SherbyNet - /page/wikibook/entry.mu

Micron Document

<!DOCTYPE html>

<title>Computer Chronicles</title>

</head>

<span id="openzim-page-title" class="mw-page-title-main"><i>Computer Chronicles</i></span>

</h1>

</header>

</p>

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output .infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media(min-width:640px){body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table{display:table!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>caption{display:table-caption!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>tbody{display:table-row-group}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table th,body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table td{padding-left:inherit;padding-right:inherit}}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1262195746">

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output .ib-tv{border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:0 3px;padding:3px 5px}.mw-parser-output .ib-tv .infobox-above{background-color:#CCCCFF;color:inherit;font-size:125%;padding:0.25em 1em}.mw-parser-output .ib-tv .infobox-header{background-color:#CCCCFF;color:inherit;padding:0.25em 1em}.mw-parser-output .ib-tv img{background-color:#f8f9fa}.mw-parser-output .ib-tv-aka{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output .ib-tv-network-release td,.mw-parser-output .ib-tv-network-release th{border-top:1px solid #a2a9b1}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style><table class="infobox ib-tv vevent"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-above summary"><i>Computer Chronicles</i></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image"><div class="infobox-caption"><i>Computer Chronicles</i> logo from the early 1990s</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Created by</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="Stewart_Cheifet" title="Stewart Cheifet">Stewart Cheifet</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Presented by</th><td class="infobox-data attendee"><a href="Gary_Kildall" title="Gary Kildall">Gary Kildall</a><br><a href="Jim_Warren_(computer_specialist)" title="Jim Warren (computer specialist)">Jim Warren</a><br><a href="Stewart_Cheifet" title="Stewart Cheifet">Stewart Cheifet</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Country of origin</th><td class="infobox-data">United States</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Original language</th><td class="infobox-data">English</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><abbr title="Number">No.</abbr> of episodes</th><td class="infobox-data">428<sup id="cite_ref-Stanley2003_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Stanley2003-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <span class="nowrap">(<a href="List_of_Computer_Chronicles_episodes" title="List of Computer Chronicles episodes">list of episodes</a>)</span></td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header summary">Production</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Executive producer</th><td class="infobox-data">Stewart Cheifet</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Running time</th><td class="infobox-data">30 minutes</td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header summary">Original release</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Network</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="PBS" title="PBS">PBS</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Release</th><td class="infobox-data">February 5, 1984<span style="display: none;"> (<span class="bday dtstart published updated itvstart">1984-02-05</span>)</span> –<br>June 25, 2002<span style="display: none;"> (<span class="dtend itvend">2002-06-25</span>)</span></td></tr></tbody></table>

<p><i><b>Computer Chronicles</b></i> (also titled as <i><b>The Computer Chronicles</b></i> from 1984 to 1989) is an American half-hour television series that was broadcast on <a href="PBS" title="PBS">PBS</a> <a href="Public_broadcasting" title="Public broadcasting">public television</a> from 1984 to 2002.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It documented and explored the <a href="Personal_computer" title="Personal computer">personal computer</a> as it grew from its infancy in the early 80s to its rise in the global market at the turn of the 21st century.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Episodes reviewed a variety of home and business computers, including hardware accessories, software and other consumer computing devices and gadgetry. Each episode ended with a news-like segment reporting on new developments and announcements in the computer industry. A wide range of computing topics were showcased and demonstrated, ranging from home use, business, education, gaming, digital music creation and editing, to networking and online telecommunication.

