News

2009-04-06 08:11 UNIVAC-tastic!

The Invisible Boy provides Starring-the-Computer with its first mention of another important early computer - the UNIVAC.

2009-04-04 11:20 The IBM Most Likely To...

The IBM System/360 makes its first appearance on the Starring-the-Computer, featuring in The Girl Most Likely to.... There are also a couple more appearances of the veteran IBM AN/FSQ-7 to report in an episode of Columbo and in the deliciously awful Santa Claus Conquers the Martians. And the final bit of big-iron added in this update is the Burroughs B205, which lends its tape drive to The Right Stuff.

2009-03-29 11:48 Free Willy 5300

I've not added an Apple appearance to the database for more than three weeks, which makes a refreshing change, but here they come again! Free Willy 3 has a Apple Powerbook 5300c in it. Thanks to Marc for spotting this!

2009-03-26 23:08 Collateral Palmage

Collateral Damage has a small role for a Palm IIIc. I've also added yet another appearance of the IBM AN/FSQ-7, this time in Westworld.

2009-03-24 23:29 Silver Spoons

The Tandy TRS-80 Color Computer plays a crucial part in the plot of an episode of Silver Spoons. There's also a machine I have HELP[silver, not yet been able to identify] in the pilot of the series.

2009-03-21 00:04 First Kid

First Kid has a clutch of SGI machines with Indigo2s and an Indy playing an important part in the plot. There's an old Compaq LTE laptop in there too.

2009-03-13 23:13 ICT 1301

The ICT1301 is a new addition to Starring-the-Computer with two appearances initially - The Man With the Golden Gun, and Blakes 7.

2009-03-05 17:47 The Firm

The Firm has a sprinkling of Macs, none of which have featured on Starring-the-Computer yet. On display: a Powerbook 180, a Quadra 605, and a Mac IIsi.

2009-03-02 21:22 Spies Like Apples

Spies Like Us includes shots of an Apple II, and a HELP[spies, mystery computer]. Thanks to Jason L for bringing this one to my attention. I've also added another couple of AN/FSQ-7 appearances to the database: Snowball Express, and Zontar: The Thing from Venus.

2009-02-23 20:46 Honeywell Ryder

When I added Casino Royale to my DVD rental list I mistakenly asked for the 1967 spoof, rather than the 2006 film that I know has some fairly boring laptops in it. I watched it anyway and struck lucky - there's a Honeywell 200 series machine on display. Much more interesting than a couple of modern laptops! Also added to the database are a couple of disappointingly minor appearances in an episode of Wiseguy: a Mac and an A2000.

2009-02-17 23:36 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

An episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia features a Mac SE in a very minor role.

2009-02-14 22:11 Nuke National Lampoons

Two more movies that I've watched so you don't have to! The Class of Nuke 'Em High II has a Commodore Vic 20 (well it could be a C64, but its white colour makes me think it's a Vic 20), and National Lampoon's Vacation has an Apple II.

2009-02-10 22:23 For Philips Eyes Only

For Your Eyes Only appears to be a marketing coup for Philips - just about every bit of electronic equipment in the film is Philips branded from cassette recorders to computers. Computer-wise there are a couple of Philips office computers: the P5003 and the P330. I've also managed to identify the minicomputer in Phase IV that has been on the help page for ages - it's a GEC 4080.

2009-02-07 23:20 Short Circuit

Short Circuit provides us with an Apple Mac and a TRS-80, as well as a couple of mysteries (a HELP[shortcirc1, big chunky PC thing], and a HELP[shortcirc2, colourful keyboard]).

2009-02-06 23:55 Amstrad's Eternal Sunshine

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind has lots of nice shots of an Amstrad PPC640 portable PC - an improbable tool for an impossible job!

2009-02-04 22:50 Big Question

Big has a brief glimpse of an Atari 600/800 XL, as well as a couple of mystery PC clones including this HELP[big, Unisys]. Can you identify it?