DESQView (1984) 18 Utility DOS

DESQView, from Quarterdeck, was a DOS application multi-tasker and in later versions functioned as an X client for applications on remote UNIX systems. It competed against IBM Topview. The original DESQ was just a task switcher, but subsequent versions offered preemptive multitasking of well behaved DOS programs on real-mode 8088 PCs. It gained popularity when DESQView 386 added virtual x86 support. This enabled the ability to multi task many poorly behaved programs, and was often used on BBSes due to its excellent COM port handling. It was later overtaken by OS/2 and Windows.

• 1.x
• DESQView X 1.x
• 2.x
• DESQView X 2.x

Autodesk AutoCAD (1984) 21 Graphics Engineering DOS MacOS Unix

AutoCAD, from Autodesk and first released in 1982, is a powerful Computer Aided Design tool. It was, and still is, often considered the standard for CAD tools. Primarily for the IBM PC platform, it was ported to x86 machines with higher video resolutions such as the Zenith Z-100 and NEC APC. Intermittently, versions for the Macintosh appeared. Later versions use a dongle copy protection.

• 1.x (DOS)
• 2.x (DOS)
• r10 (Mac)
• r10 (DOS)
• r10 (Unix)
• r11 (DOS)
• r11 (Mac)
• r12 (Mac)

The Print Shop Companion (1984) 2 Graphics Publishing DOS

As the name suggests, the Print Shop Companion is a companion product to The Print Shop. It contains extra miscellaneous functionality such as graphics editors and envelope printing.

• For IBM PC (DOS)
• The NEW PSC (DOS)
• Deluxe

Sidekick (1984) 8 Utility PIM DOS OS2

Borland Sidekick is a DOS based PIM (Personal Information Manager) and one of the first widely-used TSR (terminate and stay resident) programs. The key feature of Sidekick was that one could use Sidekick's utilities while using most other MS-DOS applications. This was important because MS-DOS had no built-in multi-tasking or task switching capabilities.

• 1.x
• Plus
• 1.0 for OS/2
• 2.0

DoubleDOS (1984) 0 Utility DOS

DoubleDOS is a simple and easy to use multitasking tool for DOS. It can preemptively run up to two DOS programs at a time. Its main advantage is that it requires very little RAM overhead compared to other multitasking or task switching environments. Because DOS programs can and usually do bypass OS calls, many programs must be "patched" in order to work. things at once, then this would have been a good choice. Reportedly, the first version may have worked with DOS 1.x.

• 2.x
• 4.02

MacPaint (1984) 8 Graphics MacOS

MacPaint was designed as a simplified, easy to use raster/bit-mapped paint program, and was sold along side the original 1984 Apple Macintosh System. A historically notable feature was its ability to copy and paste images to and from other applications such as MacWrite. The final 2.0 version was released and maintained under Claris.

• 1.x

PC Paintbrush (1984) 6 Graphics DOS

ZSoft PC Paintbrush is a bitmap drawing program visually similar to MacPaint. The earlier DOS versions were often bundled with Microsoft and Microsoft compatible mice, and were notable for supporting a huge variety of video adapters. It competed against Mouse Systems PC Paint (not related despite the similar name). ZSoft PC Paintbrush eventually became Microsoft Paintbrush included in Windows 3.x. For Microsoft's rebranded version see Microsoft Mouse and Microsoft Paintbrush

• 2.x (DOS)
• 3.x (DOS)
• Plus 1.x (DOS)
• IV (DOS)

IBM Graphing Assistant (1984) 3 Presentations DOS

IBM Graphing Assistant is a tool for creating graphs and charts using an IBM PC. Graphing Assistant is an IBM rebranded OEM version of PFS:Graph

• 1.01

PC Paint (1984) 3 Graphics DOS

PC Paint, from Mouse Systems Corporation, is a Macintosh MacPaint-like paint program for the PC. It was often bundled with Mouse Systems mice. Despite the similar sounding name and appearance, it is NOT related to Microsoft/ZSoft PC Paintbrush.

• 1.00A
• 2.x

Lotus Symphony (1984) 7 Word Processor Spreadsheet Presentations Graphics Communications Database DOS

Lotus Symphony is a an integrated software program that combines five tools: spreadsheet - word processing, graphics, database management, and data communications - in one package. The spreadsheet has similar functionality to Lotus 1-2-3, however it uses a different software "engine". These releases are of the original suite produced by Lotus. For the unrelated suite produced by IBM under the same name, see "IBM Lotus Symphony".

• 1.00
• 2.00
• 3.00

PC-Calc (1984) 0 Spreadsheet DOS

PC-CALC is an easy-to-use "Visible Spreadsheet" program. If you work with numbers, at home, on the job or at school, PC-CALC is for you. Whether the task is simple or complex, PC-CALC can help you. By using its powerful commands, reports can be produced in minutes that would take hours to do manually, or days to write in BASIC. PC-CALC, written by Jim "Button" Knopf of ButtonWare ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Knopf ), is historically notable because it was one of the first programs marketed as shareware.

