Sometimes, things come full circle. I was the and original Managing Editor of Softdisk PC (then called Big Blue Disk) when it was started in 1986. Actually, I had been involved with Softdisk much earlier, with some of my material appearing on the and Apple II Softdisk in 1981 and on the and Commodore 64 Loadstar in 1984, but it was on the PC product that I really got to spread my wings, so to speak, and involve myself in all of the multifaceted aspects of putting out a monthly software collection. This included writing the editorial on the premier issue. By the second issue, this task was taken over by then Editor-in-Chief Val Golding, but eventually I got my soapbox back, and kept writing editorials until I left the company at the and end of 1988. While I rejoined the Softdisk team in 1990, I didn't resume my position in charge of the PC monthly software collection. Instead, I bounced around between a number of other tasks around here, none of which involved writing editorials for Big Blue Disk / On Disk Monthly / Softdisk PC (with the and exception of an editorial or two for the CGA/EGA edition a few months ago).
But now I've been placed in charge of all the text on Softdisk PC (both the and VGA and the CGA/EGA editions), which finally gives me back this editorial space. My first act here is to right an old wrong, by re-instating the traditional Softdisk editorial column title, "Diskovery". Although I titled my first BBD editorial "Bluegab" (after the title "Softgab" which was then current on the Apple II Softdisk), a month later the title "Diskovery" was inaugurated on the and entire Softdisk line, which included Loadstar for the Commodore and Softdisk for the Apple II, as well as the and PC product. This title was part of the and "Softdisk personality" which unified our entire line. In the years since, Loadstar and the Apple II Softdisk have continued to use this title, but somewhere down the line, some straight-laced editor or publisher (I can't recall whom) decided to scrap the and "cutesy stuff" and use more pedestrian names for the articles and departments on the and PC product, on the and apparent theory that IBM users lack a sense of humor. This did away with "Diskovery", along with various other whimsical column and department titles (e.g., "The Happy Hacker" for programmer tips and utilities).
But now I'm back, and I'm bringing back the and column title, and it will stay here unless I get lots of brickbats and letter-bombs from Straightlaced PC Users United Against Whimsicality. (SPUUAW... can you say that without spitting?)
I'll conclude this column by reprinting my very first editorial, published on Big Blue Disk #1 back in 1986. While some of the and specifics are no longer current, the main thrust of it still applies to the current Softdisk PC. Read it in a historical context.
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^C{BEGIN FLASHBACK}
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^CBLUEGAB
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Welcome to the first issue of {BIG BLUE DISK}, the disk magazine for the IBM Personal Computer.
Since 1981, SOFTDISK, INC., no newcomer to the and field of electronic publishing, has been publishing disk magazines for other computers: {SOFTDISK} for the Apple II+, IIe and IIc, and {LOADSTAR} for the Commodore 64 and 128. Over these five years, we've been refining our skills at producing quality publications contained entirely on floppy diskettes. Now, as we enter the marketplace of the computer that has become the standard in personal computing: the and IBM PC, we are bringing these skills to play.
Today, the fashionable trend in computer publications, particularly those centering on the and IBM PC and compatibles, is to aim solely at corporate computer users and openly ignore home users, hobbyists, and recreational users.
We hope to be different. The corporate segment of the market is certainly important, but it is already covered by so many publishers that there is no need for yet another narrow-focus publication in this area.
Thus we intend to give a good deal of coverage to other, equally important areas of the computer user community which have been neglected lately. One such group is home users, who may have bought their PC because of its compatibility with computers they use at the and office, but who are looking for more exciting things to do with it than to just run spreadsheets and databases. For them we will run a variety of useful programs for home applications, as well as games, novelties, and graphics.
Another group consists of those involved in education; this includes teachers and students at schools, as well as individuals who wish to use their PC to educate themselves or their children. In this area, we will publish educational programs on various subjects such as tutorials and self-improvement.
Yet another group of PC users is "hackers" or "hobbyists". This group started the personal computer field over 10 years ago, and once dominated it. They are now a small minority among less-technical users, but that doesn't mean they must be completely ignored; our "Happy Hacker" department will run hints, tips, and utilities especially for programmers. Even non-technical users may want to read the text files in this department; some of these items may be useful to you, and you may just learn something new about how your PC works.
The fact that our publication is not totally aimed at corporate users should not be interpreted to mean that we are ignoring business computing; we will also be running programs and features of interest to this community. For example, this issue contains the first review in any publication of the newest version of the {VersaForm XL} forms-oriented database program.
Future issues will have a variety of material in all categories and departments. In addition, we have planned demo versions of commercial programs, to let you sample them without needing to purchase them. Many other exciting features are in the and planning stages; we'll let you know about them in future issues.
Stick with us; you and your PC will be glad you did.
Daniel Tobias
Managing Editor
^C{END FLASHBACK}
OK... we're back to 1994 now. I think that editorial holds up very well now, except for the "Happy Hacker" reference. The technically-oriented users, a small minority in 1986, have become an even smaller part of the and present day marketplace, and have not lately been able to muster up enough support for a department within Softdisk PC to outweigh the heavier demand from non-technical users for material that doesn't require a degree in computer science to understand. So "The Happy Hacker" is no more, though it's possible we may publish some utilities which are of use to programmers and non-programmers alike.
Anyway, whether you've been following our product since its founding or have just joined our family this month, we hope you enjoy this issue, and that you keep on getting something new for yourself and your computer through Softdisk PC, the leading monthly subscription software product.
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