| Line 2,781: |
Line 2,781: |
| | early on forced him not to use the name byte at all. | | early on forced him not to use the name byte at all. |
| | | | |
| − | Betsy: So it was byte. | + | Betsy: I'm sure it was Byte. |
| | [laughter] | | [laughter] |
| | | | |
| Line 2,799: |
Line 2,799: |
| | competition with him than in the magazine itself, because again, he | | competition with him than in the magazine itself, because again, he |
| | was trying to be like Byte, hardware oriented and he published 73 | | was trying to be like Byte, hardware oriented and he published 73 |
| − | magazines so he was basically focusing on the ham radio people, the | + | Magazine so he was basically focusing on the ham radio people, the |
| | do it yourselfers and so on. But they started a software division. | | do it yourselfers and so on. But they started a software division. |
| | It was pretty good. They had a lot of the same types of software | | It was pretty good. They had a lot of the same types of software |
| | that we did on cassette tape. | | that we did on cassette tape. |
| | + | |
| | In any event, we really had more of a head to head rivalry on the | | In any event, we really had more of a head to head rivalry on the |
| | software than in the magazine publishing. We never really had | | software than in the magazine publishing. We never really had |
| Line 2,862: |
Line 2,863: |
| | Betsy: Well they were all young guys. Some of them even still in high | | Betsy: Well they were all young guys. Some of them even still in high |
| | school, they would play games for hours and hours and hours, long | | school, they would play games for hours and hours and hours, long |
| − | after the reviews were done. It was one, self-contained thing that | + | after the reviews were done. There was one, self-contained thing that |
| − | played football, and they played it for hours. I had to take it | + | played football, and, man, they played it for hours. I had to take it |
| − | away from them. Like "don't make me be your mother" | + | away from them. Like "don't make me be your mother". |
| | | | |
| − | Kevin: Was there any drug culture at all? If you read [inaudible 01:22:17] | + | Kevin: Was there any drug culture at all? If you read stories of Atari, if you |
| − | and he was cocaine and high everyday and popped...
| + | were a programmer at Atari you used cocaine and pot everyday... |
| | | | |
| | Betsy: Not that we knew of. [laughs] | | Betsy: Not that we knew of. [laughs] |
| | | | |
| − | David: The East coast was quite different. | + | David: The East coast was quite different than the west coast. |
| | | | |
| | Betsy: No there was nothing, really. I don't think so. In fact, my client | | Betsy: No there was nothing, really. I don't think so. In fact, my client |
| Line 2,887: |
Line 2,888: |
| | them were adaptations of stuff that almost got published in | | them were adaptations of stuff that almost got published in |
| | Creative Computing, probably some of them did. Lubar is a funny | | Creative Computing, probably some of them did. Lubar is a funny |
| − | guy. When he left and went to work for one of the video gaming | + | guy. |
| | + | |
| | + | When he left and went to work for one of the video gaming |
| | companies, his first big successful game was "Worm Wars." You were | | companies, his first big successful game was "Worm Wars." You were |
| − | like, "Worm Wars?" [laughs] | + | like, "Worm Wars?" [laughs] Other people are fighting real serious |
| − | Other people are fighting real serious warrior and you are fighting
| + | warriors and you are fighting with worms. |
| − | with worms. We just had a different kind of culture, a lot of fun.
