Ventura Publisher (1986) 3 Publishing DOS MacOS Windows

Ventura Publisher, originally from Xerox, is a professional desktop publishing program for the GEM graphical environment and later Windows. It has the distinction of being the first popular publishing program for the IBM PC platform. It competed with Aldus PageMaker, which initially was more popular on the Mac platform. There are also versions for Mac and OS/2.

• 1.0
• 1.1
• 2.0
• 3.x for Macintosh
• 3.0 for DOS-GEM
• 3.0 for Windows

VersaCAD (1988) 0 Graphics Engineering DOS

First released in 1983 by T & W Systems Inc (later Versacad Corporation) and based on their earlier T-Square product, VersaCAD is a sophisticated professional object design and drawing tool for the IBM PC. It competed heavily against AutoCAD. A very in-depth history of VersaCAD can be found on Cadhistory (PDF Link)

• 5.3

VersaForm (1984) 0 Database DOS

VersaForm is a business oriented database based around business forms and procedures. It features easy integrated form creation, entry, and reporting. Pascal system, and supported large databases on Corvus hard drives.

• 3.x
• 4.x

Vfeature Deluxe (1987) 0 DOS

VFeature, by Golden Bow Systems, is a disk driver designed specifically for DOS 3.x (not compatible with later versions) that lets you have partitions up to 1GB, and can do other powerful things such as span hard drives.

• 2.56

ViaNet (1988) 0 DOS

Vianet, from Western Digital, is a cross platform peer to peer networking system that offers simplicity and ease of use. It was relatively low cost, and supports multiple network cards. Western Digital included it with their StarLAN hardware products. Network-OS, Lantastic, PC/NOS, ELS Netware II, LANsmart, DNA Networks, TOPPS/DOS DataLAN, and POWERlan.

• 3.x

Video 7 VGA1024i Video drivers (1990) 1 DOS Windows

Released in 1989 by Headland Technology, Inc, this contains video drivers and utilities for the Video 7 VGA 1024 for DOS, Windows 2.0, AutoCAD, GEM, and Word Perfect.

• 2.19

VideoWorks (1985) 0 Presentations Graphics MacOS

VideoWorks is a Macintosh animation program that eventually became Macromedia/Adobe Director.

• 1.00
• II

Vitamin C (1990) 0 DOS

Vitamin C, from Creative Programming Consultants, Inc., is a graphics and windowing library for DOS and DOS based C compilers.

• 3.2

VMS (1990) 4 Other

The Virtual Memory System (VMS) is an OS originally designed for the DEC VAX line of servers. Over time, the OS grew to support Alpha and Itanium based machines. Released initially in 1977, the OS was a major competitor at the time to UNIX based machines.

• 4.x

Volkswriter (1982) 10 Word Processor DOS

Volkswriter, from Lifetree Software Inc, was an early easy to use word processor for the IBM PC. Development of Volkswriter was inspired by the horridness of EasyWriter, and for a brief time it was possibly the only usable word processor for the IBM PC before an IBM version of WordStar was released. The "Deluxe" version will work with larger documents and has more features.

• 3.0
• 4.0

VP-Expert (1987) 0 Database DOS

VP-Expert, from Paperback Software, was a low-cost expert system solution that competed against products such as 1st-Class Fusion, Knowledgepro, Level 5, and Personal Consultant Easy. It provides rule induction, traditional structured rule programming, backwards and forward chaining, and hypertext and mouse support in graphics mode.

• 1.x
• 2.x

VP-Info (1987) 0 Database DOS

Originally released in 1986 by PaperBack Software and later from Sub Rosa Inc, VP-Info is a dBase-type relational database manager with compiler. VP-Info features the ability to use common dBase/Clipper file formats with an unlimited number of records, faster execution speeds, and a built-in compiler.

• 1.x
• 4.x

VP-Planner (1986) 1 Spreadsheet DOS

VP Planner is a Lotus 123-type spreadsheet, but featuring 3-D (paged) spreadsheets and other advances over Lotus 123. This was the subject of a lawsuit, also involving The Twin, and Borland Quattro Pro, which Paperback Software eventually won, but which sank the company.

• 1.x
• Plus 2.x

Wang Freestyle (1990) 0 Utility Publishing DOS

Wang Freestyle is an "annotation" program that operates by making screen shots of DOS applications, to which the user may then add hand-written notes using a stylus or add a voice recording with a telephone-like handset. It features a Macintosh-like desktop that displays the annotated documents graphically on a proprietary high resolution monitor, and integrates a form of mail and fax.

