This video takes a nostalgic look back at the PC computing landscape of June 1995, just prior to the release of Windows 95, through the lens of two popular UK magazines the speaker contributed to: "Computer Shopper" and "PC Plus." The speaker reminisces about the hefty size and content of these publications, including his own columns which covered software reviews (like XTree Gold and Lotus Organizer) and the ongoing operating system debates, particularly regarding OS/2 versus the emerging dominance of Windows. The central focus is a detailed recollection of a comparative review he authored for "PC Plus" on two new Windows-based development tools: Clarion for Windows and Borland's Delphi. He elaborates on the development philosophies, features, and user experience of both, ultimately explaining why Delphi, with its integrated environment, outshone Clarion, despite the latter's strong pedigree.
A Glimpse into Pre-Windows 95 Computing: Magazines, OS Debates, and a Showdown Between Clarion and Delphi
0:00:04 The Pre-Windows 95 Era: The video is set in June 1995, a period when Windows 3.1 was the standard, with Windows 95 anticipated for an August release. The speaker was actively writing for "Computer Shopper" and "PC Plus" magazines.
The speaker recalls his column "Rants and Rays," where he reviewed software like XTree Gold for Windows and Lotus Organizer, and discussed operating systems.
0:01:34 OS/2 Discussion: He recounts facing criticism from OS/2 enthusiasts for his remarks about the limited availability of major applications for OS/2, defending his critique by stating he also frequently criticized Microsoft products.
The June 1995 issue of "PC Plus" featured articles on power notebooks and image editing.
0:02:44 Cover Discs: A notable feature was the inclusion of cover discs, available on either CD or floppy, with the June 1995 edition offering an "Introduction to Windows 3.1."
0:03:12 The Clarion vs. Delphi Review: The speaker details a major comparative review he wrote for "PC Plus" focusing on two new Windows development tools: Clarion for Windows and Borland's Delphi.
0:03:27 Delphi's User Experience: He explains Delphi's intuitive, Visual Basic-like interface where developers could visually design interfaces and then attach code.
0:03:41 Clarion's Development Approach: Clarion was presented as a database development system with roots in TopSpeed (co-founded by Niels Jensen, formerly of Borland). The speaker even received a personal demo of Clarion from Jensen.
0:04:41 Delphi's Superiority: Despite his initial positive bias towards Clarion (due to his admiration for TopSpeed Modula-2), the speaker found that Delphi "simply outclassed" Clarion in the head-to-head comparison.
0:04:56 Key Differentiator: Clarion's segmented approach (separate tools for visual design, coding, database) was less efficient than Delphi's integrated environment, which made development significantly easier.
Delphi received higher scores for "Range of features" (10/10 vs. Clarion's 6/10) and "Overall speed" (10/10 vs. 8/10). However, Delphi's documentation was rated lower (6/10).
Pricing at the time: Delphi's entry-level version was £349, while Clarion was £495.
0:05:45 Final Verdict: The speaker confidently chose Delphi as the superior product, a conclusion he still supports.
0:05:54 Context and Future Topics: The video concludes by emphasizing that this snapshot of the computing world was immediately before the landmark release of Windows 95, a subject the speaker may explore in future content.