| + | |
| | + | We just had a different kind of culture, it was just a lot of fun. |
| | | | |
| | Betsy: Jonny Anderson went to work for A+ in San Francisco. He was one | | Betsy: Jonny Anderson went to work for A+ in San Francisco. He was one |
| Line 2,925: |
Line 2,929: |
| | on every day, not really partying but playing the games and | | on every day, not really partying but playing the games and |
| | bantering and everything else. | | bantering and everything else. |
| − | As they say, at Washington, a real efficient business culture. | + | |
| − | Heck, I didn't work for Digital Equipment, which was still a pretty | + | As they say, it wasn't a real efficient business culture. |
| − | relaxed place, but AT&T which was anything but. This is as far away | + | Heck, I had worked for Digital Equipment, which was still a pretty |
| − | from that kind of corporate culture as you can get, but it worked. | + | relaxed place, but AT&T which was anything but. This was as far away |
| | + | from that kind of corporate culture as you can get. But it worked. |
| | Didn't make a lot of money, but it worked. | | Didn't make a lot of money, but it worked. |
| | | | |
| − | Kevin: [inaudible 01:26:58] | + | Kevin: Yeah... [inaudible 01:26:58] |
| − | | + | |
| | Betsy: Yeah. And I think they appreciated it because they weren't making | | Betsy: Yeah. And I think they appreciated it because they weren't making |
| − | tons of money either, but they were having a lot of fun. They | + | tons of money either, but they had a lot of fun. They |
| | enjoyed going to work, they really enjoyed it. | | enjoyed going to work, they really enjoyed it. |
| | | | |
| | + | [section in wrong place?] |
| | Kevin: Speaking of Kindle, I've done it but haven't told anybody yet that | | Kevin: Speaking of Kindle, I've done it but haven't told anybody yet that |
| | best of Creative Computing too is now available on Kindle. And I | | best of Creative Computing too is now available on Kindle. And I |
| Line 2,988: |
Line 2,994: |
| | book, that looks pretty identical to the first one. We will figure | | book, that looks pretty identical to the first one. We will figure |
| | out. | | out. |
| − | Do you [inaudible 01:30:23] ? But are you familiar with...? | + | [back to original recording] |
| | + | |
| | + | Kevin: Do you read any computer magazines now? Not even read, but are you familiar with...? |
| | | | |
| | Betsy: Are there any? | | Betsy: Are there any? |
| Line 2,999: |
Line 3,007: |
| | several, which is sort of interesting that the dominant Internet | | several, which is sort of interesting that the dominant Internet |
| | magazines come from England, but they do. | | magazines come from England, but they do. |
| | + | |
| | If I want to do something, and I haven't lately, but I wanted to | | If I want to do something, and I haven't lately, but I wanted to |
| | get into doing something different or interactive or something with | | get into doing something different or interactive or something with |
| Line 3,005: |
Line 3,014: |
| | do it in Pearl or HTML, whatever. | | do it in Pearl or HTML, whatever. |
| | | | |
| − | I converted all of my website, quite a while ago, to XHTML from old | + | I converted all of my website, some time ago, quite a while ago now, |
| − | HTML. I did not like any of the programs that generate web pages,
| + | to XHTML from old HTML. I did not like any of the programs that generate |
| − | mainly because...Well, today its probably OK, but I felt that
| + | web pages, mainly because... Well, today its probably OK, but I felt that |
| | earlier on, they were very inefficient. You'd have this much code | | earlier on, they were very inefficient. You'd have this much code |
| | for something and XHTML would write it in five lines. | | for something and XHTML would write it in five lines. |
| | + | |
| | + | Kevin: Yeah, using Dreamweaver or something, it was terrible. [crosstalk] |
| | | | |
| − | My old-fashioned [inaudible 01:32:23] said, "You know what, the
| + | David: My old-fashioned [inaudible 01:32:23] the |
| − | interpreter or compiler or whatever, has to go through a lot of | + | interpreter or compiler or whatever, has to go through all of |
| | that just to pick out what is going to be displayed." My web pages | | that just to pick out what is going to be displayed." My web pages |
| − | are very compact and short. They are all XHTML, none of that is | + | are very compact and short. They are all XHTML, none of this |
| − | extra [inaudible 01:32:41] style pages and everything else. | + | extra garbage and style pages and everything else. |
| | | | |
| | Anyway, so that's what I'll pick up a magazine for. I'm was doing a | | Anyway, so that's what I'll pick up a magazine for. I'm was doing a |
| | little bit of programming in Pearl and then I said, "No. You know | | little bit of programming in Pearl and then I said, "No. You know |
