Ability (1985) 7 Word Processor Spreadsheet Presentations Communications Database DOS Windows

Originally released in 1984 by the Canadian company Xanaro that went bankrupt, and then by Migent, Ability is an integrated office suite for DOS that includes word processor, spreadsheet, database, telecommunications, business graphing, presentation graphics capabilities, and built in file management. It features good integration between the different components, with the ability to import, share, and dynamically update data between them. It was advertised as a very easy to use and a quick to learn system.

• Plus 2.0
• 1.5 for Windows

Advanced Task Manager (1995) 3 Utility Windows

A task manager replacement for Windows 3.1.

• 1.x

AdvanceLink (1987) 1 Communications Windows

AdvanceLink is a terminal emulator that integrates with the HP NewWave desktop. It has built in scripting tools and features specifically for communicating with HP 3000, HP 9000, and HP 1000 hosts. It can emulate HP 2392A, HP 700/94, HP 700/92, HP ANSI, and DEC VT100 terminals. It appears a lesser version of this product was bundled with early Vectra computers under the generic name of "HP Terminal Program"

• for Windows

Apple PlainTalk (1994) 2 Utility MacOS

PlainTalk is the collective name for several speech synthesis (MacinTalk) and speech recognition technologies developed by Apple Inc. In 1990, Apple invested a lot of work and money in speech recognition technology, hiring many researchers in the field. The result was "PlainTalk", released with the AV models in the Macintosh Quadra series from 1993. It was made a standard system component in System 7.1.2, and has since been shipped on all PowerPC and some other 68K Macintoshes.

• 1.x

ARCserve (1993) 0 Utility Server Windows

ARCserve, from Cheyenne Software Inc., is an enterprise grade backup software for Windows NT.

• 5.x

Back-It (1986) 1 Utility DOS

Back-It, from Gazelle Systems, is a fast and compact hard disk backup utility. It was sometimes part of OEM system bundles. It was kind of low-end, and changed backup formats between releases but otherwise did what it was supposed to do.

• 4.x

BackMaster (1995) 0 Utility OS2

BackMaster is a backup program for IBM OS/2 that features support for a large number of tape drives. It offers an easy-to-use graphical user interface, and enables a variety of backup configurations including unattended backup. It supports full system restore by creating a set of disaster recovery boot disks.

• 2.x

Backup Exec (1993) 6 Utility Windows DOS

Backup Exec is an easy to use backup program. It can back up files to floppy disks or certain tape drives. companies including Maynard Electronics, Archive Corp, Quest Development Corporation, Conner Peripherals, Arcada Software, Seagate Technology, Veritas Software, and Symantec. On top of that, Microsoft bundled a version with MS-DOS 6.

• 1.0 (Win)
• 2.x (DOS)
• 5.0 (Win)

BeyondMail (1993) 0 Communications Windows

BeyondMail is a mail program for Microsoft Windows that features the ability to create and use e-mail forms against databases, and rule-building for workflow applications. It bundles a message server handler for small workgroups.

• 2.0

BitFax (1992) 1 Communications Windows DOS

BitFax is a basic fax program, used with compatible FaxModems. It was available for both DOS and Windows. BitFax/OCR includes optical character recognition used in conjunction with receiving fax documents.

• 2.x (Win)
• 4.x (DOS)

BitWare (1995) 5 Communications Windows

BitWare, from Cheyenne, is a Fax program for Windows that was often bundled with modems. It also includes the BitCom terminal program. It competed against Delrina Winfax and FaxWorks.

• 3.x

Carbon Copy (1990) 2 Utility Windows

Carbon Copy is a remote control desktop program for DOS and later Windows, similar to PCAnywhere. protection. You can not connect to other copies of Carbon Copy if the serial numbers are the same.

• 2.5 (Win)

cc:Mail (1993) 1 Communications OS2

cc:Mail, originally from Concentric Systems, Inc and later Lotus and IBM, is a desktop e-Mail system intended for small LANs. It relies on accessing a shared database file rather than client-sever methods.

• 1.x for OS/2

Central Point Anti-Virus (1992) 3 Utility DOS

Central Point Anti-Virus was a DOS-based antivirus program developed originally by an Israel company, CARMEL Software Engineering Ltd. as "Turbo Anti-Virus", and licensed by Central Point Software Inc. It was the basis for Microsoft's Anti-Virus for DOS and Windows (MSAV and MWAV). In 1994 it was acquired by Symantec Corporation and merged into Norton Antivirus.

• 1.x

Central Point Backup (1992) 0 Utility Windows

A powerful and friendly backup utility from Central Point Software, that supports backing up to either floppy disks or tape drives. Central Point Backup features ease of use, speed, detailed backup history, and virus scanning. This product was more commonly found bundled as part of PC-Tools.

• 7.x

Change Directory Plus (1993) 1 Utility DOS

Change Directory Plus is a small commercial utility distributed with Softdisk publishing's Big Blue Disk magazine. It indexes all folders on your hard drive, and permits you to change in to a deep subdirectory simply by specifying the final subdirectories name.

• 1.x

CheckIt (1988) 21 Utility DOS

CheckIt, from TouchStone Software Corporation, is a diagnostic tool for generic PC/XT/AT compatible computers. It can perform tests on RAM, hard disks, video cards, floppy disks, motherboard resources, and I/O devices. It has an easy to use menu interface but can also run tests non-interactively. It was followed up by the product WINCheckit.

• LAN 2.x
• Pro 1.x

CleanSweep (1994) 4 Utility Windows

CleanSweep, from Quarterdeck, is a utility that assists with uninstalling and removing leftover files. It also moves programs from one drive to another, to a backup that can be restored later, or to another computer.

• 1.x

CO/Session (1992) 1 Communications DOS

CO-Session is a remote communication access program that supports remote control, file transfer, automates session, and promoted itself as faster and more powerful than Carbon Copy Plus.

• 6.x

COMit (1994) 2 Communications DOS Windows

COMit is a small, lightweight, and easy to use telecommunications terminal emulator for MS-DOS systems. OEMs commonly bundled it with modem hardware.

• 1.x

CommWorks (1993) 1 Communications Windows

Produced by Traveling Software, the authors of LapLink, CommWorks is a suite of communications applications including CommWorks Control Center, TS Fax, TS OnLine, and Laplink.

• 1993

CompuServe Information Manager (1989) 3 Communications DOS Windows

CompuServe Information Manager is the client software used for accessing the CompuServe service.

• 2.x (DOS)
• 1.x (Win)
• 2.x (Win)

Computer Shopper FastFiler (1993) 0 Utility DOS

FastFiler, from Ziff-Davis Publishing Company and Strange Software LTD, is a rudimentary easy to use file manager shell. It was sold alongside Computer Shopper magazines. While it offers a friendlier interface than the DOS command prompt, it has fewer features and abilities than competing file managers.

• 1.x

Conner Backup Basics (1993) 3 Utility DOS Windows

Conner Backup Basics is a dumbed down version of Conner Backup Exec that only works with their tape drives. This software will not run at all without the appropriate tape drive attached.

• 1.1 (DOS)
• 1.2 (Win)

Crosstalk (1983) 12 Communications DOS

Originally released in 1982, Crosstalk XVI, from Digital Communications Associates Inc of Alpharetta, Georgia, is a powerful telecommunications program for the IBM PC with many scripting features. "XVI" means "16", and refers to the powerful new 16-bit x86 CPUs found in IBM PC's and compatibles. It was followed up by the MK 4 and Communicatior products.

• Communicator 2.x
• XVI 3.8x