Browse episode ratings trends for Computer Chronicles. Simply click on the interactive rating graph to explore the best and worst of Computer Chronicles's 460 episodes.
Best Episodes of Computer Chronicles
Java Tools
S15 Ep5
10.0
The rise of the web created an opportunity for a programming language that was independent of the user platform. Java was the first major language to take advantage of that.
Comdex Special/Best of Comdex 1996
S14 Ep17
10.0
A look at the best new products introduced at the 1996 annual COMDEX computer trade show in Las Vegas.
Greatest Computer Games
S13 Ep8
10.0
10th Oct 1995
A visit to "Day of Judgement", Microsoft's conference for Windows game developers, along with previews of the best new computer games of the year.
Gary Kildall Special
S12 Ep45
9.0
A profile on computer pioneer Gary Kildall and the important contributions he made to the PC industry including the true story on how IBM ended up using MS-DOS rather than CP/M. Kildall developed CP/M, the first personal computer operating system. He was also a co-host on the early Computer Chronicles series. Includes comments by Gordon Eubanks, Symantec; Tom Rolander, DRI; Tim Bajarin, Creative Strategies; Lee Lorenzen, DRI; Jacqui Morby, TA Associates; Alan Cooper, CP/M applications developer. http://archive.org/details/GaryKild
Consumer Electronics Show (CES) (1991)
S8 Ep24
8.0
12th Mar 1991
Highlights from the annual winter Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas featuring new personal technology products. Guest's include Nolan Bushnell and T/Maker CEO Heidi Roizen. Products covered include IBM PS/1, Commodore CD-TV, Kodak Photo CD, Sansui Robot CD Changer, Franklin Concise Columbia Encyclopedia, Brother Powernote, Laser PC-4, Sega GameGear and the Miracle Piano Teaching System from Software Toolworks. Originally broadcast in 1991. http://archive.org/details/ces_2
Consumer Buying Guide (1990)
S8 Ep9
8.0
27th Nov 1990
A guide to cool new high tech gifts for the holiday season. Featured are product recommendations from Jan Lewis, Paul Schindler, Chris Barr, Andrew Eisner, and Stewart Cheifet. Among the products demonstrated are Quicken, TurboTax, Fax-O-Matic, Stacker, Rampack, Grammatik, Lotus Magellan, After Dark, Play It By Ear, Bible Illustrator, Computer Critters, Where in Time is Carmen San Diego, Cosmic Osmo, Sky Shadow, Amanda Stories, Designer Fractal, and Visonary Software's Lifeguard. http://archive.org/details/buyersguide
Computer Bowl I: Part 2
S6 Ep3
8.0
8th Nov 1988
The conclustion of the first ever Computer Bowl, featuring teams from the Route 128 area in Boston and the Silicon Valley area of San Francisco, to see which side knows more about computer trivia. Contestants included Bill Joy, Mitch Kapor, Esther Dyson, and David Bunnell. The questioner was William Hearst III. The event took place in Boston. Originally broadcast in 1988. http://archive.org/details/episode_603
Robots
S2 Ep15
8.0
28th May 1985
A visit to the High Tech Expo in Tsukuba, Japan for a look at the latest Japanese robotics technology. Features Sony, Toshiba, Fujitsu, Fanuc, NEC, and others. Plus a robot from Waseda University that can play the organ! http://www.archive.org/details/Robots-J1985
Portable Computers
S2 Ep2
8.0
22nd Jan 1985
The state of the art in portable computers in the mid 1980's. Products featured include the Morrow Pivot Portable, the Hewlett Packard HP110, the Texas Instrument Pro-Lite, and the Data General DG-1. https://archive.org/details/portablecomp https://archive.org/details/CC214_portable_computers
Storage Devices
S1 Ep13
7.5
16th Apr 1984
Floppy drives, hard drives, and bubble memory. Demos: 5 ¼ inch floppy drive, 3 ½ inch floppy drive, RCA CED videodisk, 3680 1.2 GB spindle disk http://archive.org/details/StorageD1984
Business Applications
S1 Ep12
7.5
9th Apr 1984
A look at the popular new software programs for business. Demos: Lotus 123, SuperCalc 3PC Talk, CrossTalk, IBM Professional Office System http://archive.org/details/Business1984
Bill Gates Profile
S16 Ep12
7.0
An up-close and personal profile of Microsoft chairman Bill Gates.