| | what, I can get routines that I can download and I don't have to | | what, I can get routines that I can download and I don't have to |
| − | learn it myself. I learned enough to know that I don't want your | + | learn it myself." I learned enough to know that I don't want your |
| − | Pearl program." [laughs] Or what is the other one? I don't know. | + | Pearl programmer. [laughs] Or what is the other one? I don't know. |
| | I'm right at the point now where I'm wanting to do some more things | | I'm right at the point now where I'm wanting to do some more things |
| | that I can't, so I'll probably purchase some more computer | | that I can't, so I'll probably purchase some more computer |
| Line 3,039: |
Line 3,050: |
| | Francisco. | | Francisco. |
| | | | |
| − | Kevin: PC magazine. | + | Kevin: PC Magazine? |
| | | | |
| | Betsy: PC Magazine, right. And, there was a guy named Tony Gold and there | | Betsy: PC Magazine, right. And, there was a guy named Tony Gold and there |
| | was somebody else that I can't remember. There was Tony Gold and | | was somebody else that I can't remember. There was Tony Gold and |
| − | this Mr. X started this magazine and they hired...David Banell will | + | this Mr. X started this magazine and they hired... David Banell will |
| − | probably tell you all, I don't know all the details but I'm sure he | + | probably tell the real story, I don't know all the details but I'm sure |
| − | has it engraved in his brain. | + | he has it engraved in his brain. |
| | + | |
| | They hired David Banell to run it and I guess several other people, | | They hired David Banell to run it and I guess several other people, |
| | and my understanding is, that they told them they were going to | | and my understanding is, that they told them they were going to |
| Line 3,063: |
Line 3,075: |
| | out and went across town and started PC World. Apparently their | | out and went across town and started PC World. Apparently their |
| | lawyers said, "Don't take anything with you." So they just walked | | lawyers said, "Don't take anything with you." So they just walked |
| − | out and left the offices as they were, and Ziff, who now had a | + | out and left the offices as they were, And Ziff, who now had a |
| | magazine to get out and no one to do it, sent me out to San | | magazine to get out and no one to do it, sent me out to San |
| | Francisco for a couple of weeks and there was like an editorial | | Francisco for a couple of weeks and there was like an editorial |
| | assistant and a couple of freelance writers, were the only people | | assistant and a couple of freelance writers, were the only people |
| − | left. | + | left. So I had to figure out... |
| | | | |
| | Kevin: So this is when you became the interim. | | Kevin: So this is when you became the interim. |
| Line 3,074: |
Line 3,086: |
| | went out there and walked into this office and had to pull together | | went out there and walked into this office and had to pull together |
| | their issue and get it off to the printer. They had a big dummy on | | their issue and get it off to the printer. They had a big dummy on |
| − | the wall where everthing... | + | the wall where everything... |
| | | | |
| − | Kevin: They lay all the... | + | Kevin: They lay all the pages... |
| | | | |
| − | Betsy: They lay all the impositions where all the pages and the stories | + | Betsy: The lay out of all the positions where all the pages and the stories |
| | were going to go and they moved everything around. [laughs] But | | were going to go and they moved everything around. [laughs] But |
| | they couldn't resist. | | they couldn't resist. |
| Line 3,091: |
Line 3,103: |
| | hired Barry Owen, he moved to New York and he eventually become the | | hired Barry Owen, he moved to New York and he eventually become the |
| | editor, because that was who they had. | | editor, because that was who they had. |
| | + | |
| | I was sort of the editorial director for a while and they said | | I was sort of the editorial director for a while and they said |
| | that, "If you were going to do this, you would have to come to the | | that, "If you were going to do this, you would have to come to the |
| | city. We are going to really set up an office here and make it | | city. We are going to really set up an office here and make it |
| − | real." And I said, "No, I am not going to drive into the city every | + | real." And I said, "Nah, I am not going to drive into the city every |
| | day or take the train or the bus or anything." It was a interesting | | day or take the train or the bus or anything." It was a interesting |
| | story and we were getting much more interesting version of it from | | story and we were getting much more interesting version of it from |
| − | David Barnell, who was there. [laughs] | + | David Bunnell, who was there. [laughs] |
| | | | |
| | And in the mean time, they were all starting up PC World and taking | | And in the mean time, they were all starting up PC World and taking |
