News

2014-01-21 22:21 From Russia with Robotron

The Soviet film Charodei offers some good shots a new computer for the database, the East German Robotron EC 1040 - a clone of the IBM System/360. Thanks to Fabrice for the tip!

2014-01-08 22:53 Dynamac EL

Physical Evidence provides Starring the Computer with its first, and in all likelihood only, Dynamac EL - an officially licensed portable Macintosh Plus.

2013-12-30 23:18 Last update of 2013

Bi gui zhuo has an Atari 600XL, Fast Five has a Panasonic Toughbook 29, and the Begerac episode A Cry in the Night has a Commodore PET. I've got a few more debut appearances for computers lined up for the new year. See you in 2014!

2013-11-23 19:10 Iron Man X2

Continuing a good run of debut appearances, Iron Man 3 offers Starring the Computer its first Oracle Exadata X2 even if it is a brief and rather unlikely appearance.

2013-11-16 14:45 Cries from the GRiD

Making its Starring-the-Computer debut, a GRiD GridPad Convertible 2260 plays a pivotal role in the TV movie Cries from the Heart.

2013-11-02 14:08 CDC 3400

The CDC 3400 makes its first Starring-the-Computer appearance in the 1967 TV movie Mars Needs Women. Thanks very much to Chuck for letting me know about this one and helping me work out which machine it was.

2013-10-26 20:02 A pair of European Apples

German film Der Stand der Dinge has an Apple II, whilst the Danish movie Over Kanten is somewhat more up to date with an Aluminum iMac.

2013-10-06 22:45 An update! Remember them?

Not had an update for ages, sorry! Outpost 2: Black Sun has a Panasonic Toughbook, What Lies Beneath has both a Apple Macintosh Quadra 630 and a Compaq Prolinea 3/4, Love has a rather strange appearance for a Apple IIe and The Black Balloon has the odd glimpse of a Commodore 64.

2013-08-30 22:14 Rambo's Apple

An Apple II makes the briefest of appearances in the first Rambo film First Blood.

2013-08-23 22:57 For IBM's Eyes Only

The James Bond film Octopussy has the briefest of roles for an IBM Displaywriter.

2013-08-17 23:19 Professional Defense

Best Defense offers Starring the Computer its first DEC Professional 300 series machine, in a pretty important role too. Thanks to Dirk for giving me the tip on this one.

2013-08-10 19:51 August Apples

Another bunch of Apples to report. Watchers has Macintosh and Macintosh SEs. Next Stop Wonderland has a Macintosh. Volcano has a Powerbook Duo, a Powerbook 5300 and a Macintosh LC. Scream 4 has a Macbook and a Aluminium iMac. Orange County has iMac G3s and a Quadra 605. The eighth episode of The Sporanos' second season has a Powerbook G3. Le dîner de cons has a Macintosh IIsi, a Powerbook 3400 and a Macintosh 5000. Finally, The Interpreter has a Powerbook G4. Thanks very much to Oscar who has been my chief reporter of Apple appearances and tipped me off about most of these.

2013-07-20 14:47 The Ultimate Sigma 7?

An SDS Sigma 7 plays a vital role in the failed TV pilot The Ultimate Imposter.

2013-06-18 11:04 An 80s collection.

Not all these films are from the 1980s, but they all find space for computers from the 80s. Smart Money has Apricot Xens and Acorn BBC Masters. There's a brief appearance of a Olivetti M20 in Nightmare at Noon. There are pivotal roles for a Commodore Amiga 500 and a Apple IIe in Midnight Follies - The Crystal Ball and the Fraggle Rock episode The Challenge respectively. And finally. Elite Squad offers Starring the Computer its first appearance of a Prologica CP 500.

2013-05-18 18:13 FSQ-7s in Space

Another little collection of IBM AN/FSQ-7s have come along including an episode of The Invaders (The Believers) and a number of Lost in Space Episodes: Condemned of Space, Kidnapped in Space and The Space Creature (some of which also feature Burroughs B205 tape drives).

2013-05-17 21:33 AT&T for two

There is an AT&T PC 6300 in Doin' Time on Planet Earth and a AT&T PC 7300 in They Live.