Computer Chronicles Season 7, Episode 18: Programming Languages

Personal Finance Software

30 min

Creativity Software

30 min

Artificial Intelligence

30 min

New Portable Computers

They weren't quite "notebook" computers yet, but laptops were replacing "luggables" in the portable computer category during the late 1980's. This program looks at the state of the art in portables including the Atari Portfolio, the GridPad, the Poqet PC, the Dynabook 286, the NEC Color Portable, Toshiba's T3200SX, IBM's P70 386, and the new Mac Portable. Average price for one of these laptops was about $5,000. Guests include Traveling Software CEO Mark Eppley. Originally broadcast in 1989. http://archive.org/details/CC704_new_laptops

30 min

Software for Kids

30 min

Megahertz Mania

In the late 1980's PC users were ecstatic over the introduction of 32 bit processors and CPUs running at the blazing speed of 33 megahertz. This program looks at some performance innovations including the AST Premium 386SX/33, the IBM 286s, the Cumulus 386SX add-on card, the Hauppauge 386 Motherboard 33, the Everex 386, and MultiSoft's PC-Kwik Power Pak. Software used for demonstrations include AutoCAD, Splash and Excel. Also features a look at new Intel chips, the i486 CISC and the i860 RISC chips, and new Motorola chips, the RISC 88000 and the CISC 68000. http://archive.org/details/CC706_megahertz_mania

30 min

Desktop Presentation Graphics: Part 1

The introduction of the Macintosh in the mid 1980's opened up a whole new world of desktop graphics capability. This program looks at several early graphics applications for the Mac including More II, Power Point 2.0, Persuasion 2.0, and Macromind Director. Originally broadcast in 1989. http://archive.org/details/CC707_desktop_presentation_graphics_1

30 min

Desktop Presentation Graphics: Part 2

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then graphics should be an important tool for business. Thanks to more sophisticated computers and display technology, the use of corporate graphics work boomed in the late 1980's. This program looks at several new products for doing presentation graphics on a PC including Harvard Graphics 2.12, Draw Partner, Freelance Plus 3.01, Graph Plus 1.3, Storyboard Plus 2.0, GEM Presentation 1.1, AutoDesk Animator, and Xerox Presents. Originally broadcast in 1989. http://archive.org/details/CC707_desktop_presentation_graphics_2

30 min

Holiday Buyers Guide

The annual holiday buyer's guide for techie products. Gift giving selections for geeks from Gary Kildall, Paul Schindler, Jan Lewis, John Dickinson, Andrew Eisner, and Stewart Cheifet. Hardware and software for the PC and the Mac. Originally broadcast in 1989. http://archive.org/details/CC709_buyers_guide

30 min

Software Piracy

30 min

DOS to Mac and Back

In a world full of Macintosh computers and DOS based computers, there was a market for utilities that would translate between the two formats. This program looks at several examples, including DaynaFile, DOS Mounter, Soft PC, MacWrite II, LapLink Mac III, and PC MacTerm. Among the guests are Mark Eppley, CEO of Traveling Software and analyst Jan Lewis. Originally broadcast in 1989. http://archive.org/details/CC711_dos_mac

30 min

Computers and Fitness

As computers moved beyond doing just calculations and word processing, lots of small software companies found new kinds of applications for the growing universe of personal computers. One application was health and fitness. This program looks at several software titles and peripherals that let you use a computer to stay fit. Demonstrations include STEP II's Physical Fitness Evaluation, Psychological Psoftware's Never Fat Again, the Biofeedback Institute's Calmpute, and the Food Processor II from ESHA Research. Also featured are the Heart Window Plus Watch and the Fat Watch Plus Belt. Originally broadcast in 1989. http://archive.org/details/CC712_fitness

30 min

Low Cost LANs

With standalone PC's showing up in every office and in many homes, the big challenge became connecting computers in a local area network. This program looks at several low cost solutions to building a LAN. Demonstrations include LANtastic, LANsmart, Lotus Notes, 10Net Plus, and TOPS LAN. http://archive.org/details/CC713_lans

30 min

Computers and the Law

30 min

Optical Storage

As we entered the 1990's, the big technology news was the move from magnetic storage to optical storage. It was the year of multimedia and the CD-ROM. This program looks at several applications including Grolier Encyclopedia, PC Globe, Headstart III, PC Splash, The Listening Booth, USA Travel, PLV, the NEC Portable CD-ROM CDR-35, the Sony rewritable optical disc Drive SMO-S501, and the video laser disc application "Advanced Combat Trauma Life Support". Also a look at the CD Interactive (CDI) and Digital Video Interactive (DVI) platforms. Originally broadcast in 1990. http://archive.org/details/CC715_optical_storage

