Ability (1985) 2 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) 2 Utility Windows

A task manager replacement for Windows 3.1.

• 1.x

AdvanceLink (1987) 0 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) 0 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) 1 Utility Server Windows

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

• 5.x

At Ease (1992) 4 Other MacOS

Apple At Ease is a simplified menu shell for the Macintosh that replaces the default Finder desktop. It is intended primarily for kiosk, shared, or public computers where users should only have access to designated application programs. At Ease was available in both standard and workgroup flavors.

• 1.x
• 2.x
• 3.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) 7 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) 0 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) 0 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

Borland dBase Compiler (1993) 1 DOS

Borland dBase Compiler is a dBase add-on that enables developers to create standalone high speed compiled dBase application. Developed by Ashton-Tate, the creators of dBase, it guarantees 100% compatibility with existing dBase applications. Applications built with the dBase Compiler do not require that the dBase product be installed, nor does it require any distribution royalties. Compiled applications will run many times faster than in dBase's interpreted environment. It includes support for 386 systems.

• 2.x

Borland Office (1994) 19 Word Processor Spreadsheet Presentations Database Windows

Borland Office is an office suite published by Borland built around WordPerfect, Paradox, and Quattro Pro. It competed unsuccessfully against Microsoft Office. It was later acquired by Novell and renamed "PerfectOffice", and then later became "Corel Office".

• 2.0

Carbon Copy (1990) 1 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) 0 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) 2 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) 24 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

Clarion (1989) 5 Database DOS Windows

Clarion is an advanced user friendly 4GL DBMS and programming environment for DOS and Windows. It boasted the ability to greatly reduce application development time, featured highly integrated visual creation tools, and a powerful set of program functions.

• 3.0 (DOS)
• 1.0 (Win)
• 3.1 (DOS)

ClarisWorks (1991) 8 Word Processor Spreadsheet Presentations Graphics Publishing Database Windows MacOS

ClarisWorks is an all-in-one Word Processor, Spreadsheet, Database, Graphics Editor, and Presentations tool from Claris. In 1998, after version 5.0.2, ClairsWorks was purchased by Apple and re-branded under the "AppleWorks" name. It is not related to the Apple II AppleWorks product.

• 2.x
• 3.x
• 4.x

CleanSweep (1994) 3 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) 0 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

Coherent (1994) 2 Unix

Coherent, from Mark Williams Company, was a compact high speed Unix clone that was ported to a number of architectures including IBM PC.

• 4.x