| Line 3,103: |
Line 3,116: |
| | possible for PC. That was a big rivalry, obviously. | | possible for PC. That was a big rivalry, obviously. |
| | | | |
| − | David: And then it created a couple of months of problems at creative too, | + | David: And then it created a couple of months of problems at Creative too, |
| | because my editor was gone. I had really gotten very dependent to | | because my editor was gone. I had really gotten very dependent to |
| − | rely on her for so many things. "I got to edit this myself." And | + | rely on her for so many things. "I got to edit this myself?" And |
| − | then the whole question mark was, OK if PC magazine, is she can | + | then the whole question mark was, OK if PC Magazine, is Betsy goint |
| − | stay with it. It was a time of uncertainty. | + | to stay with it? It was a time of uncertainty. |
| | | | |
| | Betsy: I'm sure it was a bad career move. | | Betsy: I'm sure it was a bad career move. |
| | | | |
| − | Kevin: Yeah. But PC magazine still exist. | + | Kevin: Yeah. But PC Magazine still exists and Creative Computing doesn't. |
| | | | |
| − | Betsy: Yeah, exactly. I don't know if I would have existed if I had to | + | Betsy: Yeah, exactly. But I don't know if I would have existed if I had to |
| | commute to New York, that's a nasty commute. Millions of people do | | commute to New York, that's a nasty commute. Millions of people do |
| | it but, I just didn't want to be one of them. I didn't mean to | | it but, I just didn't want to be one of them. I didn't mean to |
| − | interrupt, so back to you. | + | interrupt, so back to your... |
| | | | |
| − | Kevin: What are you most proud of, or everything you have done? | + | Kevin: What are you most proud of, of everything you've done? What's the |
| | + | thing you want on your tombstone? |
| | | | |
| − | David: OK, that's obviously not a one word answer. Proud is, I am not | + | David: OK, that's obviously not a one word answer. Proud isn't... I am not |
| | crazy about it. I guess the fact that I continued to hear from | | crazy about it. I guess the fact that I continued to hear from |
| | people that said, "Hey, I got my start in computing from Basic | | people that said, "Hey, I got my start in computing from Basic |
| − | computer games or Creative Computing," or something that I had my | + | Computer Games" or Creative Computing, or something that I had my |
| | hand in, that makes me feel pretty good. | | hand in, that makes me feel pretty good. |
| − | You have a long term, or longer term influence that just what you | + | |
| − | do at the time, it's living on. It's not living on forever. Basic | + | You have a long term, or longer term influence than just what you |
| | + | do at the time, it's living on. It's no going to live on forever. Basic |
| | isn't going to live on forever. But I think the idea that having | | isn't going to live on forever. But I think the idea that having |
| | some positive influence on other people, on their lives, on their | | some positive influence on other people, on their lives, on their |
| | careers, that's a good. | | careers, that's a good. |
| | | | |
| − | Kevin: You helped send people into the computer science field. | + | Kevin: You helped send people into the computer sciences field. |
| | | | |
| | David: And you know the specific individual accomplishments. Yeah, I wrote | | David: And you know the specific individual accomplishments. Yeah, I wrote |
| Line 3,137: |
Line 3,152: |
| | program but the routines, are still in use. That's minor compared | | program but the routines, are still in use. That's minor compared |
| | to having an influence on people and their career and their | | to having an influence on people and their career and their |
| − | outlook, their future. That's way more important. "OK so I wrote a | + | outlook, and their future. That's way more important. "OK so I wrote a |
| − | great algorithm, so what." | + | great scheduling algorithm, so what." |
| | | | |
| | Kevin: And you really think it's the same algorithm that's being used in | | Kevin: And you really think it's the same algorithm that's being used in |
| Line 3,157: |
Line 3,172: |
| | [cross talk] | | [cross talk] |
| | | | |
| − | David: Yeah. Well, [inaudible 01:42:31] was mentioning that at breakfast, | + | David: Yeah. Well, you know, Lee Felsenstein was mentioning that at breakfast, |
| − | oh gosh that was just yesterday. | + | oh gosh, that was just yesterday. |
| | [laughter] | | [laughter] |
| | | | |
| − | Betsy: It was yesterday [laughs] . | + | Betsy: It was yesterday. [laughs] |
| | | | |
| | David: [laughs] That kids today don't have any feeling about, or I should | | David: [laughs] That kids today don't have any feeling about, or I should |
| Line 3,174: |
Line 3,189: |
| | into schools today? No. So anyway, it's just kind of, hopefully | | into schools today? No. So anyway, it's just kind of, hopefully |
