Ability (1985) 10 Word Processor Spreadsheet Presentations Communications Database 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.

• 1.5 for Windows
• 2000
• 2002

America Online (1992) 9 Web Browser Chat Windows

America Online was a proprietary dial-up online service that eventually grew to offerer Internet access. In the mid 1990s AOL was very heavily promoted. Every month or two, you were sure to get a free AOL floppy disk or CD-ROM in the mail. AOL originated as PC-Link.

• 2.x
• 3.0

AOL Instant Messenger (1998) 1 Chat Windows

AOL Instant Messenger is a once-popular messaging client popularized by America Online.

• 1.0

AppleWorks (1986) 8 Word Processor Spreadsheet Presentations Graphics Communications Database MacOS Mac OS X

AppleWorks is an all-in-one Word Processor, Spreadsheet, Database, Graphics Editor, and Presentations tool. The original product was a text-based product for the Apple II. The Apple Macintosh and Windows versions were forked from ClarisWorks in 1998 by Apple. At the time, Apple was under a lot of pressure to have a direct alternative to Microsoft Office. There were serious concerns that Microsoft might pull Microsoft Office for the Macintosh from development.

• 5.x
• 6.x

BitWare (1995) 2 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

BOA HomeBanking with Manging Your Money (1997) 1 Financial Windows

This is the proprietary dial up program used with Bank of America's HomeBanking service ~1997. It is bundled with a customized copy of MECA's "Managing Your Money", a financial management program.

• 2.1a

CompuServe Information Manager (1989) 6 Communications Windows

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

• 2.x (Win)

Eudora Pro (1995) 1 Communications Windows

Eudora Pro, originally developed at the University of Illinois, was a very popular commercial POP 3/SMTP internet e-mail client for Microsoft Windows and Macintosh. Qualcomm also produced a free, less featured version called Eudora Light.

• 2.x

GroupWise (1997) 0 Communications PIM Server DOS

Originally created by WordPerfect Corp in 1987 as WordPerfect Office (groupware), and acquired by Novell in 1994 where it became GroupWise, GroupWise is a cross-platform collaboration platform that includes email, calendaring, personal information management, instant messaging, and document management.

• 5.x

Instant Accounting (1998) 3 Financial Windows

Sage Instant Accounting includes comprehensive invoicing, complete vat management, detailed customer records, and powerful reporting.

• 98

Intellisync (2002) 1 Communications Windows

Pumatech Intellisync is corporate software designed to facilitate access to enterprise e-mail services with mobile devices.

• 5.x

Juno (1996) 0 Communications Windows

First released in 1996, Juno was originally a free internet and e-mail service with a proprietary client that displayed advertising. As stupid as this seemed, consumertards loved it.

• 1.x

Kea420 (1997) 2 Communications Windows

KEA is a VT420 terminal emulator with advanced features for mainframe users.

• 5.00

LapLink (1987) 30 Communications Windows

LapLink, from Traveling Software Inc., enables users to easily and quickly move files between two DOS computers using only a serial null-modem cable or a special parallel port connector. No other hardware is needed. Laplink was extremely popular.during the late 80s and early 90s. It was infinitely easier to set up any two arbitrary PCs (often portables or laptops) with LapLink than other methods, such as DOS based networking. MS-DOS 6 bundled a similar set of file transfer tools called INTERLNK and INTERSVR.

• 7.5 for Windows 95
• 2000
• Gold (9.0)

Lighthouse Design Ltd Productivity Applications for NEXTSTEP and OpenStep (1995) 0 Word Processor Spreadsheet Presentations Graphics Publishing Communications Other Database Mathematics Other

Lighthouse Design Ltd Productivity Applications is an application suite of programs for NeXT computers.

• MAY 1995

Lotus Mail (1998) 1 Communications Windows

Lotus Mail was an interim product targeted at users of the older Lotus cc:Mail product, with the intent being that they would eventually switch to Lotus Notes/Domino. Lotus Mail features a user interface similar to cc:Mail, LDAP support, and powerful filtering options. Lotus Mail lacked support for HTML formatted e-mail (good!).

• 4.x

Lotus Notes (1993) 4 Communications PIM Windows MacOS

Lotus Notes is a powerful e-mail and collaboration tool. It was heavily used by large corporations. It was sometimes criticized for its complexity and bloat. Notes is a client server tool, and uses the Lotus Domino server (originally just called Lotus Notes server). Lotus Notes and Lotus Domino competed against Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Exchange.

• 5.x

MacComCenter (1995) 2 Communications MacOS

MacComCenter is a telecommunication program for the Apple Macintosh that includes a terminal emulator and Fax manager. MacComCenter was bundled with modems, sometimes accompanied by Smith Micro's IBM PC communication suite, Quicklink.

• 1.x

MacInTax (1995) 0 Financial MacOS

MacInTax, from Intuit Inc, was a Macintosh program that helped one prepare their taxes. It has a friendly user interface, and walks users through an "Interview" to gather required information.

• 1994

Managing Your Money (1989) 12 Financial DOS Windows

Managing Your Money is your easy-to-use personal finance manager. MYM has all you'll need to take control of your finances. You can automate your checking account, track credit investments, reduce your debts, plan your savings, decide whether to refinance your mortgage, and much more. You don't have to use all this at first or ever. But it's nice to know its all here when you need it. It is sometimes titled as "Andrew Tobias' Managing Your Money".

• 12.0
• 2.x (Win)

Microsoft Exchange (1996) 6 Chat PIM Server Windows

Exchange is a proprietary e-mail and groupware server software from Microsoft for Windows Server. The first version publicly sold was Exchange Server 4.0. The number 4.0 was used as it was a replacement for Microsoft Mail 3.x. At release, unlike other desktop/lan e-mail solutions it featured client/server communications rather than using file sharing, used a powerful messaging protocol, and stored all message and address book information in a database. It eventually evolved to include scheduling and many other functions. The Exchange Client (later Microsoft Outlook) supported rich text formatting, and the ability to create such things as e-mail forms.

• 4.0
• 5.5
• 2000

Microsoft Mail (1991) 28 Communications Windows

There were two distinct "Microsoft Mail" products. One for AppleTalk Networks, and one for PC Networks.

• 3.5

Microsoft Money (1992) 49 Financial Windows

Microsoft Money is a home oriented financial management tool. It was designed specifically for Microsoft Windows, and was touted as being easier to use. At its release it competed against products such as Quicken. Microsoft Money was discontinued in 2009.

• 4.x (95)
• 97 (5.0)
• 98
• 99
• 2000
• 2002
• Sunset

Microsoft Outlook (1997) 14 Communications PIM Windows MacOS

Microsoft Outlook (not to be confused with Outlook Express) is an enterprise grade e-mail client. It is primarily intended for use with Microsoft Exchange Server. It was available as both a stand-alone product and as part of Microsoft Office.

• 97
• 98

Microsoft Phone (1995) 2 Communications Windows

Microsoft Phone is a telephony program for Microsoft Windows. It enables your desktop PC to act as an answering machine or dialer and receive faxes. Microsoft Phone includes Microsoft Voice, which lets you control Windows using audio voice commands.

• 1.0