The Greatest Retro Computer Ads!

Remember the good old days when memory was counted in kilobytes, floppy discs were actually floppy, and you had to hook your computer up to a television set if you wanted a screen? Join us on a trip down memory lane with these classic computer ads.

1. Atari Home Computer

2. Vic 20 Ad with William Shatner

Heralded as the 'wonder computer of the 1980s' the Vic 20 was big news, and with Captain Kirk beamed down to sell it you had to take notice! In a beige crumpled v-neck the leader of the Starship Enterprise makes sure we know this machine even has a 'real computer keyboard'.

3. Oric Atmos 48K

4. Early Apple Advert 1977

Strictly pre-eighties, as this advert was made in 1977. But its one of the earliest home computer adverts so makes the list. Delivered in a robotic voice the ad says you can 'hook it up to your TV to make dazzling colour displays' - useful stuff huh? Or even... 'balance your cheque book and kids can teach themselves arithmetic' Pocket calculators would have been shaking in their boots everywhere...

5. Windows 1.0

Steve Ballmer presents Windows 1.0. He does this in a hyperactive fashion reminiscent of a horse racing commentator. He bamboozles the viewer to 'Watch as Windows integrates Lotus 123 with Miami Vice'?!. I guess you had to be there. Though the big surprise is the price. Only $99.00!

6. Commodore 64

In this 1982 advert Commodore ask 'Which is the best computer based on price and memory?' To do this they use their competitors computers. Not the most complex analysis in the world, but they all said it was the Commodore....now there's a surprise.

7. Amstrad 8256

It’s more than a word processor—and it’s less than most typewriters. This ad for the Amstrad 8256 touts the machine’s “BIG” 256K of memory. It gives you a blast from the past with shots of dot matrix printers, hard disks (remember those?) and that eye-exhausting green type. Get one of these, and you’re sure to want to throw your old computer out.

8. Early Mac Commercial

This groundbreaking, 1984-inspired commercial features a look into a gray world of blank-faced drones dressed in identical gray garb, being fed propaganda from an oppressive government regime. A woman—in color, with bright red running shorts—throws a hammer at the propaganda-spewing screen, shattering it and setting the oppressed masses free. The commercial was aired before the launch of Apple’s first Macintosh in January of 1984—clearly implying that the product would set PC users free from the oppressive regime of Microsoft and IBM.

9. Radio Shack Color Computers

This old computer commercial features Radio Shack’s Color Computer 3. Featuring a nerdy boy and a sporty boy, both using the same computer. At first, the nerdy kid is doing his homework and the sports fan is playing a football game—but then they switch! The point of the ad, perhaps, is to demonstrate that not only does this computer appeal to all interests, it will get your fun-loving kids to do their homework—and the geeky ones to loosen up and have some fun.

10. ZX81 Spectrum Advert

This ad for the ZX Spectrum computer advertises a professional keyboard with “extra keys” and “positive typing action.” Best of all? You can get it for $179.95. Gee wow!

11. Hewlett Packard

This ad targets small businesses with a computer that lets you keep track of ledgers and inventory, and write letters to boot! Oh, and look—the cute little caterpillar turns into a butterfly at the end. Just like your business will if you buy this computer.

12. Apple Hal Advert

13. Magnavox Video Writer

'Say goodbye to typing mistakes, misspelled words, wasted time and paper'. The Magnavox threw some strong punch lines. It even erased mistakes on screen before they appear on paper. You can 'Do or un do'... Whoo hoo! The only downside seemed to be the memory was not enough for writing a book.

14. Tandy 1000 TX

A somewhat unconvincing presenter gives us the pitch on this baby. Apparently the 1000 TX delivers 'Incredible speed' at 'an amazing low price'. The only concern is this all happens by running off a built in 3.5 inc built in disc drive. How things have changed...

15. RadioShack TRS80

'Let the TRS80 put the world of colour computing into your home' and who wouldn't want that? Originally made by Kyocera and looking like a bigger and whiter version of the ZX 81 the TRS80 ad tells us you can 'Turn your TV into an exciting game arcade'. This computer doesn't stop there. Apparently it's also a home management tool as well as an up to the minute electronic information service. At only 32k as standard and without an Internet connection all we can say is... wow!