Best Old TV Commercials » Computers and Technology

IBM – Personal Computer AT

Best Old TV Commercials — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:25:53 +0000

Can you believe that before IBM everyone wrote information by hand, typed on typewriters, used outhouses, invented the wheel, and ate raw meat?

In this ancient world, IBM came synonymous with business information management. So, IBM marketed heavily towards their biggest customer – the business – making technology as well as doing business much more competitive. The IBM Personal Computer AT (AT stood for “Advanced Technology”) was IBM’s flagship computer on the market in 1984 packing a full 6MHz processing power and Intel processor, making it the first computer that could compete with counting to ten using your hands.

Magnavox Video Writer

Best Old TV Commercials — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:17:25 +0000

Pen and paper were so “out” in the 1980’s. So were the cumbersome tasks and noice of the typewriter, now replaced by the high-tech Video Writer from Magnavox! This Video Writer featured a full QWERTY keyboard, an orangey-black pint-sized monitor, disc slot, and a printer on top to print out your finished masterpiece.

My main beef with this type of peripheral is that when something breaks, the whole thing stops serving its purpose. Let’s say the printer breaks, which they are notoriously popular for doing. The screen goes black – good luck replacing it since you can’t just buy a new screen, your whole video writer machine is freaking connected to everything else.

I suppose you put the file to disc and open it to print on your buddy’s computer. OH WAIT! PC’s were horribly incompatible in the 1980’s and 1990’s, with every hardware and software company is clamouring to make their way the “standard”. Since everyone else’s standards were crap, you had to use THEIR computer to get it to do anything you wanted it to do.

It looks like in the end the consumers demanded more from their technology than just Video Writing. There’s probably a Steve Ballmer commercial for that somewhere…

Commodore 64 – Eating Apple One Bite at a Time

Best Old TV Commercials — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:17:08 +0000

In the beginning days of PC consumer sales, business was cutthroat for hardware. Apple was massively popular and soon many came out of the woodwork to challenge their popularity, including Commodore, who advertised their PC’s as the economical choice with more features. (Well, duh…)

Microsoft – Steve Ballmer Wants to Sell You Windows 1.0

Best Old TV Commercials — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:13:26 +0000

Did you know that Windows used to be sold by a used car salesman named Steve Ballmer? Yes, the man who is now among the richest in the world sold us all on the amazing features of the “advanced operating environment” Windows 1.0 in this tacky suit. Back in the day, Windows 1.0 included awesome features like a clock and a few games. I give him a 10/10 for trying.

What did you expect to pay for all the Windows features? $500? $1000? NO!!!! Just $99 dollars and it can all be YOURS!….. except in Nebraska. Not sure why not. I’ll give Steve a call tonight and ask him.