Computers and the Arts
S4 Ep24
7.0
3rd Mar 1987
Computers are moving form math and engineering to the world of the arts. A look at how artists are using computer technology. Guests: Eddie Dombrower, DOM Dance Press; Larry Friedlander, Stanford; Charles Kerns, Stanford; John Burke, Oakland Museum; Stacy Mitchell, Great Wave Software Products/Demos: DOM Dance Notation, PatchworkTheater, GameMac, VisionMac, SpinConcertWare, Terpsichore. http://www.archive.org/details/Computer1987
Computers and Medicine
S3 Ep11
7.0
12th Nov 1985
Doctors are turning to computers for medical research, diagnosis and clinic management. Demos: Drexler LaserCard, MicroMedex, Computerized Clinical Information System, Poisindex, Drugdex, Emergindex, Pulmonary Function (PUFF), MedLine
Computer Networks
S3 Ep9
7.0
29th Oct 1985
A look at the new technology for computers communicating with other computers. Demos: EtherMacToken Ring, TOPS Network.
Modems & Bulletin Boards
S3 Ep8
7.0
22nd Oct 1985
From high-tech trysts to selling black-market software, computers users are talking. Guests: Ezra Shapiro, Byte Magazine; Rory O'Connor, InforWorld; Matthew McClure, The Well; Donald Ingrim, Alameda County DA; George Morrow, Morrow Computing Products/Demos: CompuServe, Byte BBS, The Well.
Computers and the Media
S3 Ep7
7.0
15th Oct 1985
From newsrooms to sports arenas, computers have invaded the media. Demos: Aurora 75 Graphics System, Pacific Data Images
Worst Episodes of Computer Chronicles
Databases
S1 Ep15
1.0
30th Apr 1984
Mainframe and network databases for computer users. Demos: The Source, CompuServe, Dialog Information Services http://archive.org/details/Database1984
Mainframes to Minis to Micros
S1 Ep1
6.0
5th Feb 1984
Covers the history and ancestry of today's (1984) PC. Demos: HP 150 PC, Computer Museum, TX-1 Computer http://archive.org/details/MainFram1984
Operating Systems
S1 Ep5
6.0
12th Mar 1984
A review of competing operating systems and their affect on software development. Guests: Gary Kildall, SRI; Tony Fanning, Hewlett Packard; Jean Yates, Yates Ventures; Bruce Tognizinni, Apple; Herb Lechner, SRI Products/Demos: CP/MUNIXXenix, MS/DOS, Apple IIe & AppleTalk. Originally broadcast in March 1984. Copyright 1984 Stewart Cheifet Productions. http://www.archive.org/details/Operatin1984
Laser Disk Storage
S2 Ep1
6.0
15th Jan 1985
Laser disks and optical storage devices are changing the way we can use computers. Demos: Pioneer Laser Disc Player, Astron Belt, Halcyon Home Entertainment Sys, Vidlink http://archive.org/details/Lasersan1985
Optical Storage Devices
S3 Ep12
6.0
19th Nov 1985
A look at the newest mass storage devices including the compact disc ROM. Demos: Activenture Knowledge Retrieval System, Information Storage WO Drive, Encyclopedia on a Disk, ISI Worm Disk, Digital Equipment CD-ROM Drive
Bus Wars
S6 Ep4
6.0
15th Nov 1988
The battle over a standard for moving information in and out of a computer and inside a computer including a look at EISA, Nubus, AT, PC, ISA, and MCA. http://archive.org/details/buswars
IBM Compatible Computers
S2 Ep4
6.5
5th Feb 1985
A comparative look at the new breed of IBM look-alikes. Demos: Radio Shack Tandy 1000, IBM PC, Ericsson PC, Compaq PC http://archive.org/details/IBMClone1985
Integrated Software
S1 Ep2
7.0
12th Feb 1984
The new breed of integrated software suites and the visual interface. Demos: Apple LisaVisiOn, DESQ http://archive.org/details/Integrat1984
Computers and Music
S1 Ep3
7.0
19th Feb 1984
The computer as a creative tool used to make, display and store music. Guests: John Chowning, Stanford; Will Harvey, Electronic Arts; Ellen Lapham, Syntauri; Gary Kildall, DRI Products/Demos: Music Construction Set, Alpha Syntauri Keyboard, Casiotone, Vocal Synthesizer, MIT Experimental Music Studio, Stanford Center for Computer Music. Originally broadcast in 1984. Copyright 1984 Stewart Cheifet Productions. https://archive.org/details/Computer1984
