Diskovery

At this time of year I like to sit back and recall all the 1991
computer achievements that already have or soon will benefit the
common man--you and me.

* Pen-based computers caused a stir on the computer scene. These
little "monsters" have the computing power of a desktop machine
and come with an interface that should revolutionize the way we
interact with computers.

* The price of CD-ROM drives dived to the point where the common
man can afford one.  Now let's see if the manufacturers can speed
them up enough that the common man doesn't die of old age while
waiting to access the stored information.

* The price of serious computers (386-25s and better) dropped
through the floor in 1991.  Now users with less than $1500.00 to
spend on a computer are not slaves to Tandy's "kind-of
compatible" 1000 series.

* GeoWorks Ensemble finally got the recognition it deserves. As
far as I am concerned there are only two personal computer
graphical user interfaces--Macintosh's OS and GeoWorks Ensemble.

* ^UOn Disk Monthly^U begins to fulfil its promise of higher
technology with a new, high resolution presentation system.

* Prodigy hits the one million user mark.  At first glance I found
Prodigy slow and childish.  I now find myself using the big *p*
on a daily basis to support our products.  You just can't argue
with a $12.95 flat rate for unlimited usage.

* After too many years of trying, Microsoft's MS-DOS Version 5.0,
released in 1991, is close to being good.  Of course Digital
Research one-ups Microsoft (again!) with DR-DOS v6.0. It's
faster, has more options and is cheaper.  Back to the drawing
board Microsoft.

* MultiMedia, the most overused buzzword for 1991, finally came
into it's own.  Too bad most PC users have no idea what it is and
couldn't run it if they wanted to because of inadequate hardware.

* Origin Systems released two additional modules for its smash
hit game ^UWing Commander^U, and followed that game with an amazing
sequel, aptly named ^UWing Commander II^U.  No other game in history
has resulted in more high-end-computer sales.  I even went so far
as to plunk down $2000.00 plus for a loaded 386/33 (back when
they were that expensive--see above) to play these games!

That's my run-down for 1991.  While my list doesn't come close to
including all the computer advancements of the year, it does
include the ones that I feel were the most important of the past 
year.

Jay