• 1.x

Watcom C/C++ (1989) 6 DOS

The Watcom C/C++ is a powerful compiler for DOS, Windows, and OS/2. Its key selling point was superior cross platform support. It supported DOS, extended DOS 32-bit, Win16, Win32, and OS/2. Notably, it was used to produce the video game DOOM as a 32-bit DOS extended program.

• 7.0

Watcom Pascal (1988) 1 DOS

Watcom Pascal is a Pascal interpreter produced by Watcom. The original Watcom Pascal products were called the Waterloo Pascal compiler and the Waterloo microPascal interpreter. For a time, it competed with Borland Turbo Pascal.

• 3.5

Websters Dictionary (1988) 0 Reference DOS

A computerized version of Webster's Dictionary from Proximity Technology Inc. Once loaded, you can access it from within any DOS application using a hot key.

• 1.x

Wendin DOS (1987) 2 DOS

Wendin DOS is a clone of MS/PC-DOS that runs on 8088 machines, but offers multitasking on 386+.

• 2.11

WillMaker (1990) 1 Other DOS

WillMaker is a program that takes a set of simple human-understandable questions to produce the complex legal language and law considerations, required for a modern will.

• 4.0

WindowDOS (1987) 0 Utility DOS

WindowDOS is a pop-up TSR utility that enables DOS users to run DOS commands and perform file management while they are still running other applications. It can search for files, password lock a system, view files, and send special printer control codes to change printer text modes.

• 2.x

Windows 1.0 (1984) 190 Windows

Windows 1.0 was the first release of what eventually made it onto almost every desktop computer in the entire world. Many of you are probably unaware of this release from 1985; conceived from ideas found in the original Lisa/Macintosh and Xerox Star system, Windows 1.0 was Microsoft's attempt at a graphical multitasking operating environment for the IBM PC. | 1.0 | 2.x | 3.x | NT 3.x | 95 | NT 4.0 | 98 | 2000 | ME | All |

• Alpha
• Beta
• Premiere Edition
• Demo
• 1.01
• 1.02
• 1.03
• 1.04

Windows 2.x (1987) 117 Windows

Windows 2 changes from Windows 1.x consist mainly of visual improvements. Windows 2 adds overlapping windows, menu keyboard shortcuts, VGA support, and other user interface changes influenced by IBM standards. Windows 2 is the last version that supports installation to a floppy disk, and to be available as an application run-time. Later editions of Windows 2 added support for 286 high memory, and running applications in a 386 VDM. The versioning is a little confusing. 2.x and 2.x/386 were released side-by-side. When it reached 2.1x, the regular 8088 version was renamed to Windows 2.1x/286. This is all unified in Windows 3.0. | 1.0 | 2.x | 3.x | NT 3.x | 95 | NT 4.0 | 98 | 2000 | ME | All |

• 2.0
• Windows 286
• Windows 386

Windows 3.0 / 3.1 (1990) 618 Windows

Windows 3.x was the first to gain significant development and commercial traction. It combined the 8086, 286, and 386 modes of Windows 2 in to one package. It replaced the MSDOS Executive with a Program Manager and File Manager similar to those in OS/2 1.x. Much of its success was spurred by the availability and success of Microsoft Office. Although Microsoft would have had you believe otherwise, Windows 3.x was the direct foundation for Chicago/Windows 95. | 1.0 | 2.x | 3.x | NT 3.x | 95 | NT 4.0 | 98 | 2000 | ME | All |

• 3.0
• 3.0 TestDrive

Windows Personal Librarian (1988) 0 Reference Database Windows

Windows Personal Librarian is a CD database application for Microsoft Windows 2. It installs fine in a VM, but seems to need some additional configuration after that, but there are no instructions. This is likely a "client" tool meant only to display databases created elsewhere.

• 1

Windows SDK & DDK (1986) 50 Windows DOS

The Microsoft Windows Software Development Kits (SDK) provide sample program code, extra libraries, and documentation to aid application developers producing Windows applications. Microsoft Windows Driver Development Kits are similar sets of samples and libraries but specific to device driver development, and much more in-depth.

• Windows 1.x
• Windows 2.x
• Windows 3.0