LANtastic (1990) 10 DOS Windows

Lantastic is an easy to use, low cost networking system targeted at small networks and home users. It was very popular and highly rated in the early 1990s. Unlike most LAN networking software of the time, Lantastic required only installation and minimal, straightforward, configuration. Lantastic gives users the ability to share printers and files on a hard drive or CD-ROM. It is considered a "peer-to-peer" network, as there is no need for a dedicated server. Any computer may be configured as a server as well as a client. Lantastic was also very memory efficient, using minimal DOS memory in both workstation and sever modes, enabling users to run most popular DOS applications while Lantastic was running. Lantastic supported Ethernet, ARCNET and Token Ring networks. Artisoft also sold networking kits that included both network adapters and the Lantastic software. Lantastic was avaialble for DOS, Windows, and OS/2. At the time it competed against Novell Netware Lite, and many other small LAN oriented products.

• 7.0

LapLink (1987) 14 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)

Lindows (2002) 8 Linux

Lindows, later Linspire, was an attempt similar to Corel Linux to put desktop Linux in the hands of the consumer. With a customized KDE 3.x desktop, custom applications borderline cloning the Apple iLife suite, and a primitive "app store," it was intended to be easy to use and fully functional out of the box.

• 1.x
• 2.x
• 3.x
• 4.0.x
• 4.5.x
• 5.x

Linux Kernel (1991) 1 Linux

Linux, originally created by the Finnish programmer Linus Torvalds, is a Unix-like operating system loosely inspired by Minix. The pivotal difference, however, was how it was licensed. Unlike Unix operating systems that remained expensive and proprietary, Linux and its source code were licensed for free distribution, with the provision that all changes or additions to the source code must also be released for free.

• 0.x

Liquid Motion PRO (1996) 2 Media Player Windows

Liquid Motion Pro, from DimensionX Inc., is a powerful drag-and-drop authoring tool that allows you to easily create dynamic Java content for your web-site. Make your pages come alive with animations, interactivity, motion and sound... all with no programming required. capable of running in any browser on any platform that has Java, but requires the download of a large runtime first. bundles until 2000.

• 1.1

Long File Names (1994) 2 Windows

"Long File Names for Windows", from VIEW Software, is a commercial program that modifies Windows 3.1's save-as and open dialog boxes to use long file names, which it stores in its own database. Later versions can also be used under Windows 95 to store long file names for 16-bit applications. It competed against Vertisoft Systems Name-It.

• 2.x

Lotus Notes (1993) 9 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.

• 3.x
• 5.x

Lotus Organizer (1992) 9 PIM Windows

A personal information manager from Lotus for Windows. Organizer was a Windows-based replacement for the DOS-based Lotus Agenda. Lotus Organizer was the most popular PIM during the mid 1990s.

• 1.x
• 2.x

Luckman's Official Interactive WWW Yellow Pages (1996) 1 Reference Windows

Luckman's Official Interactive World Wide Web Yellow Pages is a web site directory on a CD-ROM filled with thousands of top-rated reviewed and ranked web site listings. It make it easy for you to search for popular web sites off-line.

• 1.x

Macromedia Action! (1993) 0 Presentations Windows

Macromedia Action! is a comprehensive presentation authoring tool for Windows that excels at integrating animation in to presentations.

• V2.5
• 3.0

Magic School Bus Human Body (1993) 0 Windows

Join Ms. Frizzle and the gang on a tour of the human body.

• 1.x

MagnaRAM (1995) 2 Utility Windows

MagnaRAM, from Quarterdeck Corporation, is a utility that speeds up virtual memory swapping by compressing swap memory, maintaining a swap "buffer", and making use of unused disk cache memory. Unlike some similar products, this one reportedly does something. It competed against similar tools such as SoftRam, Hurricane, and RAM Doubler.

• 2.0
• 97 (3.0)

Managing Your Money (1989) 14 Financial 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".

• 1.x (Win)
• 2.x (Win)

Mandrake Linux (1999) 88 Linux

Mandrake Linux was a highly polished and easy to use Linux distribution, originally based on Red Hat Linux with KDE. In 2005, Mandrake Linux became Mandriva.

• 6.5
• 7.0
• 9.0 PowerPack

Mannequin Designer (1992) 0 Graphics Windows

Mannequin Designer is a tool that gives you the ability to draw detailed 3D human models and place them into your design, drawings and presentations. It lets you easily place human models from a selection of templates in to a 3d design and position them in a human-like manner. It is intended for use in conjunction with desktop publishing, CAD, animators, and other drawing or presentation packages.

• 1.0

MapLinx (1993) 1 Database Windows

MapLinx for Windows is a geographic database utility that lets business professionals SEE what they're doing by automatically converting database records with zip code fields to symbols on a U.S. map.

• 1.x

Mastering Visual Basic (1995) 29 Windows

Mastering Visual Basic is a reference tool for intermediate to advanced developers released by Microsoft Press. Narrated presentations, Microsoft Knowledge Base articles, modules, and lab exercises are included.

• 4.0

Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing (1988) 0 Education Windows

An interactive typing tutor for the IBM PC that uses a variety of entertaining learning styles.

• 4.x

McAfee VirusScan (1995) 5 Utility DOS Windows OS2

McAfee VirusScan was a very popular and reliable virus scanner during the late 90s. Notably, they distributed a free shareware version of their product. VirusScan was often pre-loaded with OEM computers.

• 2.x
• 4.x
• 7.0

Meta Software Design (1987) 1 Presentations Graphics Windows

Design 2.0 is an outline/org chart for Microsoft Windows 2.

• 2.x

Micrografx Designer (1988) 26 Graphics Publishing Windows OS2

Micrografx Designer, originally released as IN-A-VISON for Windows 1.x, is a vector based drawing and design program. It features ease of use, multiple layers, and dimensioning. Micrografx also sold large libraries of clip art. It competed against Corel Draw.

• 1.1
• 2.0
• 3.0
• 3.1
• 4.0

Micrografx Windows Convert (1988) 4 Utility Windows

Micrografx Windows Convert is a simple utility program that converts between Micrografx In-A-Vision/Designer .PIC files and AutoDesk AutoCad drawing exchange .DXF files. Includes a Windows 2.1/286 runtime.Clipart can also be used with Micrografx Graph, Micrografx Windows Draw, and Micrografx Portfolio.

• 2.x

Micrografx Windows Draw (1986) 19 Graphics Windows

Micrografx Draw is a free-form vector based drawing program with a collection of clipart. The earlier versions are especially notable as being among the few programs produced for Microsoft Windows 1.x.

• 1.04
• Plus 1.1
• 3.0
• 4.0
• 5.0
• 6.0

Micrografx Windows Graph (1987) 6 Presentations Graphics Windows

Micrografx Windows Graph is an application for creating business graphs and charts. It was one of a handful of commercial applications designed for Microsoft Windows 1. It has much in common with Micrografx's other freeform drawing products, In-a-vision/Designer and Micrografx Windows Draw. More clip art can be found with Micrografx Portfolio or converted with Micrografx Windows Convert

• 1.x
• Plus 1.x

Microshaft Winblows 98 (1997) 6 Windows MacOS

Winblows 98, from Parroty Interactive, is an interactive puzzle where you must find hidden passwords to gain access to secret Microshaft systems. You are rewarded with access to secret Microshaft "applications" and humorous videos. The humor is kind of dry and campy, but it is still worth a few yucks. Includes the mini-games Microshaft Internet Exploder, X-Fools, and Whack the Ewok. For Win9x and MacOS.

• 1.0