Dear Subscriber,
Merry Christmas! We’re thrilled to share a unique gift with you this holiday season—a subscription to Softalk magazine. Admittedly, it’s arriving about 41 years late, and while we apologize for the delay, we think you’ll agree it’s better late than never!
For those unfamiliar, Softalk (ISSN 0274-9629) was an iconic magazine of the early 1980s, dedicated to the world of the Apple II computer. Published from September 1980 to August 1984, Softalk was more than just a magazine; it was a cultural touchstone for the burgeoning personal computing community. Covering everything from hardware and software to the people and companies shaping the industry, it offered a uniquely broad perspective that appealed to Apple enthusiasts of all kinds.
The origins of Softalk are as fascinating as its content. Its founding was made possible by Margot Comstock, who used her winnings from the TV game show Password to help launch the magazine. Early support also came from contributions by John Haller, as well as a bold decision by Margot and Al Tommervik to take a second mortgage on their home. Founding partners William V. R. Smith III and William Depew lent early office space in their Softape storeroom and surprised the team with office desks when Softalk moved to its own location.
Unlike other computer publications of its time, Softalk embraced an insider, playful voice, offering broad coverage that included programming tips, game reviews, business insights, and even fiction. The magazine’s contributors were a who’s who of early tech innovators, including Bert Kersey of Beagle Bros, Doug Carlston of Broderbund, and Mark Pelczarski of Penguin Software. Regular features like its monthly bestseller charts—akin to the Billboard charts for software—made it a must-read for the Apple II community.
Originally mailed free to registered Apple owners, Softalk later switched to a paid subscription model, but its growing readership and popularity couldn’t outpace the challenges of an industry slump in 1984. Despite its short run of just 48 months, Softalk achieved an influential place in tech history, with its readership growing from 30,000 to a staggering 250,000 and earning a spot on the prestigious Folio 400 list.
As you enjoy this belated but timeless subscription, we hope you’ll appreciate the legacy of Softalk and the excitement it brought to Apple enthusiasts during those formative years of personal computing. Thank you for being part of this special celebration of computing history!
Warm regards,
Circulation/Subscriptions Department of defunct magazines