30 min

Low Cost Laser Printers

When laser printers first came out in the 1980's they were prohibitively expensive for most individual users. In the early 1990's, prices came down and even small businesses were able to upgrade from their old dot matrix printers. This program looks at several early options for low cost laser printers. Featured products include the GCC PLP II for the Macintosh, Okilaser 400 from Okidata, the Toshiba LaserPrinter, Canon's LBP-4, and the HP LaserJet IIP. Originally broadcast in 1990. http://archive.org/details/CC716_low_cost_laser_printers

30 min

Computer Ergonomics

30 min

HyperCard Update

One of the precursors of hypertext and hyperlinks was Hypercard, originally introduced by Apple in 1987. This program looks at the status of Hypercard applications including Hypercomposer, Take One, Culture 1.0, Mission: The Moon, SuperCard, and CAMEO. Guests include Apple Fellow and Hypercard creator Bill Atkinson. Originally broadcast in 1990. http://archive.org/details/hypercard_2

30 min

Desktop Video

Today we take for granted the fact that we can watch video on our computers, but in the early 1990s, that was a big innovation. This program looks at early examples of desktop video on the Amiga, the Mac, and the IBM PC. Demonstrations include the Amiga 2500, the Amiga video authoring system, the Pionner LaserDisk player, MacroMind's Director 2.0 for the Mac IIx, the Avid/1 Media Composer, the DVA-4000 video controller from VideoLogic, and the use of desktop video at the NASA Ames research center. Originally broadcast in 1990. http://archive.org/details/desktopvideo

30 min

Flight Simulators

A review of flight simulator software. Included are demonstrations of Falcon AT 1.11, F-15 Strike Eagle II, Jet Fighter 1.5, A-10 Tank Killer 1.2, subLOGIC's Flight Simulator ATP 1.0, and Microsoft's Flight Simulator 4.0. Guests include Gilman Louie, President of Spectrum Holobyte, Major Bill Stealey, President of MicroProse, and Moses Ma, Chairman of Velocity Development. Originally broadcast in 1990. http://archive.org/details/flightsimula

30 min

Computers on Campus

Clarkson University, in upstate New York, was the first college in the country to provide every student with a personal computer, a Zenith AT PC. Drexel University, in Philadelphia, was the first university to do the same, only they required all incoming students to buy a Macintosh. This program looks at the changing experience of students and faculty at Clarkson and Drexel as personal computers became an essential "school supply". Shot on location at Drexel and Clarkson. Originally broadcast in 1990. http://archive.org/details/oncampus

30 min

High Tech France: Part 1

A look at the high-tech industry in France, shot on location in Paris. The focus of this program is the MiniTel system, the French precursor to the Internet. Applications demonstrated include banking, home shopping, classifieds, news, and advertising. Also includes a visit to U.S. West in Omaha which was one of the first American companies to experiment with the MiniTel technology. Originally broadcast in 1990. http://archive.org/details/frenchtech1

30 min

High Tech France: Part 2

The second part of our review of French technology, shot on location in France. Included are ISDN, fiber optics, smart cards, the 185 mph TGV high-speed train, and a look inside the workings of the supersonic Concorde. Originally broadcast in 1990. http://archive.org/details/episode_724

30 min

Computer Bowl II: Part 1

The second annual Computer Bowl with East coast versus West coast to determine the Master of Computer Trivia. West coast team: John Doerr, Bill Gates, Stewart Alsop, Charles House, Lawrence Tesler. East coast team: Pat McGovern, Bob Frankston, William Foster, Edward Friedkin, Russell Planjizer. Guest questioner: Mitchell Kapor. Host: Stewart Cheifet. Originally broadcast in 1990. http://archive.org/details/compbowl1

30 min

Computer Bowl II: Part 2

The conclusion of the second annual Computer Bowl with East meeting West for the title of Master of Computer Trivia. West coast team: John Doerr, Bill Gates, Stewart Alsop, Charles House, Lawrence Tesler. East coast team: Pat McGovern, Bob Frankston, William Foster, Edward Friedkin, Russell Planjizer. Guest questioner: Mitchell Kapor. Host: Stewart Cheifet. Originally broadcast in 1990. http://archive.org/details/compbowl2

30 min