Computerworld.com launched 13 years ago

We're moving to a new office building in a couple of weeks, so I'm going through a lot of old papers as I pack up. Best archaeological find so far: "@Computerworld Launched January 8," from 1996.

That's quite a long time ago in Web time (half a year even before MSNBC appeared online).

"One important aspect of @Computerworld is to provide news, analyses and dialogue opportunities on the adoption and management of Web technology for the business enterprise," says our announcement of the launch.

That certainly hasn't changed, although our Web mission has broadened quite a bit since then!

Another feature we noted proudly: "interactivity through hyperlinks IS readers can use to find related information at other sites on the Web." Not to mention discussion forums so "the audience can respond immediately" to various commentaries. It's cool to see that we valued online community from the start, a decade before "Web 2.0" became a Generally Accepted Term.

An accompanying image of the January '96 home page includes a prominent profile of Netscape with logo and a forum query "1996: The Year of the Intranet?"

It's interesting to read some of the crystal-ball gazing from that time. Our then editor in chief said he was a self-proclaimed online junkie even back then, but argued that print and online wil go hand in hand.

"On-line services are only going to get better and higher speed modems and faster PCs will make cyberspace more bearable," Paul Gillin predicted 13 years ago. 

"But until they can fit PCs connected to high-speed wireless networks in briefcases, back pockets and under your arm on the subway, readers will continue to rely on paper."