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OMG, I just watched that. Amazing. I get it now, and it is supremely simple but jaw-droppingly so. When would a show like this be on? I don't remember anything

OMG, I just watched that. Amazing. I get it now, and it is supremely simple but jaw-droppingly so. When would a show like this be on? I don't remember anything like in the States in 1985 (I was rural though). This video is like today's YouTube.

shakna 1y ago
That particular show was broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK, at 6PM. So when most people were watching the news on a Channel 1. Channel 4 was mostly just advertising, at the time. This show is selling you on computers. It's just that what they were selling was awesome.
hakken306 1y ago
Apparently it was on at 17:30 on Channel 4, listed as "4 Computer Buffs" [0]. Channel 4 was an independent TV station, and one of only four over-the-air channels. From another site [1] the show was one of a short series of 7 programmes, probably hosted by a professor on a sabbatical. You can cross-reference the time slot on the first site. In the same time slot, at other dates, are other computer-related shows like Me and My Micro [2]. In the UK, it was an era of affordable home computers and hobbyist activity in the media. There was a large variety of microcomputer systems, with one or more hobby-level magazines dedicated to each manufacturer. Television programs would often partner with magazines to present a column, recap, or serve as a reference for more detailed work. You see some screen time dedicated to building hardware, as I/O was very primitive and you had to do the grunt work yourself. Made to order PCBs and surface mount was quite a way off. [0] https://tvrdb.com/listings/1985-02-11 https://tvrdb.com/listings/1985-02-11 [1] https://epguides.com/4ComputerBuffs/ https://epguides.com/4ComputerBuffs/ [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSzIXg6jmZQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSzIXg6jmZQ
- jmann99999 1y ago
  This is so great. Thanks for the context. What a wonderful time.

shakna 1y ago

That particular show was broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK, at 6PM. So when most people were watching the news on a Channel 1. Channel 4 was mostly just advertising, at the time. This show is selling you on computers. It's just that what they were selling was awesome.

hakken306 1y ago

Apparently it was on at 17:30 on Channel 4, listed as "4 Computer Buffs" [0]. Channel 4 was an independent TV station, and one of only four over-the-air channels. From another site [1] the show was one of a short series of 7 programmes, probably hosted by a professor on a sabbatical. You can cross-reference the time slot on the first site. In the same time slot, at other dates, are other computer-related shows like Me and My Micro [2]. In the UK, it was an era of affordable home computers and hobbyist activity in the media. There was a large variety of microcomputer systems, with one or more hobby-level magazines dedicated to each manufacturer. Television programs would often partner with magazines to present a column, recap, or serve as a reference for more detailed work. You see some screen time dedicated to building hardware, as I/O was very primitive and you had to do the grunt work yourself. Made to order PCBs and surface mount was quite a way off. [0] https://tvrdb.com/listings/1985-02-11 https://tvrdb.com/listings/1985-02-11 [1] https://epguides.com/4ComputerBuffs/ https://epguides.com/4ComputerBuffs/ [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSzIXg6jmZQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSzIXg6jmZQ

jmann99999 1y ago
This is so great. Thanks for the context. What a wonderful time.