• 2.0
• 3.0

CorrectStar (1984) 0 Word Processor Utility DOS

CorrectStar, from MicroPro International, is an add-on spell checker for WordStar 3.3. It was sold both bundled with WordStar and separately. Later versions of WordStar integrated the spell checker.

• 3.3x

Microsoft Chart (1984) 0 Presentations MacOS DOS

Microsoft Chart is a presentation graphics tool. You can use it to create line, bar, pie charts and more. It competed against titles such as PFS Graph, Chart Master, DR Graph, Harvard Presentation Graphics, and BPS Business Graphics. It was sometimes sold as a companion product to Multiplan. Microsoft later included charting functionality in Excel and PowerPoint.

• 1.0 (Mac)
• 1.x (DOS)
• 2.x (DOS)
• 3.x (DOS)

Framework (1984) 3 Word Processor Spreadsheet Graphics Communications Database DOS

Originally created by Forefront Corporation for Ashton-Tate and first released in 1984, Framework was an early integrated office suite for DOS. It has a built in word processor, spreadsheet, database, outliner, graphing, and telecommunications.

• 1.0
• Premier 1.x
• II
• III
• XE
• IV

Microsoft Spell (1984) 0 Word Processor Utility DOS

Microsoft Spell is a spell checking application intended for use with Microsoft Word 1.x for DOS. You can also use it as a standalone program. Microsoft Spell 1.0 was available for purchase by itself, but later versions were bundled with Microsoft Word for DOS.

• 1.0

PFS:Plan (1984) 0 Spreadsheet DOS

PFS:Plan. from Software Publishing Corp, is a spreadsheet that you can use for all types of numerical planning, tracking, analyzing, and reporting . Later it evolved in to PFS:Professional Plan, and IBM rebranded a version as IBM Planning Assistant.

• A:xx

V-Print (1984) 0 Utility DOS

V-Print, from CompuView, is a printing product designed to accompany VEDIT.

• 2.x

DR Graph (1984) 0 Presentations DOS CPM

DR Graph is a business graphics creation program. It can create line, bar, pie, and scatter graphs and print them on a graphics printer. DR Graph is implemented using Digital Research's GSX graphics library, and can run on many different platforms.

• 1.x

IBM Script/PC (1984) 0 Utility Publishing DOS

IBM Script/PC is a document formatter utility. It is similar to the mainframe DCF tool for IBM TSO or VM 370 that uses the Script/VS language. Unlike integrated word processors, one creates their document in a separate text editor and manually adds markup commands (called GML or Generalized Markup Language tags). This utility then interprets those commands to produce a formatted document regardless of the printer used. formatters already on the market such as WORDIX+INDIX, ReadiWriter, and MicroScript. for use with IBM Professional Editor, and can work with existing mainframe Script/VS documents.

• 1.00

Electric Desk (1984) 0 Word Processor Spreadsheet Communications Database DOS

Electric Desk is an all-in-one integrated word processor, spreadsheet, database, and terminal program. It was first introduced in 1984 as a low-overhead office package targeted at the IBM PCjr, and was offered as a lower cost alternative to Ashton-Tate Framework and Lotus Symphony. Electric desk features windowing, macros, and context sensitive menus. The user interface is a little eccentric. It refers to the program components as "services", and refers to windows as "viewports". OEM bundled PC software.

• 1.x

VCN ExecuVision (1984) 0 Presentations DOS

Visual Communications Network's ExecuVision was the first business presentation package for the IBM PC. It was targeted at business professionals, and was advertised as a complete graphics art department on a computer. It was also notable for it's clip art collection, which was also a first. Wanted: VCN ExecuVision Graphics Library 3: Industry and Business

• 1.0

BULL Micral Prologue (1984) 0 DOS

BULL Micral Prologue system for the Olympia People Computer.

• 2.x

PFS Proof (1984) 0 Utility DOS

PFS:Proof is a stand-alone spell checker that is compatible with PFS:Write documents, and part of the low-cost PFS office suite.

• Axx
• Bxx

Graphwriter (1984) 0 Graphics DOS

Graphwriter is a business presentation and graphing package geared towards the production of 35mm slides. Supports Polaroid Corp.'s Palette 35mm slide producer and a wide variety of printers and plotters. For its time it was considered a large program, and targeted primarily towards corporate users. It also features the ability to create Gantt, organization, and bubble charts. In 1986 it was acquired by Lotus Development Corp along with Freelance.

• 4.x

IBM Planning Assistant (1984) 0 Spreadsheet DOS

IBM Planning Assistant is an easy-to-use electronic spreadsheet, that you may use to analyze "what if" situations in planning, budgeting, projecting, and forecasting. Features built in help and customizable formulas for advanced calculations, and interoperates with other IBM Assistant Series programs. Planning Assistant was a rebranded version of PFS:Plan sold through IBM.

• 1.00
• 2.00