Computer Simulations
S1 Ep4
7.0
26th Feb 1984
The use of computers to simulate various real-world environments for military, entertainment and architectural applications. Guests: Gary Kildall, Digital Research; Frank Lewandowski, Singer-Link; Steve Harrison, Skidmore Owings; Bruce Artwick, IBM Products/Demos: Flight Simulator, Military Flight Simulator, DRAFT Architecture Simulator http://archive.org/details/Simulati1984
Word Processing
S1 Ep6
7.0
19th Mar 1984
A review of the new generation of word processors. Demos: Word, Vision, Writer's Work Bench Text Editor, Word Plus, Punctuation & StyleWordStar http://archive.org/details/WordProc1984
Computer Security
S1 Ep7
7.0
26th Mar 1984
Security issues related to the world's increasing dependence on information in computer networks. Demos: Digi-Link, Add & Answer Verification http://archive.org/details/Computer1984_2
Speech Synthesis
S1 Ep9
7.0
26th Mar 1984
A look at speech synthesis and speech recognition technologies. Demos: Minolta Talking Camera, Texas Instruments Speak & Spell, Epsom Speech Plus Computer, IBM Votan V-5000 http://archive.org/details/SpeechSy1984
Networking
S1 Ep10
7.0
2nd Apr 1984
Connecting computers, peripherals, broadband and baseband. Demos: Centralized Intelligence, Distributed Intelligence, Local Area Network http://archive.org/details/Networki1984
Microchips
S1 Ep11
7.0
5th Apr 1984
History and development of the microprocessor. Demos: AMD 2901 (4 bit), AMD 29116 (16 bit) http://archive.org/details/Microchi1984
Printers
S1 Ep14
7.0
23rd Apr 1984
Printer technology from daisy wheel to dot matrix to laser. Demos: Diablo Daisy Wheel Printer, Diablo Thermal Printer, Diablo Series C Ink Jet Printer, Xerox Color Laser Printer http://archive.org/details/Printers1984
Computer Graphics
S1 Ep16
7.0
7th May 1984
A review of computer art, graphics capabilities of computers and professional computer graphics systems. Guests: Herb Lechner, SRI International; Don McKinney, Silicon Graphics; Michael Arent, Freelance Artist; Kevin Prince, MCI/Quantel; Ann Chase, Freelance Artist Products/Demos: MCI Quantel PaintBox, Silicon Graphics 3D Animation, Apple IIe. Originally broadcast in 1984. Copyright 1984 Stewart Cheifet Productions. https://archive.org/download/Computer1984_6
Computer Chronicles Episode Guide
Mainframes to Minis to Micros
S1 Ep1
6.0
5th Feb 1984
Covers the history and ancestry of today's (1984) PC. Demos: HP 150 PC, Computer Museum, TX-1 Computer http://archive.org/details/MainFram1984
Integrated Software
S1 Ep2
7.0
12th Feb 1984
The new breed of integrated software suites and the visual interface. Demos: Apple LisaVisiOn, DESQ http://archive.org/details/Integrat1984
Computers and Music
S1 Ep3
7.0
19th Feb 1984
The computer as a creative tool used to make, display and store music. Guests: John Chowning, Stanford; Will Harvey, Electronic Arts; Ellen Lapham, Syntauri; Gary Kildall, DRI Products/Demos: Music Construction Set, Alpha Syntauri Keyboard, Casiotone, Vocal Synthesizer, MIT Experimental Music Studio, Stanford Center for Computer Music. Originally broadcast in 1984. Copyright 1984 Stewart Cheifet Productions. https://archive.org/details/Computer1984
Computer Simulations
S1 Ep4
7.0
26th Feb 1984
The use of computers to simulate various real-world environments for military, entertainment and architectural applications. Guests: Gary Kildall, Digital Research; Frank Lewandowski, Singer-Link; Steve Harrison, Skidmore Owings; Bruce Artwick, IBM Products/Demos: Flight Simulator, Military Flight Simulator, DRAFT Architecture Simulator http://archive.org/details/Simulati1984
Operating Systems
S1 Ep5
6.0
12th Mar 1984
