PaperClip on the Atari 8-Bit
Imagine an oven bakes gorgeous cakes, but gives random, severe burns. "When do the burns outweigh the beauty?" is posed by this cute word processor
XPER on the Commodore 64
In a supreme act of hubris, I use 80s "expert system" AI technology to turn a C64 into a rain predictor. Will it fair better than a coin flip?
HyperCard on the Macintosh
There was once a tool so perfectly executed that careers, conventions, magazines, and entire companies were born from its vision and aesthetic.
Bank Street Writer on the Apple II
Society was once hell-bent on "computers in the classroom." The promise to transform education never materialized, but a sharp word processor did.
ThinkTank on the PC w/DOS
Outliner software seems to attract a uniquely obsessive group. The lure of getting one's thoughts organized is powerfully strong, but does it work?
CAD-3D on the Atari ST
Historical "what ifs" are fun. What if IBM adopted CP/M over DOS? What if Atari delivered their TT line on time, becoming Hollywood's SFX king?
VisiCalc on the Apple II
In 1978, Bricklin and Frankston took out a loan to develop "Calcu-ledger," a tool that could project the fiscal health of taking out that very loan
Superbase on the Commodore 64
Into the 80s, the promise of a "paperless office" sat always out of reach, but definitely almost here, so long as your office never grows past 1999
Electric Pencil on the TRS-80
A disillusioned filmmaker turned beach bum turned a hobby project into millions, creating the first word processor for home computers.
Deluxe Paint on the Commodore Amiga
Back when EA was cool, they packaged their software in album-style sleeves and promoted their developers like rock stars. I was a Dan Silva groupie.
Introducing “Stone Tools”
A blog about the productivity software of the 8/16-bit era. No games, just work.