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History_and_overview">History and overview</h2></div>

<p>The series was created<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> by <a href="Stewart_Cheifet" title="Stewart Cheifet">Stewart Cheifet</a> (later the show's co-host), who was then the station manager of the <a href="College_of_San_Mateo" title="College of San Mateo">College of San Mateo</a>'s KCSM-TV (now independent non-commercial <a href="KPJK" title="KPJK">KPJK</a>). The show was initially broadcast as a local weekly series beginning in 1981. The show was, at various points in its run, produced by <a href="KPJK" title="KPJK">KCSM-TV</a>, <a href="WITF-TV" title="WITF-TV">WITF-TV</a> in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and <a href="KQEH" title="KQEH">KTEH</a> in San Jose. It became a national series on <a href="PBS" title="PBS">PBS</a> in 1984, running until 2002, with Cheifet as host. From 1994 to 1997, the show was produced by PCTV, based in New Hampshire in cooperation with KCSM-TV. Starting in the fall of 1997 and continuing to its end, the show was produced by KTEH San Jose and Stewart Cheifet Productions.

</p><p><a href="Gary_Kildall" title="Gary Kildall">Gary Kildall</a>, founder of the software company <a href="Digital_Research" title="Digital Research">Digital Research</a>, served as Cheifet's co-host from 1984 to 1990, providing insights and commentary on products, as well as discussions on the future of the ever-expanding personal computer sphere. After Kildall left the show, Cheifet would serve as solo host from 1991 onward. After Kildall's death in 1994, the show paid tribute to him in a special episode.

</p><p><i>Computer Chronicles</i> had several supporting presenters appearing alongside Cheifet, including:

</p>

<ul><li><a href="George_Morrow_(computers)" title="George Morrow (computers)">George Morrow</a>: Presenter, commentator and occasional co-host, who for a time headed the <i>Morrow Design</i> company, Morrow was a well-known face on the Chronicles until the 1990s. Morrow died in 2003.</li>

<li><a href="Paul_Schindler" title="Paul Schindler">Paul Schindler</a>: Featured predominantly in software reviews, Schindler contributed to the series until the early 1990s.</li>

<li><a href="Tim_Bajarin" title="Tim Bajarin">Tim Bajarin</a>: author and columnist who appeared on a few of the 1990s episodes as a co-host and contributor.</li>

<li>Wendy Woods: Provided reports for many software and hardware products, as well as talking with the main presenters in the studio about specific topics.</li>

<li>Janelle Stelson: presented the news and reviews segment.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li>

<li>Jan Lewis: Former president of the Palo Alto Research Group (not to be confused with <a href="PARC_(company)" title="PARC (company)">Xerox PARC</a>), served as both co-host and interviewee throughout the 1980s.</li>

<li>Herb Lechner: with <a href="SRI_International" title="SRI International">SRI International</a>, served as both co-host and interviewee on some of the earliest episodes.</li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Format">Format</h2></div>

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="List_of_Computer_Chronicles_episodes" title="List of Computer Chronicles episodes">List of Computer Chronicles episodes</a></div>

<p>The <i>Computer Chronicles</i> format remained relatively unchanged throughout its run, except perhaps with the noticeable difference in presenting style; originally formal, with Cheifet and the guests wearing business suits (with neckties) customary in the professional workplace in the early 1980s, it evolved by the 1990s into a more relaxed, casual style, with Cheifet and guests adopting the "<a href="Business_casual" title="Business casual">business casual</a>" style of dress that the <a href="Silicon_Valley" title="Silicon Valley">Silicon Valley</a> computer industry arguably helped pioneer.

</p><p>Beginning in 1984, the last five minutes or so featured <i>Random Access</i>, a segment that gave the viewer the latest computer news from the home and business markets. Stewart Cheifet, Janelle Stelson, Maria Gabriel and various other individuals presented the segment. <i>Random Access</i> was discontinued in 1997. The <i>Online Minute</i>, introduced in 1995 and lasting until 1997, gave the viewers certain Web sites that dealt with the episode's topic. It featured Giles Bateman, who designed the show's "Web page" opening sequence that was used from that period up until the show's end.

</p><p>The opening graphics were changed in 1989, and the show was renamed "Computer Chronicles", omitting the word "The". The graphics were redesigned again in 1995, with the "Web page" graphics designed by Giles Bateman, and redesigned again in 1998 to show clips from the show in a "multiple window" format.