A review of competing operating systems and their affect on software development. Guests: Gary Kildall, SRI; Tony Fanning, Hewlett Packard; Jean Yates, Yates Ventures; Bruce Tognizinni, Apple; Herb Lechner, SRI Products/Demos: CP/MUNIXXenix, MS/DOS, Apple IIe & AppleTalk. Originally broadcast in March 1984. Copyright 1984 Stewart Cheifet Productions. http://www.archive.org/details/Operatin1984
Word Processing
S1 Ep6
7.0
19th Mar 1984
A review of the new generation of word processors. Demos: Word, Vision, Writer's Work Bench Text Editor, Word Plus, Punctuation & StyleWordStar http://archive.org/details/WordProc1984
Computer Security
S1 Ep7
7.0
26th Mar 1984
Security issues related to the world's increasing dependence on information in computer networks. Demos: Digi-Link, Add & Answer Verification http://archive.org/details/Computer1984_2
Robotics
S1 Ep8
19th Mar 1984
Robotic hardware and software and robotics based applications. Demos: Hero I Robot, Teach Mover Robot http://archive.org/details/Robotics1984
Speech Synthesis
S1 Ep9
7.0
26th Mar 1984
A look at speech synthesis and speech recognition technologies. Demos: Minolta Talking Camera, Texas Instruments Speak & Spell, Epsom Speech Plus Computer, IBM Votan V-5000 http://archive.org/details/SpeechSy1984
Networking
S1 Ep10
7.0
2nd Apr 1984
Connecting computers, peripherals, broadband and baseband. Demos: Centralized Intelligence, Distributed Intelligence, Local Area Network http://archive.org/details/Networki1984
Microchips
S1 Ep11
7.0
5th Apr 1984
History and development of the microprocessor. Demos: AMD 2901 (4 bit), AMD 29116 (16 bit) http://archive.org/details/Microchi1984
Business Applications
S1 Ep12
7.5
9th Apr 1984
A look at the popular new software programs for business. Demos: Lotus 123, SuperCalc 3PC Talk, CrossTalk, IBM Professional Office System http://archive.org/details/Business1984
Storage Devices
S1 Ep13
7.5
16th Apr 1984
Floppy drives, hard drives, and bubble memory. Demos: 5 ¼ inch floppy drive, 3 ½ inch floppy drive, RCA CED videodisk, 3680 1.2 GB spindle disk http://archive.org/details/StorageD1984
Printers
S1 Ep14
7.0
23rd Apr 1984
Printer technology from daisy wheel to dot matrix to laser. Demos: Diablo Daisy Wheel Printer, Diablo Thermal Printer, Diablo Series C Ink Jet Printer, Xerox Color Laser Printer http://archive.org/details/Printers1984
Databases
S1 Ep15
1.0
30th Apr 1984
Mainframe and network databases for computer users. Demos: The Source, CompuServe, Dialog Information Services http://archive.org/details/Database1984
Computer Graphics
S1 Ep16
7.0
7th May 1984
A review of computer art, graphics capabilities of computers and professional computer graphics systems. Guests: Herb Lechner, SRI International; Don McKinney, Silicon Graphics; Michael Arent, Freelance Artist; Kevin Prince, MCI/Quantel; Ann Chase, Freelance Artist Products/Demos: MCI Quantel PaintBox, Silicon Graphics 3D Animation, Apple IIe. Originally broadcast in 1984. Copyright 1984 Stewart Cheifet Productions. https://archive.org/download/Computer1984_6
Decision Support Systems
S1 Ep17
7.0
14th May 1984
Expert systems software and artificial intelligence applications. Guests: Gary Kildall, DRI; Mike Thoma, Mgmt Decisn Sys; Steve Weyl, Syntelligence; Jim Chapman, Human Edge SW Products/Demos: Strategic Simulations Epidemic, Prospector, CompuStat, Easy Scan, Sales Edge. Copyright 1984 Stewart Cheifet Productions https://archive.org/details/Decision1984
Computer Ergonomics
S1 Ep18
7.0
21st May 1984
A look at health problems related to computer use such as video display radiation and repetitive stress injuries. Guests: Herb Lechner, SRI International; Wanda Smith, Hewlett Packard; Karen Kessel, Koffler Group; Susan Kare, Apple; Jerry Manock, Apple. Products/Demos: Apple Macintosh, HP Orion Computer. https://archive.org/details/Computer1984_3
Programming Languages
S1 Ep19
7.0
25th Jun 1984
A review of current popular programming languages. Guests: Gary Kildall, DRI; Paul Grady, Microfocus; Dave Eisenberg, Apple; Elizabeth Rather, Forth Products/Demos: COBOLFORTHFORTH Graphics, PASCAL, Apple's Personal COBOL. http://archive.org/details/Programm1984
