#April Fools
29 messages in this thread
Denny, years ago – maybe about 1983 or 1984, one of the really popular computer
magazines had a hilarious article in their April issue. It was a review of a
new integrated office product, complete with pictures, name of company, etc. in
a box, etc. It looked just like a *real* review, though the titles of the
programs gave a strong clue that something was amiss. The entire thing was a
spoof of the normal review of such things. I kept a copy for a long, long
time, just because it was so well done. Wish I could remember exactly which
magazine it was in. I think you'd have enjoyed it.
—Betty
Betty:
I remember seeing one (around that time?) about a new word processing
system (hardware). Turned out the review was about a pencil. Could
that be the one you were thinking of? (If so, I prolly still have the
issue somewhere around here).
Stuart
The one I recall was not about hardware. It was a bogus spreadsheet, database,
and word processor that were all supposed to be integrated (very advanced for
the early 80's), but they had names like WordMangler, DataLoser, etc. The
bogus programs were described in great detail. The 'review' ran on for at
least a page and a half. I'm trying to remember the name of the magazine – a
very popular one, and not machine-specific. Was it Popular Computing? The
names just escape me right now.
—Betty
Creative Computing, perhaps? They were fond of silliness… 🙂
-jim
MOS via Autopilot & Amiga
Jim:
Confirmation! Yes, it must've been Creative. I bought CC faithfully for a
year before I finally discovered Nibble, the Popular Computing.
I wonder what computing would've been like if the S-100 standard had taken
off??? Hmmmmm. Kludged "top planes" to double bandwith to 200 lines???
Mebbe it would've meant Microsoft would've been stillborn. One can only
dream.
Stuart (dreaming in technicolour)
Stuart,
I bought CC for a while myself. I always ehjoyed their whimsical
nature. The early BYTE was that way too, until they got too stuffy.
S100 fan eh? I've got a homebrew Z80 built from plans in Kilobaud and
Byte & probably elsewhere. It's nominally S100, or lets give credit where
credit is due – Altair Buss. I built it on surplus wire wrap cards from
work. So it's electrically S100, but mechanically nothing. 🙂
Hackin' away
MOS via Autopilot & Amiga
Jim:
"Kilobaud" Geez, another name from out of the past. I bought Kilobaud for
a few issues, cause I couldn't find any other 'puter mags. Then I found
Creative. Hmmmmm. Looking back, and remembering my ignorance, I prolly
didn't understand 2-3rds of what they were talking about.
As for being an S-100 fan, I must defer. Though I *HAVE* wondered about
instigating a pseudo "S-200 standard" that would allow 64 bit data paths
on a backplane and provide for "auxilary" front and side planes for when
processors hit 128 bits wide with video chips doing the same.
Now I wish I had taken engineering instead of economics. <sigh>
Stuart
Stuart,
I still have a stack of Kilobauds in the closet. There were quite a few
magazines in the "Elder Days" of the personal computer that have long
since vanished. The industry has matured beyond the hobbyist it seems.
Sounds like you want a 3d bus. I've heard IBM is working on something like
that for memory. The s100 bus is still alive. There's at least one
magazine still published for it's users. They've probably come up with
some extensions after this time.
-Jim
MOS via Autopilot & Amiga
Stuart
> instigating a pseudo "S-200 standard" that would allow 64 bit data paths
> on a backplane and provide for "auxilary" front and side planes for when
> processors hit 128 bits wide with video chips doing the same.
>
Don't want to ruin the future for you but I install DPX20 systems. They
are RISC processor boxes with 128 bit wide path to memory and disk
controllers. Video has to make do with a mere 64 bit wide. Tough. The
manuals are dated 1992.
Tom
alternate: jonest@hfsi.com
I never met a man I didn't like…Will Rogers
Tom:
Geez, I guess that means I'm at least 3 years behind the times (or 6 years
behind if I'm going to be some sort of visionary). <coff> <coff>
Wouldja believe a pseudo S-300???? 🙂
Stuart
Kilobaud, eh? They published my first article. Good old Wayne Green. What a
guy. 🙂
–Ben
…via AutoPilot
Yep, I probably read that article too. I remember the articles I used to
build my system because of the author. The bio with the article said he
was an M.D., a combat jet pilot & was going to use the fact that he'd
built a computer & published an article on it as leverage with NASA when
he applied as a shutttle astronaut. Guess it worked. I was reminded of it
recently when I saw his name as one of the guys scheduled to visit MIR.
