Another Boring Article

Another Boring Article explores a range of topics primarily centered on tech history, including significant moments in the development and decline of computing technologies, influential software applications, and a dive into Soviet computing advancements. It also touches on military tech and the intersection of technology with various industries.

Tech History Software Development Computing Technology Military Technology Business Strategy in Tech Soviet Technological Advances

The hottest Substack posts of Another Boring Article

And their main takeaways

Heavy Fighters of World War 2

19 implied HN points • 20 Aug 23
💾 History Design Innovation
  1. Heavy fighters during World War 2 had unique features like two engines and heavy armament.
  2. Their main purpose was to provide long-range escort for bombers.
  3. The most successful heavy fighter of the war was the American P-38 Lockheed Lightning.

The Rise and Fall of NeXT Computer

58 implied HN points • 09 Nov 21
  1. Steve Jobs' time at NeXT was a period of personal struggle and enormous business failure, which transformed him into a more mature businessman.
  2. NeXT Computer, despite attractive features, faced challenges like limited sales, high prices, and lack of software support, leading to its decline.
  3. Despite NeXT's failure as a business, its impact endured through the NeXTStep operating system, which evolved into Mac OS X, powering many Apple applications.

Fall of OS/2 Extended Thoughts

3 HN points • 01 May 23
🕹 Technology Software Compatibility Marketing Application
  1. The Desktop Software Division at IBM struggled due to lack of marketing support and incentive structure for programmers.
  2. Adding Windows compatibility to OS/2 was a strategic mistake that hindered ecosystem growth and benefited Microsoft financially.
  3. IBM's use of the same marketing agency as Microsoft during the OS/2 marketing campaign was an interesting coincidence.

The Soviet RYAD Line of Computers

0 implied HN points • 14 Nov 22
  1. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union developed the Ryad Line of Computers to match the IBM S/360 series, showcasing technological struggles and achievements.
  2. The Ryad systems were designed to be compatible with IBM S/360 but faced challenges in production quality, software development, and hardware capabilities.
  3. The Ryad program was a costly but significant advancement in Soviet computing, bridging the gap with the West and paving the way for future improvements in technology.

The Macintosh and Excel

0 implied HN points • 25 Jun 22
  1. Apple and Microsoft have a complex history of competition and collaboration over the years.
  2. Microsoft played a significant role in developing Excel for the Macintosh in the 1980s.
  3. Excel on the Macintosh surpassed Jazz in sales and helped legitimize the Mac in the business world.
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Full David Nutley Interview

0 implied HN points • 18 Dec 21
  1. David Nutley chose Electric Image for his fan film due to its quality renders and compatibility with Mac platforms.
  2. The 3DToolkit offered valuable training that helped creators like David gain confidence and create original content.
  3. Electric Image's Modeler was a standout feature for David, making it easy to create models compared to other 3D software.

The Rise and Fall of the IBM PC

0 implied HN points • 10 Nov 21
  1. By the mid-1980s, IBM faced challenges in the PC market due to competition from IBM-compatible makers like Commodore and Tandy.
  2. IBM's attempt to control the PC standard through the PS/2 and Micro Channel backfired, leading to the revolt of the clones and the Extended Industry Standard Architecture.
  3. OS/2, despite initial interest, faced delays, high costs, and compatibility issues, losing out to Windows and contributing to IBM's decline in the PC market.

Welcome to Another Boring Newsletter

0 implied HN points • 09 Nov 21
  1. The Substack account offers a new way to share content like scripts and shorter articles.
  2. The author plans to explore a variety of topics outside of tech history.
  3. Substack allows for more flexibility in content creation compared to the slow process of making YouTube videos.

VisiCalc

0 implied HN points • 12 Dec 22
  1. VisiCalc was the first killer app for personal computers.
  2. Dan Bricklin envisioned an electronic spreadsheet to automate tedious manual calculations.
  3. VisiCalc's success fueled demand for Apple II and revolutionized personal computing.

Coming soon

0 implied HN points • 09 Nov 21
  1. Another Boring Topic newsletter is about in-depth dives into boring subjects.
  2. The newsletter is launching soon.
  3. Readers can subscribe for updates.