About This Video
This video is
Waxy.org presents a VHS rip of the out-of-print and unavailable "Computability," an instructional video for home computers from 1984 hosted by Steve Allen and Jayne Meadows.
For more information about the video, and an MP3 of the vinyl LP that inspired it, see this blog post.
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waxpancake (0:19)
1 year ago 0 + -Index to the video's color-coded sections.
waxpancake (1:35)
1 year ago 0 + -Mish-mash of random computer and electronics terms. Flip-flop, hard copy, magnetic core, no end err, and second generation are some of the sillier ones.
waxpancake (1:18)
1 year ago 0 + -"Phillip," a fictional computer narrator. (Inspired by HAL from 2001 or Joshua from Wargames?)
waxpancake (1:56)
1 year ago 0 + -"...bought, rented, or stolen..."
waxpancake (4:20)
1 year ago 0 + -Use the "picture scan" on your VCR. Not "fast-forward"?
waxpancake (4:32)
1 year ago 0 + -Can anyone identify this computer?
waxpancake (5:15)
1 year ago 0 + -"It's very fragile, so don't hold it like this." Whoops.
waxpancake (5:40)
1 year ago 0 + -Memory is a computer's horsepower? Huh?
waxpancake (7:34)
1 year ago 0 + -Section: Glossary
waxpancake (9:30)
1 year ago 0 + -Jayne Meadows defines "hackers"
waxpancake (10:05)
1 year ago 0 + -Only 200 more terms?
waxpancake (11:04)
1 year ago 0 + -Apple vs. IBM, and VHS vs. Beta.
waxpancake (11:45)
1 year ago 0 + -Section: Spread Sheet
waxpancake (12:11)
1 year ago 0 + -Kaypro 2
waxpancake (13:51)
1 year ago 0 + -"skidaladootidoo..."
waxpancake (15:31)
1 year ago 0 + -Steve's mildly off-color "groping in the dark" joke
waxpancake (12:17)
1 year ago 0 + -Perfect Calc for the Kaypro?
waxpancake (19:18)
1 year ago 0 + -Dot-matrix printer.
waxpancake (21:41)
1 year ago 0 + -Computer graphics. VisiCalc for the Apple II?
waxpancake (22:57)
1 year ago 0 + -Sexism is funny!
waxpancake (23:14)
1 year ago 0 + -Spreadsheets used for sports statistics
waxpancake (24:59)
1 year ago 0 + -Spreadsheets for travel planning
waxpancake (26:35)
1 year ago 0 + -Section: Household Systems (aka home automation)
waxpancake (27:44)
1 year ago 0 + -Modems
waxpancake (28:03)
1 year ago 0 + -Reference to Wargames, released the previous year
waxpancake (29:02)
1 year ago 0 + -Section: Data Bases
waxpancake (33:55)
1 year ago 0 + -Boy George vs. Ronald Reagan. Steve Allen notoriously disliked modern pop/rock.
waxpancake (36:16)
1 year ago 0 + -Trixie Tracker circa 1984
waxpancake (37:29)
1 year ago 0 + -What application is this?
waxpancake (39:57)
1 year ago 0 + -Section: Educational Programs
waxpancake (42:08)
1 year ago 0 + -Kaypro Corporation's Educational Math Series. Nice UI!
waxpancake (44:14)
1 year ago 0 + -"Started the rumor that the Japanese bombed Pearl Bailey."
waxpancake (45:47)
1 year ago 0 + -Mention of Pac-Man and Atari.
waxpancake (46:28)
1 year ago 0 + -"Don't worry, we're being paid a huge sum to do this cassette."
waxpancake (47:12)
1 year ago 0 + -Section: Word Processing
waxpancake (49:09)
1 year ago 0 + -Using AppleWorks for the Apple II
waxpancake (52:31)
1 year ago 0 + -Steve Allen raps.