| | there's been some long term influence. | | there's been some long term influence. |
| | + | |
| | And what I'm doing now even, which is mainly developing bible | | And what I'm doing now even, which is mainly developing bible |
| − | studies for...well, I mostly have guys that have had a drug or | + | studies for... well, I mostly have guys that have had a drug or |
| | alcohol addiction problem coming to this. They're in a rescue | | alcohol addiction problem coming to this. They're in a rescue |
| | mission. I'm hoping that these studies can have a little bit of an | | mission. I'm hoping that these studies can have a little bit of an |
| Line 3,184: |
Line 3,200: |
| | [pause] | | [pause] |
| | | | |
| | + | [not in recording] |
| | Those are terrible copies. | | Those are terrible copies. |
| | | | |
| Line 3,192: |
Line 3,209: |
| | David: There's Carl. | | David: There's Carl. |
| | [pause] | | [pause] |
| | + | |
| | + | [back to recording] |
| | | | |
| | Kevin: Do have anything left, like how many subscribers you had over time? | | Kevin: Do have anything left, like how many subscribers you had over time? |
| − | Is that data around anymore? How many newsstand copies you had? I | + | Is that data around anymore? Or how many newsstand copies you had? I |
| | assume that is a lot. | | assume that is a lot. |
| | | | |
| Line 3,201: |
Line 3,220: |
| | three magazines that they expected to continue to publish, PC, | | three magazines that they expected to continue to publish, PC, |
| | Apple's A+, or Mac User. | | Apple's A+, or Mac User. |
| | + | |
| | I'm guessing that most people went with PC. One of the reasons | | I'm guessing that most people went with PC. One of the reasons |
| | actually was Ziff's rationale at that point was, PC World had | | actually was Ziff's rationale at that point was, PC World had |
| Line 3,224: |
Line 3,244: |
| | | | |
| | David: Then they started publishing it twice a month. The nudge that the | | David: Then they started publishing it twice a month. The nudge that the |
| − | subscriber base at Creative, gave to PC really, separated them | + | subscriber base at Creative gave to PC really separated them |
| − | completely from PC World. They had their reasons. | + | completely from PC World. So they had their reasons. |
| | | | |
| | Kevin: OK. This is a chart of the page count of Creative Computing over | | Kevin: OK. This is a chart of the page count of Creative Computing over |
| Line 3,240: |
Line 3,260: |
| | | | |
| | David: They weren't promoting, no subscription promotion. They were saving | | David: They weren't promoting, no subscription promotion. They were saving |
| − | their money. If you don't promote the subscriptions, you're not | + | their money. |
| − | going to get them.
| + | |
| | + | Kevin: Sure. |
| | + | |
| | + | David: If you don't promote the subscriptions, you're not going to get them. |
| | | | |
| | Betsy: This is page count. | | Betsy: This is page count. |
| Line 3,252: |
Line 3,275: |
| | | | |
| | Kevin: I just thought I'd do a comparison, even though that's not really | | Kevin: I just thought I'd do a comparison, even though that's not really |
| − | what I'm doing here. In the beginning, you guys were bimonthly and | + | what I'm doing here. |
| − | they were monthly. I couldn't know how to do it accurately. Their | + | |
| | + | In the beginning, you guys were bimonthly and they [Kilobyte] were |
| | + | monthly. I couldn't know how to do it accurately. Their |
| | page count's actually higher, because they were doing twice as | | page count's actually higher, because they were doing twice as |
| | much. I don't have all the data here. You guys tended to publish | | much. I don't have all the data here. You guys tended to publish |
| Line 3,264: |
Line 3,289: |
| | editorial content. | | editorial content. |
| | | | |
| − | Betsy: [inaudible 01:50:02] , a good example. | + | Betsy: Computer Shopper, yeah, a good example. |
| | | | |
| − | David: That's exactly right. Even what the guys that bought Military | + | David: That's exactly right. Even the guys that bought Military |
| − | Vehicles, they just went over so heavily to...I always believe that | + | Vehicles, they just went over so heavily to... I always believe that |
| | you should have at least one-third editorial content, preferably | | you should have at least one-third editorial content, preferably |
| | more. They dropped down to 20 percent to edit. | | more. They dropped down to 20 percent to edit. |
| Line 3,288: |
Line 3,313: |
| | in really. You've got the IBM PC, and everybody's producing a PC | | in really. You've got the IBM PC, and everybody's producing a PC |
| | clone. Apple kept going, and Atari, and Commodore attempted to. | | clone. Apple kept going, and Atari, and Commodore attempted to. |
| − | If you were to start a computer company at that point, with a new | + | But yeah, if you were to start a computer company at that point, |
