Computer History measured by Trade Show buttons . . .

wholenewlight

Someone will be amused by this shot.



Cleaning a storage area of my basement tonight and found these.

I used to work for WordPerfect. They were the dominant word processor of the late 80's and early 90's. In the mid-90's, WordPerfect didn't recognize that MS Windows would soon be on everyone's computer. So they tried to be everything to everybody. DOS, Windows, OS/2, Mac, Unix, VAX, DG, Next - versions for all the available and potential operating systems.

They were unsuccessful in this effort. They missed the threat of Microsoft and Windows. And WordPerfect's Windows version wasn't very good. WordPerfect is still around but only as a shadow of their former self.

These are trade show buttons that I found in a box while cleaning the basement.

My favorite is "Sticking with DOS". Pretty funny . . . .

This shot is my photo-of-the day in the smugmug daily photos community. Be a part!

DavidTO

My mom *loves* WordPerfect. She uses Word when she has to (which is usually), since everyone else is. But she says WP just works, and works sensibly. I don't know, I'm on a Mac.

Richard

wholenewlight wrote:

I used to work for WordPerfect. They were the dominant word processor of the late 80's and early 90's. In the mid-90's, WordPerfect didn't recognize that MS Windows would soon be on everyone's computer. So they tried to be everything to everybody. DOS, Windows, OS/2, Mac, Unix, VAX, DG, Next - versions for all the available and potential operating systems.

They were unsuccessful in this effort.

WP was great in its day. Of course, most of us were coming from WordStar at that time. WordStar was also great when most of us were coming from typewriters (or ed and nroff on UNIX, for the really advanced). I still believe that 80% of the value of word processors comes from the destructive backspace key.

adrian_k

omg OS/2
that's scraping the recesses of my memory.

wholenewlight wrote:

Someone will be amused by this shot.



Cleaning a storage area of my basement tonight and found these.

I used to work for WordPerfect. They were the dominant word processor of the late 80's and early 90's. In the mid-90's, WordPerfect didn't recognize that MS Windows would soon be on everyone's computer. So they tried to be everything to everybody. DOS, Windows, OS/2, Mac, Unix, VAX, DG, Next - versions for all the available and potential operating systems.

They were unsuccessful in this effort. They missed the threat of Microsoft and Windows. And WordPerfect's Windows version wasn't very good. WordPerfect is still around but only as a shadow of their former self.

These are trade show buttons that I found in a box while cleaning the basement.

My favorite is "Sticking with DOS". Pretty funny . . . .

This shot is my photo-of-the day in the smugmug daily photos community. Be a part!

retro

"Sticking with DOS" is too funny

dragon300zx

OS/2, DOS, VAX. OMG dude your old school. Whats worse is it makes me feel old cause I remember these, and remember using them. Hell I still miss my atari that ran on basic.

scooter78666

Thanks for sharing this bit of computer history
I used to use WordPerfect in those days. Their 'sworn allegience' via their trade show button messages reminds me of the guy with a harem of 8, who swore he was "scrupulously faithful" to all eight. Smiles

Awais Yaqub

nice but dont know computer of past saw 1st pic 8 years ago

Skippy

wholenewlight wrote:

Someone will be amused by this shot.

Cleaning a storage area of my basement tonight and found these.

I used to work for WordPerfect. They were the dominant word processor of the late 80's and early 90's. In the mid-90's, WordPerfect didn't recognize that MS Windows would soon be on everyone's computer. So they tried to be everything to everybody. DOS, Windows, OS/2, Mac, Unix, VAX, DG, Next - versions for all the available and potential operating systems.

They were unsuccessful in this effort. They missed the threat of Microsoft and Windows. And WordPerfect's Windows version wasn't very good. WordPerfect is still around but only as a shadow of their former self.

These are trade show buttons that I found in a box while cleaning the basement.

My favorite is "Sticking with DOS". Pretty funny . . . .

This shot is my photo-of-the day in the smugmug daily photos community. Be a part!

Ahhhhh its amazing what you find when you have a big clean up isnt it
I still have an old AMIGA 2000 still in the box's it came in and monitor in the storage room ..... also found an old entry form for a colouring competion I entered as a kid, and didnt send that one in cause I made a mistake.....I did another one and won a Tape Recorder ..... treasures are fun to find........ lovely shot and story ...... Skippy (Australia)