About this season
The Computer Chronicles was an American television series, broadcast during 1981-2002 on Public Broadcasting Service public television, which documented the rise of the personal computer from its infancy to the immense market at the turn of the 21st century. The series was created in the Fall of 1981, by Stewart Cheifet, then the station manager of the College of San Mateo's KCSM-TV, initially broadcast as a local weekly series. Jim Warren was its founding host for its 1981-1982 season. It aired continuously from 1981 to 2002 with Cheifet co-hosting most of its later seasons. Gary Kildall served as co-host for six years providing insights and commentary on products as well as discussions on the future of the ever-expanding personal computer sphere.
Episodes (27)
1. PC Expo 1994
Aired 27 September 1994 • 30 min
On location coverage of the annual PC Expo trade show in New York. Featured guests include Stewart Alsop, Larry Magid, Tim Bajarin, and Phillipe Kahn. http://www.archive.org/details/PCExpo
2. MacWorld Boston 1994
Aired 4 October 1994 • 30 min
On location coverage of the annual Boston MacWorld conference. Includes the launch of the Mac System 7.5 OS. Demonstrations include WordPerfect, ClarisWorks, Loga Vista, Newton, Radius, Wacom, Visioneer, and Opcode. Originally broadcast in September 1994. http://archive.org/details/1202
3. ETRE Conference Barcelona
Aired 11 October 1994
4. PowerPC and PowerMac
Aired 18 October 1994 • 30 min
Motorola's new PowerPC microprocessor launched a whole new generation of computers including the PowerMac. This program looks at the increased speed and functionality of computers using the new Motorola CPU. Demonstrations include various benchmark tests on the PowerMac, the PowerMac 7100 and the PowerMac 8100, applications such as Excel 5.0 for the Mac, and PhotoShop 3.0. Also a look at SoftWindows, a utility that lets you run Windows apps on a PowerMac. Includes a visit to Motorola's CPU design center and the implementation of a huge data center at the University of Texas using 750 new PowerMacs. Guests include Jim Gable and Stephen Dougherty of Apple, John Peck of Adobe Systems, and John Morse of Microsoft. Originally broadcast in 1994. http://archive.org/details/PowerPC10.1
5. Computer Art
Aired 25 October 1994 • 30 min
The personal computer started out doing numbers, then text, and then graphics. This program looks at several applications for computer artists. Included are KPT Bryce, SmartSketch, Fractal Design's Dabbler, TrueSpace for Windows, Design Workshop for the Power Mac, Wacom Pad, Painter, Illustrator, and Photoshop. Originally broadcast in 1994. http://archive.org/details/CC1205_computer_art
6. Plug and Play
Aired 1 November 1994 • 30 min
Adding peripherals used to be a nightmare with a PC, having to manually figure out all kinds of settings and switches. Windows 95 promised to end all that with Plug and Play, though many users called it Plug and Pray. This program looks at the early efforts to simplify adding peripherals. Covered are sound cards, SCSI controllers, video cards, mice, CDROM drives, and PCMCIA cards. Also covered is Plug and Tell, which helped you figure out what settings had to be changed, and Compaq's Hot Docking technology. Originally broadcast in 1994. http://archive.org/details/PlugPlay
7. Windows 4.0 a.k.a. Windows 95
Aired 8 November 1994 • 30 min
The upgrade from Windows 3.0 to Windows 95 was the big leap for Microsoft and began its domination of the desktop. This program looks at the new OS, originally code named "Chicago" and Windows 4.0, and new applications developed specifically for Win 95. Demonstrations include Windows 95, Norton Utilities for Win 95, Visio, and Picture Publisher. Also included are demonstratons of IBM's Warp OS/2, and the Macintosh Operating System OS 7.5. http://archive.org/details/Windows4
8. Virtual Meetings
Aired 15 November 1994 • 30 min
