Starring the Computer

Starring the Computer is a website dedicated to the use of computers in film and television. Each appearance is catalogued and rated on its importance (ie. how important it is to the plot), realism (how close its appearance and capabilities are to the real thing) and visibility (how good a look does one get of it). Fictional computers don't count (unless they are built out of bits of real computer), so no HAL9000 - sorry.

Please let me know if you spot any mistakes, or have any tips about films not mentioned here that feature computers.

James Carter <james@starringthecomputer.com>

News

2012-01-22 23:13 64 is 30: The Commodore 64 just turned 30 and here it is making a brief appearance in the 1985 film Chiller.
2011-12-20 23:58 Parker's 8800: The first episode of season 12 of Parker Lewis Can't Lose features both a Atari Mega ST and a MITS Altair 8800.
2011-12-13 22:59 A couple of PCs: Working Girl features a IBM PS/2 Model 50/70 and the season 9 Facts of Life episode Dear Apple has a vital role for a IBM PC XT.
2011-11-25 23:35 Victor 9000/Sirius 1: The second series Bergerac episode A Message for the Rich has a small role for Starring-the-Computer's first Sirius 1.
2011-11-18 19:28 Hot Tub Freaks: Two more computers make their Starring-the-Computer debuts. There is a Casio Cassiopeia E-100 in Eight Legged Freaks, and an Alienware Area 51 m15x in Hot Tub Time Machine (along with the briefest of glimpses of an Apple IIc).
2011-10-25 22:45 Aptiva S: Thanks to Bruce for spotting that the mystery computer in Bullet Ballet was an IBM Aptiva S.
2011-10-22 00:11 Mega Mac Update: Here's a big update of Apple Mac appearances. The Park is Mine, The Shaman and Hot Pursuit all feature a Macintosh. The Only Fools and Horses episode The Jolly Boy's Outing has a Macintosh SE. Jurassic Park III has a Macintosh IIcx/IIci. Mosura 2 - Kaitei no daikessen and Home Alone 3 both feature Power Macintoshes with Home Alone adding a Powerbook 5300 and two Starring-the-Computer newcomers, the IBM Thinkpad 760 and the Palm Pilot 1000/5000. Les Poupees Ruuse has an iMac G3 and a Macbook. Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay has a iMac G5, an Macbook and a Nokia 770. The Devil Wears Prada has an iMac G5 and a Macbook Pro. Chloe and Bedtime Stories both feature the Aluminum iMac and also have a Macbook and a Macbook Pro respectively.
2011-10-18 22:49 VTech Laser 128: The film Prison offers Starring-the-Computer's first appearance of a VTech Laser 128.
2011-10-15 22:57 Three Compaqs: Three Compaq PCs make their Starring-the-Computer debut in this update: The Last Seduction II features a Deskpro 386N and The Airzone Solution has roles for a Deskpro 386S and a Prolinea.
2011-10-13 01:11 VERSA vs VERSA: Two NEC VERSA laptops make their Starring-the-Computer debut. A 4050H appears in Masterminds and a 6060 has a brief role in Lethal Weapon 4.