</p><p>The theme tune from 1984 to 1989 was "Byte by Byte" by Craig Palmer for the Network Music Library.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> From 1990 until the show's end, the theme song was <i>Zenith</i>, composed for OmniMusic by John Manchester.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p><p>Another feature on the show was Stewart's "Pick of the Week", in which he detailed a popular piece of software or gadget on the market that appealed to him and might appeal to the home audience.

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Availability">Availability</h2></div>

<p>The show ended its run in 2002. Almost all episodes of <i>Computer Chronicles</i> have been made available for free download at the <a href="Internet_Archive" title="Internet Archive">Internet Archive</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Stanley2003_1-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Stanley2003-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> There is also an unofficial YouTube channel with episodes. Many episodes of the show have been dubbed into other languages, including Arabic, French and Spanish.

</p>

<ul><li><a href="Net_Cafe_(TV_series)" title="Net Cafe (TV series)"><i>Net Cafe</i></a>, de facto spin-off of <i>Computer Chronicles</i> co-hosted by Cheifet that aired from 1996 to 2002</li>

<li><a href="WDR_Computerclub" title="WDR Computerclub">WDR Computerclub</a>, similar show in German TV</li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style><div class="reflist">

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("./mw/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("./mw/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("./mw/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("./mw/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style><cite id="CITEREFStanley2003" class="citation news cs1">Stanley, Doug (July 21, 2003). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.proquest.com/docview/463855021/">"Fun with Broadband"</a>. <i>Knight Ridder Tribune Business News</i>. Tribune Business News. p. 1.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFDitta" class="citation web cs1">Ditta, Shehraz. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://stquantum.xtreemhost.com/">"Computer Chronicles and Net Café"</a>. <i>stquantum.com</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">October 29,</span> 2024</span>.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/chronicles/episodes/200617/2/">TV Guide</a></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFDitta" class="citation web cs1">Ditta, Shehraz. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://stquantum.xtreemhost.com/cc/content/history.htm">"Computer Chronicles: History"</a>. <i>stquantum.com</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">October 29,</span> 2024</span>.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.wgal.com/news-team/ed4c8ccd-c05b-4b8b-87e0-79ea542289c3">"News Team - WGAL News 8"</a>. <i>WGAL</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">March 31,</span> 2019</span>.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://armynow.blogspot.com/2010/04/celebrity-in-my-house-janelle-stelson.html">"Life Fully Lived: Celebrity in MY House--Janelle Stelson"</a>. April 19, 2010<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 2,</span> 2023</span>.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFDitta" class="citation web cs1">Ditta, Shehraz. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://stquantum.xtreemhost.com/cc/content/presenters.htm">"Computer Chronicles: Presenters"</a>. <i>stquantum.com</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">October 29,</span> 2024</span>.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFPalmer1983" class="citation audio-visual cs1">Palmer, Craig (1983). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=oF2P2VZzjlc"><i>Byte by Byte</i></a>. Network Music Library.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFManchester1980" class="citation audio-visual cs1">Manchester, John (1980). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BNeH1NSo7w"><i>Zenith</i></a>. OmniMusic.</cite></span>

</li>

</ol></div></div>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2></div>

<ul><li>The <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/computerchronicles">Computer Chronicle</a></i> collection at the <a href="Internet_Archive" title="Internet Archive">Internet Archive</a></li>

<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/search.php?query=subject:%22Computer%20Bowl%22">archive.org - Computer Bowl archives</a></li>

<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://stquantum.xtreemhost.com">Computer Chronicles history and information</a></li>

<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421311/"><i>Computer Chronicles</i></a> at <a href="IMDb_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="IMDb (identifier)">IMDb</a></li></ul></div><div><div class="zim-footer">

This article is issued from <a class="external text" title="Last edited on 2025-03-23" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/?title=Computer_Chronicles&oldid=1281981657">Wikipedia</a>. The text is available under <a class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en">Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0</a> unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

</div>

</div></div>

</div>

</main>

</div>

</body></html>