Why Is a Mac Called a Mac?
The Apple Macintosh, or “Mac,” is a computer platform that’s been around since 1984. Have you ever thought about why it’s called “Mac” or “Macintosh” in particular? We’ll dig into the history behind the name….
Why Is Windows Called Windows?
You’ve probably heard the name a million times: “Microsoft Windows.” But how did the operating system get that way, and why isn’t it named after something else—like doors or ceilings? We’ll explain.
GORILLA.BAS: How to Play the Secret MS-DOS Game From Your Childhood
Starting in 1991, every copy of MS-DOS (and many versions of Windows) included a hidden artillery game called Gorillas. It inspired a generation of programmers and drew the ire of computer lab instructors everywhere. Here’s h…
Remembering VRML: The Metaverse of 1995
In the early 1990s, futurists and corporations combined forces to create VRML, a Virtual Reality Modeling Language that promised to bring 3D graphics and virtual worlds to the web, heralding the dawn of the metaverse. Here’s …
What Is Spam, and Why Do We Call It That?
Thanks to the internet, spam isn’t just a type of canned meat product. We all deal with spam at some point or another—but what is it, exactly, and why do we call it that? We explore the history and rationale behind the term…
Commander Keen 4: The First and Only Video Game I Loved
I’m not a gamer. I don’t own any video game consoles. Video games are not part of my identity. One game, however, holds a special place in my heart—Commander Keen: Secret of the Oracle. It’s a strange story….
How to Read a Zip Disk on a Modern PC or Mac
Is your priceless data locked away on an Iomega Zip disk from the 1990s or 2000s? There are several easy ways you can copy files from Zip disks over to a modern PC or Mac yourself. We’ll show you how.
The Computer Folder Is 40: How the Xerox Star Created the Desktop
In 1981, Xerox released the 8010 Information System, the first commercial computer to use the graphical desktop metaphor with folders and icons that we still use today. 40 years later, we take a look at why it was special….
X Marks the Spot: Microsoft’s Xbox Turns 20
When Sony’s PlayStation 2 threatened to make the Windows PC obsolete, Microsoft countered by releasing the Xbox on November 15, 2001. Of course, the Xbox didn’t run Windows or use standard PC hardware either. Here’s how that …
The Microprocessor Is 50: Celebrating the Intel 4004
On November 15, 1971, Intel publicly debuted the first commercial single-chip microprocessor, the Intel 4004, with an advertisement in Electronic News. Fifty years later, here’s a look at its legacy—and how the 4004 stacks …
Green Hills Forever: Windows XP Is 20 Years Old
Microsoft released Windows XP, one of the most popular and enduring versions of Windows ever, on October 25, 2001. It brought a graphical refresh and much-needed stability to consumer Windows. We take a look back at what made…
Multimedia Mania: Windows Media Player Turns 30
30 years ago, Microsoft introduced the first version of Windows Media Player—then just called “Media Player”—as part of “Windows 3.0 with Multimedia Extensions.” Since then, it’s morphed and changed dramatically over time…
What Are Computer Files and Folders?
Files and folders are a common metaphor for storing data on a computer. Even a modern device that hides files from you as much as possible still uses them under the hood. Here’s a look at what files and folders are—and how …
The First Commercial Video Game: How It Looked 50 Years Ago
Fifty years ago—on October 15, 1971—Nutting Associates debuted the first-ever commercial video game for sale: Computer Space, a coin-operated arcade machine. Unlike arcade games before it, it utilized a TV set for a displ…
The Modern PC Archetype: Use a 1970s Xerox Alto in Your Browser
In 1973, Xerox introduced the Alto, a pioneering research computer that set the stage for the modern PC with use of a bitmapped graphical interface, a mouse, and local networking. Thanks to an emulator, you can simulate an Al…
OS/2’s Last Stand: IBM OS/2 Warp 4 Turns 25
25 years ago—on September 26, 1996—IBM launched OS/2 Warp Version 4, its last major attempt to compete with Microsoft Windows in desktop operating systems. While a competent and highly regarded OS, it didn’t take the OS c…
The Golden Age of Shareware CDs
In the mid-late 1990s and into the early 2000s, you could purchase CD-ROM discs containing thousands of shareware apps, games, pictures, and otherwise. These CDs were gateways to numerous hours of cheap entertainment. Here’s …
The Foundation of the Internet: TCP/IP Turns 40
40 years ago—in September 1981—DARPA published the finalized specifications of the TCP/IP protocol suite, which defines the basic rules for how the internet works. While TCP/IP didn’t become widely adopted until 1983, thi…
Gaming When You Should Be Working: The History of the Boss Key
In the days before multitasking PCs, gaming at work could be dangerous: The boss might walk in and catch you at any moment. But by pressing a boss key—a panic button that quickly hid your game behind a fake work document—…
How to Play Microsoft Adventure, the World’s First IBM PC Game
40 years ago, IBM published the world’s first commercial IBM PC game, Microsoft Adventure. As a port of a mainframe classic that spawned the adventure game genre (and Microsoft’s first published game), its release represents …
40 Years Later: What Was it Like to Use an IBM PC in 1981?
Forty years ago today—on August 12, 1981—IBM introduced the very first IBM Personal Computer, also known as the IBM PC (Model 5150). It sold well and set standards that are still with us today. Here’s what it was like to …
The First Website: How the Web Looked 30 Years Ago
Thirty years ago today—on August 6, 1991—Tim Berners-Lee posted about his World Wide Web project on the alt.hypertext newsgroup, inviting the public to take a look at the world’s first website. The invitation eventually l…
Remembering Radio Shack’s Windows Competitor: Tandy DeskMate
In the 1980s, Radio Shack parent Tandy Corp. released a graphical user interface called DeskMate that shipped with its TRS-80 and Tandy personal computers. It made its PCs easier to use and competed with Windows. Let’s take a…
Why Do Mice Have Scroll Wheels? Microsoft Intellimouse Turns 25
On July 22, 1996, Microsoft announced its first mouse with a scroll wheel: the Microsoft Intellimouse. It wasn’t the very first wheel mouse, but it set standards and made a huge impact. Here’s why it was so loved….
From Idea to Icon: 50 Years of the Floppy Disk
Fifty years ago, IBM introduced the first-ever floppy disk drive, the IBM 23FD, and the first floppy disks. Floppies made punched cards obsolete, and its successors ruled software distribution for the next 20 years. Here’s a …