| − | computer, yeah, you'd need something to give your user base
| + | with a new computer, yeah, you'd need something to give your user |
| − | something to do with it, more than just what the manufacturer was | + | base something to do with it, more than just what the manufacturer |
| − | selling. So, that's probably accurate. What do you think? | + | was selling. So, that's probably accurate. What do you think? |
| | | | |
| | Betsy: Yeah, I think it's accurate. That's what people started to expect. | | Betsy: Yeah, I think it's accurate. That's what people started to expect. |
| | | | |
| − | Kevin: Yeah. Another chord of the same issue which we've kind of touched | + | Kevin: Yeah. Another quote in the same issue which we've kind of touched |
| − | on from Tom Dwyer. This is in 1984. He's saying, "Computer | + | on from Tom Dwyer, this is in 1984, he's saying, "Computer |
| | magazines used to have personality [laughter] and now they don't." | | magazines used to have personality [laughter] and now they don't." |
| | Now, they really don't. | | Now, they really don't. |
| Line 3,311: |
Line 3,336: |
| | | | |
| | David: Tom Dwyer? He was at University of Pittsburgh. He came up with all | | David: Tom Dwyer? He was at University of Pittsburgh. He came up with all |
| − | those neat applications. He and Margo...He had the best basic | + | those neat applications. He and Margo... He had the best BASIC |
| | primer of anybody, in fact the only one that both Kemeny and Kurtz | | primer of anybody, in fact the only one that both Kemeny and Kurtz |
| | endorsed outside of their own material. He had really written some | | endorsed outside of their own material. He had really written some |
| − | good Basic books. | + | good BASIC books. |
| | | | |
| | Kevin: I'm just finishing up here. The Internet says you were born in | | Kevin: I'm just finishing up here. The Internet says you were born in |
| Line 3,353: |
Line 3,378: |
| | Betsy: I tried keeping this professional thing and it was just way too | | Betsy: I tried keeping this professional thing and it was just way too |
| | confusing, since that really wasn't my name anyway. That was my | | confusing, since that really wasn't my name anyway. That was my |
| − | first husband's name, and then just...this is way too complicated. | + | first husband's name, and then just... "this is way too complicated." |
| | | | |
| | Kevin: My wife kept her maiden name and now she wishes she hadn't. It's | | Kevin: My wife kept her maiden name and now she wishes she hadn't. It's |
| Line 3,367: |
Line 3,392: |
| | Betsy: You the most prepared interviewer ever. | | Betsy: You the most prepared interviewer ever. |
| | | | |
| | + | [not in recording] |
| | David: I jotted down a couple of notes. Nope. | | David: I jotted down a couple of notes. Nope. |
| | | | |
| | Betsy: Got everything? | | Betsy: Got everything? |
| | + | [back to recording] |
| | | | |
| | David: What's your thinking? Because originally you were talking to me | | David: What's your thinking? Because originally you were talking to me |
| Line 3,389: |
Line 3,416: |
| | | | |
| | Betsy: That's true. We asked Carl Helmers if Wayne was still alive and he | | Betsy: That's true. We asked Carl Helmers if Wayne was still alive and he |
| − | was [inaudible 01:56:06] . | + | was "huh, dunno". |
| | | | |
| | David: Actually, there was another guy up there that published a computer | | David: Actually, there was another guy up there that published a computer |
| Line 3,398: |
Line 3,425: |
| | David: Up in New Hampshire, Peterborough. It was one of the earlier would- | | David: Up in New Hampshire, Peterborough. It was one of the earlier would- |
| | be competitors to Datamation. So, it was much earlier. | | be competitors to Datamation. So, it was much earlier. |
| | + | |
| | He was absolutely totally convinced about the Kennedy assassination | | He was absolutely totally convinced about the Kennedy assassination |
| | and published a computer analysis of all the photos and everything | | and published a computer analysis of all the photos and everything |
| Line 3,408: |
Line 3,436: |
| | it's going to seem like a compare and contrast thing." That's not | | it's going to seem like a compare and contrast thing." That's not |
| | what I want to do. | | what I want to do. |
| | + | |
| | Now I'm thinking that this will be a project about the earliest | | Now I'm thinking that this will be a project about the earliest |
| | computer magazines, the first computer magazines. That way, I can, | | computer magazines, the first computer magazines. That way, I can, |
| − | whatever, four or five chapters. One on Creative, and maybe Byte. | + | whatever, four or five chapters. One on Kilobaud, one on Creative, |
| − | I'm meeting with the editor of Byte in a couple of weeks at an
| + | and maybe Byte I'm meeting with the editor of Byte in a couple of |
| − | event, maybe Interface Age or one of the other ones.