What's with Wayne Green anyway? Is he building the first cold-fusion
powered repeater? 🙂
_Jim
MOS via Autopilot & Amiga
I figure Wayne Green will make it bigtime when he builds the first cold-fusion
powered repeater that not only detects police radar but fouls it up in a major
way while causing all passerby to simultaneously enroll in his CD club and join
the Wayne Green for Curmudgeon PAC, the avowed purose of which is to get all
those lazy HAMs up off their butts and out inventing new technologies he can
have max fun with and with coincidentally cause the ARRL to spontaneously
disband…
..or maybe he already did that… I haven't read ALL of his editorials, after
all, I could have missed something, easily. 🙂
–Ben
…via AutoPilot
ROTFL! You have old Uncle Wayne down pat. 🙂 I do enjoy those editorials
though. One of these days I'm going to have to get off my lazy butt and
actually go for a ticket.
-Jim
MOS via Autopilot & Amiga
It's much easier now, you know… they dropped that asinine code requirement. I
do wish they'd make the tests computer generated so you'd actually have to know
something to pass, but that's just not the way it is at the moment. It's a good
time to get the formalities out of the way, no question.
–Ben
…via AutoPilot
Betty:
The magazine I was thinking of would've been Creative Computing (I think).
Prolly 1981, though mebbe 1980. Only other thing I can remember about the
mag was the lack of material on the Apple II. Everything was S-100 and
CP/M. (Why has the word Cromemco suddenly come to mind???? Geez, the
memory fragments that suddenly spring up from out of nowhere.
The only other thing I remember about the "pencil" review was the way the
"built-in input correction system" [the eraser] was described. <sigh> I
loved it. And this was before I had finally caved in and bought my first
system (Apple II+, 1 floppy, Centronics 730 printer, Mountain music card
(8 voice polyphonic!)) I used CC (if that was in fact the mag) to try and
learn more about personal computers in general. <sigh> Those were the
days.
Stuart (in reminiscing mode)
I think you're right. I believe it WAS Creative Computing. And I vaguely
remember the article you are talking of. It was not the same article as the
one I mentioned – maybe a year apart? That was a great magazine.
—Betty
Betty,
Sounds fun. I wrote a couple of April Fools columns for COMPUTE's Amiga
Resource. Got a number of "ha ha's" and a few scalding flames from folks who
had absolutely no sense of humor. (There's a minority readership out there who
won't tolerate an occasional page of nonsensical humor in any magazine. I only
take solace in knowing I have a lot more fun in life than those grouches do.)
Of course, the biggest flames ever came from Rhett & Randy's "Playskool's
Buying Commodore" column in "Taking Sides." I wish I still had an ASCII copy of
that, as I think it would be especially funny, in a sadly ironic way, during
these troubled times…
You're so right, Denny. We could use a bit of humor.
But then……..if Dan Stets is right, maybe there'll be some really GOOD news
this week.
Your Eternal Optimist,
—Betty
>> Of course, the biggest flames ever came from Rhett & Randy's
>> "Playskool's Buying Commodore" column in "Taking Sides." I wish I still
>> had an ASCII copy of that, as I think it would be especially funny, in a
>> sadly ironic way, during these troubled times…
Get me written permission from the publisher (you 😉 and I'll type it up for
you. 🙂 I'm something of a packrat, you see; I still have every magazine (and
every other material good) that I've ever bought…. <g>
– Jim, on AP!
Denny
Do you remember an issue of Byte some years ago, with a 0n solid state device?
I loved it. I like a good parody.
-ash
Kyfho
Back in the days that Byte was still an interesting magazine, they used to run
April fool articles every year. I don't remember when they stopped doing it,
but it would be worth checking them out.
I remember one April Byte issue had an ad for a knife sharpener that attached
to the side of a Macintosh…the product, of course, was called 'Mac the
Knife'. -John
There was one Byte article featuring a bicycle described as a "Universal
Turing Machine" complete with dual disk drives…
MOS via Autopilot & Amiga
Most computer magazines used to be fun, didn't they? Too bad the fun has gone
out of it for so many people.
I used to read an English magazine that had a "Logically So" story in every
issue – explaining some tricky part of the ways computers work in very simple
language and in the general pattern of the famous 'Just So' stories children
love.
—Betty
I think the fun start going out of computers about the time IBM introduced the
PC and people started to think computers were for getting work done <G>
> I think the fun start going out of computers about the time IBM introduced
the PC and people started to think computers were for getting work done <G>
I absolutely agree! Personal computing was much more fun when the industry was
driven by hobbiests. 🙂
I dunno bout that – I can remember some adventures with cassettes (is it
Tarbell or Kansas City standard….) and tape defects…
Then there was the fun activity of trying to key the bootsrap in through the
front panel switches while someone next to you is balancing their checkbook out
loud, and a third person in the room is asking you questions that require
quantitavie answers…. "let's see, did I get 0B35 into 001A?"
Then there was the kid who changed all the prompts over to Latin….
I think I prefer my Amiga. I got it specially so I couldn't bring work home.
Now I use it to work from my home. (Video Toaster). Go figure….
wmc – via Autopilot!
Ah! The fond memories <BG>. I think I prefer my Amiga as well.