and wishes. From following the group for quite some time, I get the impression version 3 will be the first chance to implement more port options. Although the Win32 version certainly has been a big step forward for users.

I have collected many cover disks over time to see what Executor can do,but the mainstay has been running Clarisworks 2.0b - obviously not the communications programs. I have tried a demo of Wordperfect, which was fine, utils like Unstuffit, BinHex and Compact Pro function completely. Usefully, Word and Excel 4 work and some of the other smaller editors. The Hypercard shareware player works within limits and plenty of cards function 100% although I did have to set the OS version to 6.0.8 to get it to run (this is easily done withough stopping Executor). I have even managed to run a couple of emulators on the emulator! A BBC computer emulator (a British 32k 6502 CPU based computer popular in the 1980s) and also a Commadore 64 emulator for the Mac.

The range of games is enormous, if you have moved to PC and long to be able to run some of the old Mac only games - checkout the capabilities database on their web site. I often play Swoop, a 'shoot em up' with very quick action, sound and music for relieving stress.  I have seen Wolfestein 3d working and scientific apps that are of specific interest, obviously the data collection via the Com port is a problem.

Executor's potential is in a very large global niche market, the move of PC use into Mac areas is happening.  However inappropriate or technically sound it may be, the cost of porting to PC could be offset by the packaging emulation capabilities into Mac only versions.   I am looking forward to the version 3 of Executor with hopefully greater OS support and port access. ARDI have promised a release version 2.1 in the mean time containing the cumulation of improvements in the 2.0 range of 'bleeding edge' releases, it is still currently a viable and useful product. 

ARDI's Web site - useful information and download demo's.
http://www.ardi.com or email: Info@ardi.com

By David Harris