Softdisk (disk magazine)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing, software, Internet services |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Founder | Jim Mangham |
| Headquarters | Shreveport, Louisiana , United States |
| Products | Disk magazines, software publishing, Internet access and hosting services |
Softdisk (), initially known as Softdisk Magazette, was a disk magazine designed for the Apple II series of computers, with publication spanning from 1981 through 1995. It represented the inaugural offering from Softdisk, a company that eventually diversified into disk magazines for various platforms, software publishing, and Internet-related services such as access provision, hosting, and software development.
History
Conceived by Jim Mangham during his tenure at the LSU Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana, the magazine was originally intended to be called The Harbinger Magazette. Instead, it debuted as Softdisk Magazette, a coined term combining "magazine" and "diskette". Operations were managed out of Mangham's residence with collaboration from partners including his then-wife Judi Mangham, colleague Al Vekovius, and support from Softalk magazine.
The inaugural issue was released in September 1981 on a single 5.25" floppy disk featuring data on both sides. Content in the early editions was limited; notably, the October 1981 version was later designated as issue "#1", while the very first release was retrospectively labeled "#0" or left unnumbered.
Subscribers were initially required to mail back the previous month's disk to obtain the subsequent issue. This system utilized reusable mailing envelopes with prepaid return labels, which helped minimize expenses given the high cost of floppy disks and allowed readers to submit feedback and content through the returned disks.
In its early phase, contributors were compensated not with money but with coupons redeemable for free issues. This approach encouraged a community-driven model focused on participation rather than financial gain, serving as an early example of collaborative content creation similar to open-source initiatives. Eventually, Softdisk evolved into a traditional commercial enterprise featuring salaried employees and freelance contributors, offering annual subscriptions and retail distribution without necessitating disk returns.
Within the Apple II platform, Softdisk introduced Softdisk G-S in 1989 to capitalize on the Apple IIGS's advanced graphics and audio capabilities; this edition remained in circulation until 1997. The publisher also produced Diskworld for Macintosh users—later renamed Softdisk for Mac—and adapted its Apple II interface accordingly. Although the Apple II became obsolete in mainstream computing circles, Softdisk continued publication until August 1995 with issue #166 before ceasing under editor Peter Rokitski. Other Softdisk disk magazines targeting Macintosh and Windows platforms persisted briefly afterward until the entire line was ultimately discontinued.