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Name that CPU
We've played Guess The OS a few times before. This time let's see if you can figure out what CPU is being talked about in this article. Look back and see how arguments about computer performance have ...
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Classic Tip: Control how programs start with batch files
When using batch files, you sometimes may want a program to start minimized or full screen. This classic tip from 2000 shows how you used to do it in Windows 9x and how little things have changed.
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Y2K: The New Year's disaster that never happened
Another New Years goes by in the 21st Century and we're still using computers. If you believed all the hype from 90's, we'd be living in the Stone Age by now. Here's a set of videos that look back at ...
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Five 2008 cutting-edge technlogies that will look quaint in the future
Like every year, 2008 introduced to dozens of new technologies and IT products. Shiny and new now, these things will look quaint in just a few years. Here are some of the new things for 2008 that we'l...
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Classic Tip: A Notepad trick from 1999 that works in Vista
Even though Microsoft makes major changes to Windows through the years, some things stay the same. This Notepad trick for Windows 98 that was featured in our 1999 Windows TechMail is a prime example.
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Recapping classic Classic Rock posts for 2008
We started Classics Rock in March 2008. Here's a recap of some of the posts that drew the most discussions for the year.
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Prodigy: The pre-Internet online service that didn’t live up to its name
One of the early online destinations before the Internet was Prodigy. Like many child prodigies that share the name, Prodigy started off with lots of promise, only to wind up a disaster. Guest contrib...
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Bring out your dead!
Calling all TR Members. Do you have any old equipment laying around that you'd like to get rid of and have featured in our Cracking Open series? Now's your chance. Read on to find out how to submit yo...
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An annual holiday tradition: Computer commercials
Christmas, Hannukah, and all of the other traditional winter holidays are around the corner. That means its the time of year for lots of commercials, including ones for computers. Here are some Holida...
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1950's IT without tailfins and leather jackets
Usually when talking computer classics, I stick to computers from the 70's, 80's and 90's. This video from IBM shows a state of the art accounting computer from the 1950's. See how far we've come.
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What's the biggest tech turkey of all time?
This time of year, we're supposed to give thanks for our blessings. Sometimes one of the things we're thankful for is the technology nightmares we no longer have to deal with. What's the biggest Tech...
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Cloud computing? Been there. Done that.
Cloud computing is nothing new. It's just a fancy name for technology that's been around since the 1980's and before. Classics Rock Guest Columnist Michael Banks talks about computing in the clouds in...
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Guess the OS (Office Suite edition)
Usually when we play Guess The OS, we're talking about classic operating systems. This time OS refers to office suites. Here's an article from Home Office Computing. What office suite is being discuss...
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Questing before the age of WoW
World Of Warcraft is the top online destination for questing today, but long before Kil'jaeden the Deceiver ever dreamed up the Lich King, there was another quest to be had. Almost all modern questing...
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Revisiting the great-grandfather to the iPhone: The Apple Newton
Long before it produced the iPod, iPod Touch, or the iPhone, Apple introduced a revolutionary hand-held device called the Newton. It was the first commercially successful PDA. Here's a look back.
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Five 2008 cutting-edge technlogies that will look quaint in the future
Like every year, 2008 introduced to dozens of new technologies and IT products. Shiny and new now, these things will look quaint in just a few years. Here are some of the new things for 2008 that we'l...
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Cracking open the IBM ThinkPad 701c
IBM's ThinkPad 701c's unique butterfly keyboard rocked the laptop world when it debuted in 1995. This video shows it in action and you can see more in our Cracking Open photo gallery.
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Gates/Seinfeld isn't Bill's first foray into commercials
Bill Gates is now pitching Microsoft products with the help of Jerry Seinfeld. Bill's no stranger to the acting stage. Here's an ad he did in the 90's for Coke.
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Brush up on your TRS-80 Basic skills
The Radio Shack TRS-80 Model I was one of the first popular home computers. Here's a Web site with a Java-based emulator of the TRS-80 Model I's BASIC.
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Has Lenovo ruined the ThinkPad?
When IBM created the ThinkPad line in the 90s, they set the gold standard for quality in notebook computers. In 2005, IBM exited the PC business and sold off its desktop and laptop lines to Lenovo. Is...
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Revisiting the Apple IIc
The Apple IIc was one of the most popular home computers in the early 1980's. Introduced at the same time as the Mac, it calmed early Apple fans who were afraid that Apple was going to abandon the II ...
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How Star Trek influenced development of the Cray supercomputers
Check out this video from CNET TV. It shows the original Cray 1 and discusses how Star Trek influenced the design of the grandaddy of the supercomputers.
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Name that Windows version
If you've been in IT for any time at all, it seems like many of the arguments for and against Windows Vista have all been heard before. Here's an article from TechRepublic's big brother site CBSNews.c...
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Relive the Apple II days
For many people, entrance into the realm of computing came via an Apple II. Although Apple abandoned the Apple II line a long time ago, you can relive those days from the comfort of your Web browser. ...
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Play Atari classics on your PC
Before the Wii, Xbox, and PS3 was the Atari 2600. It defined the home gaming console. Now you can play some of the classic Atari games right on your PC.
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Dot matrix printers still hammer away the days
Now supplanted by quiet ink jet printers and networked laser printers, the dot-matrix printer has mostly disappeared from the landscape. Occasionally you can still find them for special purpose use ho...
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The 80's supercomputer that's sitting in your lap
By now we're all used to the idea that each generation of CPU is faster and does more than the last, but just how fast? The computer you're probably using to read this blog on is faster than an 80's s...
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An 80's forerunner of the Mac vs. PC ads
Apple has a pretty long history of PC envy. Even before the Mac, Apple made direct comparisons between itself and the PC. Here's an ad showing why an Apple IIc was a better choice than a PCjr.
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An annual holiday tradition: Computer commercials
Christmas, Hannukah, and all of the other traditional winter holidays are around the corner. That means its the time of year for lots of commercials, including ones for computers. Here are some Holida...
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What's the biggest tech turkey of all time?
This time of year, we're supposed to give thanks for our blessings. Sometimes one of the things we're thankful for is the technology nightmares we no longer have to deal with. What's the biggest Tech...