Computer Games
S1 Ep21
7.0
28th Sep 1984
Computers are creating an entirely new platform for playing games, between humans or between humans and computers. Guests: Trip Hawkins, Electronic Arts; Bill Budge, Game Designer; Chris Crawford, Atari; Steve Kitchen, Activision Products/Demos: Pinball Construction Set, One on One, Space Shuttle, Excaliber, Larry Bird Basketball. Originally broadcast in September 1984. Copyright 1984 Stewart Cheifet Productions. https://archive.org/details/Computer1984_4
Computer Entrepreneurs
S1 Ep22
7.0
5th Oct 1984
A look at the people who are driving the personal computer industry. Guests: Gary Kildall, Digital Research; Steve Wozniak, Apple; Adam Osborne, Osborne Computer; Lore Harp, Vector Graphic; Gene Amdahl, Trilogy Systems. http://archive.org/details/Computer1984_5
Fifth Generation Computers
S1 Ep23
7.0
12th Oct 1984
Japan's fifth generation computer project and a look at the next phase of PC platforms. Shot in Japan. Guests: Gary Kildall, Digital Research; Admiral Bobby Ray Inman, MCC; Ed Feigenbaum, Author; Dr. Hideo Aiso, Keio University; Dr. Yukio Mizuno, NEC; Dr. Hiroshi Kashiwagi, NSP; Dr. Kuzuhiro Fuchi, ICOT; Dr. Tohru Moto-Aka, Univ Tokyo Products/Demos: KIP System, Pattern Matching, Inference Machine, Prologue http://archive.org/details/FifthGen1984
Super Computers
S1 Ep24
7.0
19th Oct 1984
An early look at supercomputers in the United States and Japan. Featured guests include George Michael, head of computer research of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, John Repp of Control Data Corporation, Dr. Hideo Aiso, Professor at Keio University in Japan, Dr. Hiroshi Kashiwagi, Chairman of Japan's National Supercomputer Project, and Dr. Yukio Mizuno, Senior Vice President of NEC. The program also features on location coverage in Japan of the country's supercomputer projects including the Hitachi S810-20 at the University of Tokyo and the Electro Technical Laboratory in Tsukuba, Japan. http://archive.org/details/CC126_supercomputers
Artificial Intelligence
S1 Ep25
7.0
26th Oct 1984
An early look at artificial Intelligence. Guests includes Edward Feigenbaum of Stanford University, Nils Nilsson of the AI Center at SRI International, Tom Kehler of Intellegenetics, Herb Lechner of SRI, and John McCarthy of Stanford. Featured demonstrations include Inferential Knowledge Engineering and the programming language LISP. http://archive.org/details/CC1024_artificial_intelligence
Computers in Education
S1 Ep26
2nd Nov 1984
An early look at how computers are being used in formal education. Guests include Professor Patrick Suppes of Stanford University and Glenn Kleiman, author of "Brave New Schools". Includes demonstrations of the LOGO and BASIC languages. Guest host is Herb Lechner of SRI International. http://archive.org/details/education_2
The best rated episodes of Computer Chronicles are:
Java Tools S15E5 rated 10.0
Comdex Special/Best of Comdex 1996 S14E17 rated 10.0
Greatest Computer Games S13E8 rated 10.0
Gary Kildall Special S12E45 rated 9.0
Consumer Electronics Show (CES) (1991) S8E24 rated 8.0
Consumer Buying Guide (1990) S8E9 rated 8.0
Computer Bowl I: Part 2 S6E3 rated 8.0
Robots S2E15 rated 8.0
Portable Computers S2E2 rated 8.0
Storage Devices S1E13 rated 7.5
The lowest rated episodes of Computer Chronicles are:
Databases S1E15 rated 1.0
Mainframes to Minis to Micros S1E1 rated 6.0
Operating Systems S1E5 rated 6.0
Laser Disk Storage S2E1 rated 6.0
Optical Storage Devices S3E12 rated 6.0
Bus Wars S6E4 rated 6.0
IBM Compatible Computers S2E4 rated 6.5
Integrated Software S1E2 rated 7.0
Computers and Music S1E3 rated 7.0
Computer Simulations S1E4 rated 7.0
The first episode of Computer Chronicles aired on February 05, 1984.
The last episode of Computer Chronicles aired on March 26, 2002.
