Floppy Days 146 - Interview with Dan Bricklin, VisiCalc

Floppy Days Vintage Computing Podcast

Interview with Dan Bricklin, VisiCalc

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FloppyDays

Sponsors:

• 8-Bit Classics

• Arcade Shopper

• FutureVision Research

Hello, and welcome to episode 146 of the Floppy Days Podcast, for December, 2024. I am Randy Kindig, your host for this podcast.

This month I’m staying with the recent interview theme, as I continue to get the opportunity for interviews with some amazing icons from the early personal computer days.

This month, that person is Dan Bricklin, co-developer of the iconic VisiCalc software that helped kickstart the sales of early personal computers like the Apple II and began the important spreadsheet software category that persists until today. I published an interview with Dan’s partner in VisiCalc (and in Software Arts), Bob Frankston, back in 2023, and now Dan adds to the story in his own words.

Please note that I do plan to get back into producing episodes covering specific vintage computers. I’ve just had an amazing run of interview opportunities in recent months, which has reduced the time I had to do the research on computers for the podcast. Coming up in 2025 will be coverage of machines like the HP97, the Lobo Max-80, the Dragon, and the C64.

New Acquisitions

• Ian Mavric’s TRS-80 store on ebay - (https://www.ebay.com/str/trs80universe

• Lee Felsenstein’s book “Me and My Big Ideas: Counterculture, Social Media, and the Future” at Amazon (sponsor link) - https://amzn.to/3Wh6o9h

• Lee Felsenstein (Fel-zen-stine) interview on Floppy Days - https://floppydays.libsyn.com/floppy-days-90-lee-felsenstein-interview

• Lee Felsenstein co-hosting episode on Osborne computer (history) on Floppy Days - https://floppydays.libsyn.com/floppy-days-91-the-osborne-1-with-lee-felsenstein

• Forrest Mims’ book “Maverick Scientist: My Adventures as an Amateur Scientist” at Amazon (sponsor link) - https://amzn.to/3BxDuKT

• Forrest Mims interview on Floppy Days - https://floppydays.libsyn.com/floppy-days-130-interview-with-forrest-mims-iii

News and Upcoming Computer Shows

• News

• The VintNerd (Steve Diedierch) and FutureVision Research (Brian Cox) FujiNet video - https://youtu.be/0XcsSznKbTs

• “Priming the Pump” book by David and Theresa Welsh - Kindle version - https://amzn.to/41Nrlw0

• Upcoming Shows

• Virtual Tandy Retro Show (online) - January 25 - https://tandyretroshow.com

• Vintage Computer Festival SoCal - February 15-17, 2025 - Hotel Fera Events Center, Orange, CA - vcfsocal.com

• Midwest Gaming Classic - April 4-6 - Baird Center, Milwaukee, WI - https://www.midwestgamingclassic.com/

• VCF East - April 4-6, 2024 - Wall, NJ - http://www.vcfed.org

• Indy Classic Computer and Video Game Expo - April 12-13 - Crowne Plaza Airport Hotel, Indianapolis, IN - https://indyclassic.org/

• Schedule Published on Floppy Days Website - https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSeLsg4hf5KZKtpxwUQgacCIsqeIdQeZniq3yE881wOCCYskpLVs5OO1PZLqRRF2t5fUUiaKByqQrgA/pub

Interview

• Bob Frankston interview on Floppy Days - https://floppydays.libsyn.com/floppy-days-126-bob-frankston-visicalc

• Dan Bricklin’s Website - http://www.bricklin.com/default.htm

• Dan Bricklin's book "Bricklin on Technology" (sponsor link) - https://amzn.to/49X8DUP