Autodesk AutoCAD (1984) 21 Graphics Engineering Windows

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.

• r11 (Win)

Ability (1985) 3 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

Norton Commander (1986) 94 Utility Windows

Norton Commander is a MS-DOS based file shell that was widely popular due to it's two column design. You could easily copy and move files between one folder or another, execute DOS commands and more. It competed against many other file managers including Gazelle Q-DOS and Xtree

• 1.x (Win)
• 2.x (Win)

LapLink (1987) 26 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)

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

Micrografx Portfolio (1987) 4 Utility Graphics Windows

Micrografx Portfolio is a Windows 1.x preview and clipboard tool for use with Micrografx Clip art. It previews clipart on the screen and lets the user copy items to the clipboard, or export them to Micrografx Windows Draw and Micrografx In-A-Vision/Desginer. They can also be used with Micrografx Windows Graph. Clip art can be converted with Micrografx Windows Convert

• 1.0

IBM PS2 Collegiate Kit (1987) 0 Utility DOS Windows

The IBM PS2 Collegiate Kit is a set of floppy disks that contain a system tutorial and a runtime of Windows 1.04 with a PS/2 mouse driver. It was included with some PS/2 machines as an educational promotional deal.

• 1.00

Cadlogic Instinct (1987) 0 Engineering Windows

Instinct is a computer aided design drafting tool designed for Microsoft Windows 1.x. It was designed specifically with ease of use in mind, and was among the few early applications designed for Microsoft Windows 1.

• 1.0

Direct Access (1988) 3 Utility Windows

Direct Access is an easy to use menuing program designed to simplify access to applications on systems with many programs loaded on the hard drive. It is customizable, includes screen blanking, and includes password protection and usage logging. Later versions also detect common programs already installed on the hard disk.

• 1.0 (Win)

Micrografx Windows Convert (1988) 2 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

Relay Gold (1988) 3 Communications Windows

Relay/PC Gold is a powerful telecommunications program targeted at corporate users. It supports multiple communications sessions, scripting, file transfers, IBM 3270 connectivity, DEC Terminal emulation, and TCP/IP connectivity.

• 6.0

After Dark (1989) 48 Novelty Windows

After Dark, from Berkeley Systems, Inc, is a set of entertaining screen savers for Mac and Windows. After Dark for Windows started off as "Magic Screen Saver" for Windows 2.x. After Dark was most famous for its "Flying Toasters" screen saver. Afterdark was very popular on both the early Macintosh computers and Windows 3.0, as neither included any kind of screen saver or screen blanker that would help prevent screen burn-in.

• Magic ScreenSaver
• 1.0 for Windows
• 2.x
• 3.x
• 4.x
• Tenth Anniversary

PubTech File Organizer (1989) 0 Utility Publishing Windows

The PubTech File Organizer is an alternate desktop shell for Windows that attempts to mimic the Macintosh Finder. It features drive icons directly on the desktop, a Garbage icon, and folders that open in new cascaded windows with icons representing files. Applications are easily accessible from an "Applications" menu. Files and programs may be placed directly on the File Organizer desktop. In many ways, it is similar to the Windows 95 desktop, but the earlier versions work under Windows 2!

• 2.11
• 3.10

Correct Grammar (1989) 0 Word Processor Utility Windows

Correct Grammar is a grammar checking and analysis tool for DOS. Correct Grammar incorporates technology from the Houghton Mifflin CorrectText system.

• 2.x (Win)

CompuServe Information Manager (1989) 0 Communications Windows

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

• 1.x (Win)
• 2.x (Win)

QAPlus (1989) 0 Utility Windows

QAPlus is an extensive set of tools to test the functionality of a PC, measure performance, and optimize the configuration. It can test motherboard resources, RAM, video cards, I/O ports, and floppy drives. Later versions supported Microsoft Windows. It competed with tools like Checkit and AMI Diagnostics.

• 6.x

Norton Anti-Virus (1990) 0 Utility DOS Windows

Originally written by Symantec and sold as Symantec Antivrus for Macintosh, it became part of the "Norton" branded products sold by Symantec after they acquired Peter Norton Computing. Norton Anti-Virus became a popular product on DOS, Windows, and Macintosh (SAM was renamed to NAV in 1998) and battled the then-new threat of malicious software. In 2015, Symantec unified their security product lineup under the single "Norton Security" product. It was also bundled with Norton SystemWorks.

• 1.5
• 2.0
• Michelangelo Edition
• 2.0 (Win)

Calendar Creator Plus (1990) 2 Novelty PIM Windows

Calendar Creator Plus from Vermont Creative Software/Power Up, and later Spinnaker Software, is a tool for creating printed calendars with different styles and custom lists of events.

• 2.0 (Win)
• 4.0 (Win)
• 5.0 (Win)
• 7.0 (Win)

hDC FirstApps (1990) 0 Utility Windows

hDC FirstApps is a collection of 10 simple "MicroApps". FirstApps includes Alarm Clock, Art Gallery, Auto Save, Character Set, Desktop, Font Viewer, Memory Viewer, Rocks, System Enhancer, and Work Sets. It is essentially a Windows 3 version of the Windows 2-based hDC Windows Manager.

• 1.0

pcANYWHERE (1990) 12 Communications Windows DOS

pcAnywhere is a tool that enables one to remotely control another computer, or to be remotely controlled.

• 1.0 (Win)
• 7.5 (Win)
• 8.0 (Win)

Norton Backup (1990) 0 Utility Windows

Norton Backup, from Symantec, is a fast and easy to use backup tool for MS-DOS. The original 1.0 suffered from reliability problems, but these were fixed in 1.1. It does not include a backup scheduler. It competed against backup utilities such as PC Tools Deluxe PC Backup, Taketwo Manager, Gazelle Systems Back-It, Backup Pro, FastBack Plus, and Keep Track Plus.

• 2.x (Win)

FAXit (1990) 0 Communications Windows

FAXit. from Alien Computing, is a program for sending and receiving faxes under Microsoft Windows. The program simulates a Windows printer, enabling any print job to be sent as a FAX.

• 1.x

Ashlar Vellum (1990) 0 Graphics Engineering Windows

Ashlar Vellum is a CAD package for mechanical engineers and designers, that includes the ability to intelligently predict where the user wants to connect the next object. There were both "2D" and "3D" versions.

• 1.x (Win)

Carbon Copy (1990) 0 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)

Bitstream FaceLift (1990) 0 Utility Windows

Bitstream FaceLift works with Bitstream scalable typefaces to bring high quality type to Microsoft Windows applications instantly and easily for screen display, dot matrix printers, and laser printer output.

• 1.0