Uploaded September 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The Famous Computer Cafe 1984-12-02 Frank Schwartz of Simon and Schuster and Charles Humphrey of Computer and Software News. Aired on KFOX.
Digitized from reel-to-reel tape by Harbor Digitizing of Friday Harbor, Washington.
The Famous Computer Cafe recovery and digitization project was done by Kay Savetz in 2024. If you have access to other episodes of Famous Computer Cafe on tape, please contact Kay Savetz.
00:00 Intro to show: talk of Bits and Bytes Show (computer convention for kids) at Disney Convention Center
02:42 ad: Lotus 1-2-3 at The Software Spot software store in west Los Angeles, CA
03:54 ad: Microsoft Multiplan spreadsheet for IBM PC and Mac at Software Center International, Torrence, CA
05:00 Interview with Frank Schwartz, President of Electronic Publishing Division at Simon and Schuster: describes Simon and Schuster; why they got into the computer software business; how he got into Simon and Schuster; mentions work at Atari; why he uses a Macintosh (had one of the first ones); has Osborne and Atari computers at home
10:15 ad: Microsoft Word at Software Supermarket
11:15 Continuation of Frank Schwartz interview: involvement with The Muppets for educational software; Kermit’s Electronic Story Maker; discussion of selling software in book form; Typing Tutor; JK Lassiter tax software; selling at computer stores, software stores, some mass merchandisers, rather than book stores
16:49 ad: SuperCalc 3 spreadsheet by Sorcim at Simply Software, Manhattan Beach, CA
18:03 Continuation of Frank Schwartz interview: discussion of expansion of computer industry; computers will be hidden inside of TV’s; transition into video; where Simon and Schuster is going with computers; productivity software, how-to software, music software; partnership with British record company (Island Records); expert system software for artificial intelligence; down the road will focus on video and laser discs; competition from other publishing houses and the little guys; what would you tell parents?
24:14 ad: Bank Street Writer by Broderbund (word processing) Strictly Software, Lawndale, CA
26:16 ad: free Commodore 64 giveaway from the Computer Cafe by sending a card indicating what computer they own or would like to own
27:36 ad: DBase III by Ashton Tatę at Sun Computers in Carson, CA
28:45 ad: same ad as earlier for Lotus 1-2-3
29:55 ad: same ad as earlier for Multiplan
31:11 Charlie Humphrey, editor Computer and Software News: goals of Computer and Software News; primary reader is computer dealer/retailer; what product is going to be introduced; what’s happening in dealer universe; started in Jan. 1983; market has shifted from technology-driven to marketing-driven; has become a consumer market; customers not as technical as in past; retail environment
37:00 ad: same ad as earlier for Microsoft Word
38:11 Continuation of Charlie Humphrey interview: interaction between consumer and computer retailer; estimates of range of computer dealers run from 3,500 to 22,000; shake-out in software industry
44:04 ad: same ad as earlier for SuperCalc
45:20 Continuation of Charlie Humphrey interview: computer magazines and publications and the shake-out there; 3 major software trends: ease-of-use started by Apple Macintosh, software with application for home user, software brand recognition; software packaging improvements; MSX competition discussion; dealers focusing on business market; someone will focus on home computer market
53:17 ad: same ad as earlier for Bank Street Writer
54:18 ad: same ad as earlier for Computer Cafe giveaway
55:32 ad: same ad as earlier for DBase III
56:44 Closing
57:30 end
The Famous Computer Cafe 1984-12-02 Frank Schwartz of Simon and Schuster and Charles Humphrey of Computer and Software News. Aired on KFOX.
Digitized from reel-to-reel tape by Harbor Digitizing of Friday Harbor, Washington.
The Famous Computer Cafe recovery and digitization project was done by Kay Savetz in 2024. If you have access to other episodes of Famous Computer Cafe on tape, please contact Kay Savetz.
00:00 Intro to show: talk of Bits and Bytes Show (computer convention for kids) at Disney Convention Center
02:42 ad: Lotus 1-2-3 at The Software Spot software store in west Los Angeles, CA
03:54 ad: Microsoft Multiplan spreadsheet for IBM PC and Mac at Software Center International, Torrence, CA
05:00 Interview with Frank Schwartz, President of Electronic Publishing Division at Simon and Schuster: describes Simon and Schuster; why they got into the computer software business; how he got into Simon and Schuster; mentions work at Atari; why he uses a Macintosh (had one of the first ones); has Osborne and Atari computers at home
10:15 ad: Microsoft Word at Software Supermarket
11:15 Continuation of Frank Schwartz interview: involvement with The Muppets for educational software; Kermit’s Electronic Story Maker; discussion of selling software in book form; Typing Tutor; JK Lassiter tax software; selling at computer stores, software stores, some mass merchandisers, rather than book stores
16:49 ad: SuperCalc 3 spreadsheet by Sorcim at Simply Software, Manhattan Beach, CA
18:03 Continuation of Frank Schwartz interview: discussion of expansion of computer industry; computers will be hidden inside of TV’s; transition into video; where Simon and Schuster is going with computers; productivity software, how-to software, music software; partnership with British record company (Island Records); expert system software for artificial intelligence; down the road will focus on video and laser discs; competition from other publishing houses and the little guys; what would you tell parents?
24:14 ad: Bank Street Writer by Broderbund (word processing) Strictly Software, Lawndale, CA
26:16 ad: free Commodore 64 giveaway from the Computer Cafe by sending a card indicating what computer they own or would like to own
27:36 ad: DBase III by Ashton Tatę at Sun Computers in Carson, CA
28:45 ad: same ad as earlier for Lotus 1-2-3
29:55 ad: same ad as earlier for Multiplan
31:11 Charlie Humphrey, editor Computer and Software News: goals of Computer and Software News; primary reader is computer dealer/retailer; what product is going to be introduced; what’s happening in dealer universe; started in Jan. 1983; market has shifted from technology-driven to marketing-driven; has become a consumer market; customers not as technical as in past; retail environment
37:00 ad: same ad as earlier for Microsoft Word
38:11 Continuation of Charlie Humphrey interview: interaction between consumer and computer retailer; estimates of range of computer dealers run from 3,500 to 22,000; shake-out in software industry
44:04 ad: same ad as earlier for SuperCalc
45:20 Continuation of Charlie Humphrey interview: computer magazines and publications and the shake-out there; 3 major software trends: ease-of-use started by Apple Macintosh, software with application for home user, software brand recognition; software packaging improvements; MSX competition discussion; dealers focusing on business market; someone will focus on home computer market
53:17 ad: same ad as earlier for Bank Street Writer
54:18 ad: same ad as earlier for Computer Cafe giveaway
55:32 ad: same ad as earlier for DBase III
56:44 Closing
57:30 end
