I love watching old TV programs and the like related to computer technology. They are amazing time capsules, preserving the thoughts and opinions people had on then-current technology. It’s strange to see something that you know failed in the market be touted as something that will “revolutionize the future” or to see someone tout how powerful their new machine with 4 megabytes of ram is. In context, yes, that was a beast of a machine, but just a few years down the line you know it was already collecting dust – such is the way of technology.
Some episodes, however, touch on subjects that are timeless. This episode is one of these, focusing on Computer Software Piracy.
Yes, even back in 1985, 30 years ago, software piracy was a big thing. The interesting thing about this episode is that, the arguments for and against such actions haven’t really changed, even though the piracy and piracy prevention methods have evolved: I guess it’s like the old saying goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
On an interesting note, I mention this episode was 30 years old. Indeed, you learn at the beginning of the tape just what day the episode was recorded – January 31st 1985, my birthday no less. I find it interesting that a TV show about software piracy would be recorded on the very day I was born.
Enough on that coincidence though, do enjoy this trip 3 decades into the past, during the era of the 286 CPU and 8 inch floppy disks!