The advent of the internet meant people could now start communicating and collaborating over the web. This program looks at several early examples of virtul meeting technology. Demonstrations include Cross Ties for Workgroups, Groupware for Windows from Ventana, HP's OmniShare, CU-See Me, Intel's ProShare 200, the Sharevision PC3000 from Creative Labs, VIVO 320 from Vivo Software, AT&T's VideoPhone, and Sony's Magic Link PDA. Guests include Andrew Seybold. Originally broadcast in 1994. http://archive.org/details/VirtualM
9. Consumer's Buying Guide
Aired 29 November 1994 • 30 min
An annual review of cool new technology products for the holiday buying season, as selected by Stewart Cheifet, Paul Schindler of CMP, Tim Bajarin of Creative Strategies, and Ken Ratcliffe of PC Connection. Products reviewed include Lexmark's Ergonomic Keyboard, 7th Level's Complete Waste of Time, Banner Blue's Family Tree Maker, Maxis Gift Maker, Glider Pro, GPS Trailblazer, Greatest Paper Airplanes, the NEC Satellite Phone, Putt Putt from Humungous Entertainment, Sega's Road Rash II, the Simpsons Screen Saver from Berkeley Systems, Star Trek Interactive, T/Maker's Stradiwackius, and Wacom's Art Pad Dabble bundle. http://archive.org/details/CC1210_consumer_buying_guide
10. Comdex Special 1994
Aired 6 December 1994 • 28 min
On location coverage of the annual fall Comdex trade show in Las Vegas. Includes highlights of the Bill Gates keynote speech. Features analysis from Tim Bajarin of Creative Strategies. http://archive.org/details/ComdexSp
11. Talking Computers
Aired 13 December 1994 • 30 min
Almost ten years after this show was produced, we are still not talking to our computers. This program looks at several early attempts at a voice interface. Products demonstrated include VoiceUser for Windows, VoiceUser for WorkGroups, Wildfire, VPro, TruVoice, Dragon Dictate, Kurzweil Voice for Windows, Voice Organizer and Philips Dictation System. Originally broadcast in 1994. http://archive.org/details/TalkingC
12. Interactive Music
Aired 3 January 1995 • 30 min
Computers and the digital revolution forever changed the world of music. This program looks at several new approaches to creating and sharing music. Demonstrations include Vid Grid, Sound Toy, William Orbit Strange Cargo, So You Want to be a Rock & Roll Star, Rock & Roll On Your Own, Dylan:Highway 61 Interactive, Video Jam, and Vivace. Also featured is a visit to Todd Rundgren's sound studio in Sausalito, California and a preview of his CD-ROM entitled "No World Order". Originally broadcast in 1995. http://archive.org/details/CC1238_interactive_music
13. Digital Photo Finishing
Aired 10 January 1995 • 30 min
As the popularity of digital cameras grew, photofinishing software followed. This program looks at several early examples of computer based photo processing. Demonstrations include Photoshop 2.5, Nikon's LS-10 CoolScan, PhotoFlash 2.0, Apple's QuickTake Camera, Paint Alchemy, Terrazzo, Picture Window 1.0, EverColor and ArtLink. Originally broadcast in 1994. http://archive.org/details/Photofin
14. Computer Games
Aired 24 January 1995 • 30 min
A look at the hot new computer games of 1995. Games covered include Voyeur, Astronomica, Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger, Master of Magic, Nascar Racing, Front Page Sports: Football Pro '95, Daedalus Encounter from Mechadeus, and Loadstar: The Legend of Tully Bodine. Includes visits to Electronic Arts and Rocket Science Games and an interview with "The Fat Man", George Sanger. http://archive.org/details/CC1218_greatest_games
15. Computers and Sports
Aired 31 January 1995 • 30 min
Computers enable couch potatoes to get the feeling of competitive sports and help real athletes improve their skills. This program looks at several sports applications including Picture Perfect Golf, ESPN Baseball Tonight, UltraCoach for Windows, Mountain Biking, Winning Hoops with Coack K, and Touch 'n' Go. http://archive.org/details/PCSports
16. Consumer Electronics Show 1995
Aired 7 February 1995 • 30 min
On location coverage of the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Featured analyst is Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies. Includes highlights of the keynote speech by Microsoft's Bill Gates. This is the show where Microsoft introduced its infamous "BOB" interface.