| + | weeks at an event, maybe Interface Age or one of the other ones. |
| | | | |
| | David: If you can find Bob Jones, that would be an interesting contrast. | | David: If you can find Bob Jones, that would be an interesting contrast. |
| Line 3,423: |
Line 3,452: |
| | Betsy: Oh, Dr. Dobbs... | | Betsy: Oh, Dr. Dobbs... |
| | | | |
| − | David: Jim Warren! Oh my goodness. That would give you another perspective | + | David: Oh Jim Warren! Oh my goodness. That would give you another perspective |
| | altogether. | | altogether. |
| | | | |
| Line 3,435: |
Line 3,464: |
| | | | |
| | David: Oh, boy. Did they ever! Yes, yes. Jim also was the one that started | | David: Oh, boy. Did they ever! Yes, yes. Jim also was the one that started |
| − | the West Coast computer fairs. He's a very capable guy. Dr. Dobb's | + | the West Coast Computer Fairs. He's a very capable guy. Dr. Dobb's |
| | journal was in a sense, well, you've probably seen it. You have, | | journal was in a sense, well, you've probably seen it. You have, |
| | right? OK, so you know. | | right? OK, so you know. |
| | + | |
| | That's really low level programming rather than higher languages. | | That's really low level programming rather than higher languages. |
| | We're talking about machine languages, assembly language, | | We're talking about machine languages, assembly language, |
| − | programming, and there. It was sort of like Microsystems was to | + | programming, and there. |
| − | Byte. Microsystems, for the really serious hardware guy. Dr. Dobbs
| + | |
| − | was for the really serious programmer, compared to Creative which
| + | It was sort of like Microsystems was to Byte. Microsystems, for the |
| − | was for people who just wanted to type something in that would
| + | really serious hardware guy. Dr. Dobbs was for the really serious |
| − | work.
| + | programmer, compared to Creative which was for people who just wanted |
| | + | to type something in that would work. |
| | | | |
| − | Kevin: [inaudible 01:59:35] basic right. Yeah. | + | Kevin: Lets play [inaudible 01:59:35] in BASIC, right. Yeah. |
| | | | |
| − | Betsy: Dr. Dobbs. That was a totally different [inaudible 01:59:43] | + | Betsy: Dr. Dobbs. That was sort of like a totally different... it wasn't a |
| | competitor. | | competitor. |
| | | | |
| Line 3,457: |
Line 3,488: |
| | | | |
| | David: Oh yeah, actually they did, and it kept going for a long time | | David: Oh yeah, actually they did, and it kept going for a long time |
| − | because it was a small little nitch magazine. But, yeah, Jim Warren | + | because it was a small little niche magazine. But, yeah, Jim Warren |
| − | would be an interesting guy, very interesting guy early on. I don't | + | would be an interesting guy, very interesting guy, early on. I don't |
| − | know about Albert because you say he published more tabloid | + | know about Albrecht because you say he published more tabloid |
| | newspapers. I don't know if they ever really published any magazine | | newspapers. I don't know if they ever really published any magazine |
| | size thing or not. Probably not, but it would give me a totally | | size thing or not. Probably not, but it would give me a totally |
| − | different perspective because they are coming from the west coast, | + | different perspective because they're coming from the west coast, |
| − | looser or whatever. | + | looser, or whatever. |
| | | | |
| | Kevin: That sounded pretty loose. | | Kevin: That sounded pretty loose. |
| Line 3,469: |
Line 3,500: |
| | David: Yeah nothing compared to that. | | David: Yeah nothing compared to that. |
| | | | |
| − | Betsy: I think he was sort of in rebellion when he started working at | + | Betsy: I think he was sort of in rebellion when he started working full time |
| − | Creative Computing because he was coming off of AT&T where he had to | + | at Creative Computing because he was coming off of AT&T where he had |
| − | wear a suit to work every day. So the first thing he did was burn | + | to wear a suit to work every day. So the first thing he did was burn |
| | his suits and wear t-shirt and jeans way before anybody was doing | | his suits and wear t-shirt and jeans way before anybody was doing |
| | that. | | that. |
| | | | |
| | David: I went extremely in the other direction, yeah I did, but who else | | David: I went extremely in the other direction, yeah I did, but who else |
| − | real early. Personal computing which I think David Barnell somehow | + | real early. Personal Computing, which I think David Barnell somehow |
