How-To Geek - Computer History

Why Were PCs Limited to 640K of RAM (And How Did They Fix It)?

Sydney Butler — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 11:00:27 GMT

In the wild, wild days of early computing, there existed a limitation that could very well be considered one of the greatest quirks in tech history. That limitation was the infamous 640K barrier on PCs. What was up with that?

Why Did Some Old Computers Use Cassette Tapes for Storage?

Sydney Butler — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 13:00:26 GMT

You might only think of cassettes as a slightly worse (or better, depending on who you ask) way of consuming music than vinyl records, but they were a crucial storage alternative to floppy disks in the early days of computing.

Internet Explorer: The Rise and Fall of an Internet Legend

Arol Wright — Sun, 06 Aug 2023 11:00:26 GMT

Microsoft's ubiquitous browser Internet Explorer was finally put to rest in 2023, but it was a long and winding road to retirement. Here's how Internet Explorer became the face of the web browsing experience and then faded away.

Why Were Old Computers All Beige?

Sydney Butler — Sat, 05 Aug 2023 11:00:26 GMT

My family's first computer was a beige IBM-compatible 80286, and for decades after, every computer I owned was beige. Then seemingly overnight, the beige wave was over. But why was this the ubiquitous color of computing in the first place?

A Visual History of the Browser Wars in Icons

Joe Fedewa — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 11:00:27 GMT

In the beginning, humans created the World Wide Web, and they needed a way to navigate it. Several decades later, countless web browsers have served that purpose—Netscape Navigator, Internet Explorer, Chrome, Safari, and many more. This is their story told through desktop icons.

5 Things Apple Killed (And Everyone Else Followed)

Arol Wright — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 11:00:26 GMT

Apple is known to be an innovator, but it often innovates by putting existing features and design choices on the chopping block---driving industry changes not through introduction but reduction. Here are some of the most famous---and infamous---examples.

How Screen Savers Literally Save Your Screen

Joe Fedewa — Sun, 16 Jul 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Winding pipes, dizzying 3D mazes, a haunted house, colorful flurries---screen savers used to be fun. They also used to serve a very important purpose, and may still today. That purpose was described in the name itself all this time.

Project Larrabee: How Intel's First Attempt at GPUs Failed

Arol Wright — Sun, 16 Jul 2023 11:00:26 GMT

Intel's Arc lineup of graphics cards is now for sale, and they're Intel's first commercial dedicated graphics cards. But did you know that it's not actually the first time Intel toyed with GPUs? Here's what happened with Project Larrabee, Intel's first attempt at making a GPU.

10 Old Tech Gadgets You Forgot Existed

Joe Fedewa — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 16:00:00 GMT

The world is filled with gadgets---and it has been for a long time. Some tech gadgets have stood the test of time, but others have long been forgotten. Some things that were commonplace only a decade ago are relics today.

The 10 Most Influential Graphics Cards of All Time

Sydney Butler — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 11:00:44 GMT

Graphics are the sexiest component of all, and we've enjoyed decades of groundbreaking cards that have steered the industry one way or another. So for your consideration, here are the top ten cards we consider the most influential to date.