Seems so long ago that word processors processed words and image processors processed images. Then when programs were created to process both in the same document it became desktop publishing. This all seemed to come about at around the time when the 16 bit computers were replacing the older 8-bit computers. More speed and memory made the process faster and easier plus the newer graphical user interfaces were coming online to streamline the process. There were still enough Atari, Apple and Commodore computers in use to make it seem worth the effort to produce software.

In 1988 Springboard Software, Inc. distributed "The Newsroom" for the Atari 8-bit line of computers. The program made it possible to place clip art on the screen and have the text wrap around the pictures in 3 different fonts and 2 sizes. You would build a page by creating a banner for the top and 6 or 8 panels for the body. The banner and panels were combined in the print process. To make things even easier, the text did not scroll into the next panel, so editing the text became problematic. And no spell checker.

The Porkard Report came about as a means to learn the new software. The software came with free clip art that contained pigs, someone I knew had a pig collection and was also a teacher; what more did I need to get started.

After 17 issues, it became time to pack up the old Atari to make room for the next (bigger, faster, better?) computer. At the time, the polished look of the documents being created with the (bigger, faster, better?) computer and printer technology would not have given the same home grown feel. I decided not to port the ideas over to the new equipment. I still have the old equipment and a real file folder full of ideas waiting for some free time. Hay.... you never know.


February 1989
May 1989
August 1989
November 1989
December 1989
March 1990
April 1990
May 1990
September 1990
December 1990
February 1991
June 1991
October 1991
December 1991
September 1992
July 1994
September 1994


BACK