17. OS/2 Warp
Aired 28 February 1995 • 30 min
In the mid 1990's, it wasn't yet an all Windows world. A battle was on between Microsoft's Windows and IBM's OS/2. This program compared the two operating systems and various add-ons for Windows and OS/2. Products demonstrated include Windows 95, OS/2 Warp, Voice Pilot for OS/2, and Colorworks for OS/2. Guests include IBM's David Barnes and syndicated columnist Dan Gillmor. Originally broadcast in 1995. http://archive.org/details/OS2Warp
18. Investment Software
Aired 7 March 1995 • 30 min
Computers have become a key tool in planning an investment strategy and building a retirement nest egg. This program looked at several investment programs including Value Screen Investment Survey, Prodigy Online Information Services, Windows on Wall Street, WealthBuilder, Plan Ahead Your Financial Future, Schwab's Street Smart, and MetaStock. Originally broadcast in 1995. http://archive.org/details/CC1224_investment_software
19. Learning on a Computer
Aired 21 March 1995 • 30 min
Personal computers have become a major component of modern educational systems. This program looks at some of the strides being made in computer based learning. Product demonstrations include Measurement in Motion, Grammar Games, Tangible Math, Inside the SAT, and The Musical World of Professor Piccolo. Companies profiled are Apple, Davidson & Associates, Logal, Princeton Review, and Opcode Interactive. Also featured are a visit to an Electronic Learning Fair and the online University of Phoenix. Originally broadcast in 1995. http://archive.org/details/CC1226_learning_on_a_computer
20. Computer Memory
Aired 28 March 1995 • 30 min
If you were a DOS user back in the early 1990's, you had to deal with "insufficient memory" issues. Over and over again. This program looks at solutions for expanding computer memory. Demonstrations include how to install SIMMs, MemMaker, QAPlus for Windows, RAM Doubler 1.51, Quarterdeck's QEMM 7.5, Multimedia Cloaking Utility from Helix Software, and Netroom 3.0. http://archive.org/details/LosingMe https://archive.org/details/CC1227_losing_memory https://archive.org/details/ar_cc183_losing_memory
21. SPA Codie Awards 1995
Aired 11 April 1995 • 30 min
Highlights from the tenth annual Codie Awards for outstanding software, presented by the Software Publishers Association. Shot on location in San Diego. Hosted by actor and comedian Kevin Pollack. Best consumer program of the year was Microsoft Encarta. Originally broadcast in 1995. http://archive.org/details/SPAAward
22. PC Video
Aired 18 April 1995 • 30 min
The digital video revolution started to take hold in the mid nineties. This program looks at early examples of desktop video products. Demonstrations include QuickTime VR, Sigma Designs MPEG video, Video Director, Avid Video Shop, Video Machine Lite, Radius Edit, Video Vision, SGI's Set Top Box, CyberLab7, and QuickTime Conferencing. Originally broadcast in 1995. http://archive.org/details/PCVideo
23. Mobile Computing
Aired 25 April 1995 • 30 min
ndustry prognosticators predicted that 1995 would be "the year of the portable". And it was, as mobile computing became mainstream. This program looks at several mobile computing solutions, including the Morrow Pivot II, the Apple PowerBook 540C, Toshiba's T2150 CDT, IBM's Butterfly subnotebook, Apple's Newton MessagePad, the Sharp Zaurus, Sony's Magic Link, the Psion 3A, the Pentax PocketJet printer, Xircom's CreditCard Ethernet, Zenith's CD-ROM Z Player, Dell's Latitude, Bell South's Simon, HP's Omnibook 600, and the X-Jack Modem from Megahertz. Originally broadcast in 1995. https://archive.org/details/MobileCo
24. The Internet
Aired 2 May 1995 • 30 min
In the mid 1990's many people were on line, but the internet and the world wide web were still a new phenomenon. This program looks at the new open world of the web. Demonstrations include Eudora, Anarchy, the WELL, WinCIM, InterACT.net, and HoTMetal Pro HTML Editor. Guests include New York Times technology writer John Markoff. Also features a profile of the band Severe Tire Damage, the first band to ever perform live over the internet. Originally broadcast in 1995. http://archive.org/details/CC1232_internet
25. Computer Bowl VII
Aired 30 May 1995 • 30 min
Technology leaders from the East and West coasts go at it in the seventh annual Computer Bowl, a quiz show designed to see which team knows more about computer trivia. Guest questioner is Nicholas Negroponte. Contestants include Andy Herzfeld and Joseph Alsop. Originally broadcast in 1995. http://archive.org/details/CC1236_computer_bowl
26. Gary Kildall Special
Aired 1 August 1995 • 30 min
A profile on computer pioneer Gary Kildall and the important contributions he made to the PC industry including the true story on how IBM ended up using MS-DOS rather than CP/M. Kildall developed CP/M, the first personal computer operating system. He was also a co-host on the early Computer Chronicles series. Includes comments by Gordon Eubanks, Symantec; Tom Rolander, DRI; Tim Bajarin, Creative Strategies; Lee Lorenzen, DRI; Jacqui Morby, TA Associates; Alan Cooper, CP/M applications developer. http://archive.org/details/GaryKild