| | involved in it at some point in there. Because they moved from the | | involved in it at some point in there. Because they moved from the |
| − | west coast to New Jersey, they were bought by...who was that? It | + | west coast to New Jersey, and they were bought by... who was that? It |
| | was mostly a company that published things like hardware age and | | was mostly a company that published things like hardware age and |
| | advertiser-driven magazines. What was the name? | | advertiser-driven magazines. What was the name? |
| Line 3,486: |
Line 3,517: |
| | David: Oh, gosh. Begins with an 'H'. | | David: Oh, gosh. Begins with an 'H'. |
| | | | |
| − | Betsy: Halshep | + | Betsy: Halshep? |
| | | | |
| − | David: No. Anyway, when they brought personal computing...I think Barnell | + | David: No. Anyway, when they brought Personal Computing... I think Barnell |
| | maybe even started it, and then they moved it to New Jersey, and | | maybe even started it, and then they moved it to New Jersey, and |
| | then David said "I'm not going to New Jersey. I'm a west coast | | then David said "I'm not going to New Jersey. I'm a west coast |
| Line 3,495: |
Line 3,526: |
| | totally advertiser driven. A press release is a product review, as | | totally advertiser driven. A press release is a product review, as |
| | far as they were concerned. | | far as they were concerned. |
| | + | |
| | They had some interesting stuff. They were a competitor only in | | They had some interesting stuff. They were a competitor only in |
| | name, but also because they got the advertising. "I think I'm going | | name, but also because they got the advertising. "I think I'm going |
| − | to advertise." "Oh! We're going to publish a wonderful review! Give | + | to advertise"... "Oh! We're going to publish a wonderful review! Give |
| − | it to us." And so they were early, and they made money. There were | + | it to us." And so they were early, and they made money. |
| − | a bunch of flash-in-the-pan magazines that lasted 2 or 3 or maybe 6
| + | |
| − | issues, but nobody...
| + | There were a bunch of flash-in-the-pan magazines that lasted 2 or 3 |
| | + | or maybe 6 ssues, but nobody... |
| | | | |
| | Kevin: But only one in seven made it, so... | | Kevin: But only one in seven made it, so... |
| Line 3,508: |
Line 3,541: |
| | David: That's right, exactly. I can't remember the name of some of these | | David: That's right, exactly. I can't remember the name of some of these |
| | ones, but there was a very successful big magazine that published | | ones, but there was a very successful big magazine that published |
| − | all Apple...reviews of Apple stuff. What was that one? Apple by | + | all Apple... reviews of Apple stuff. What was that one? Apple by |
| | themselves spawned I'd guess half a dozen magazines. | | themselves spawned I'd guess half a dozen magazines. |
| | | | |
| − | Kevin: Inquest, and Insider, and Apple...a bunch of others there. | + | Kevin: There was A+, and Insider, and Apple... a bunch of others. |
| | | | |
| | David: Right. Actually, there's one that I can't think of the name of, it | | David: Right. Actually, there's one that I can't think of the name of, it |
| | turned out, it was bigger and thicker and creative. They were | | turned out, it was bigger and thicker and creative. They were |
| | publishing a lot of stuff, but again, it would all be positive and | | publishing a lot of stuff, but again, it would all be positive and |
| − | so they really killed us on getting advertising. We had been a | + | so they really killed us on getting advertising. We had been a leading |
| | publisher of Apple material for a while. Then all these others came | | publisher of Apple material for a while. Then all these others came |
| | along. That one, whatever it was, was really took a lot of | | along. That one, whatever it was, was really took a lot of |
| | advertising from us. I'll think about it. | | advertising from us. I'll think about it. |
| | | | |
| | + | [not in recording] |
| | Kevin: You'll remember. | | Kevin: You'll remember. |
| | | | |
| − | David: I'll remember some of this. When it all settled out, you came back | + | David: I'll remember some of this. |
| − | down to eight or nine, but the ones we're talking about...
| + | [back to recording] |
| | + | |
| | + | David: When it all settled out, you came back down to eight or nine, |
| | + | but the ones we're talking about... |
| | | | |
| | Kevin: Well, at one point there was 200. | | Kevin: Well, at one point there was 200. |