Katie Cadet
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Hello fellow bronies! I've encountered some rare gems in the history of Katie Cadet's Computer and Video Game Collection, and this one is about the InterFact Book and CD-ROM/Floppy Disk series that is an early 1990s example of eBooks from 2010s tablet devices, but way before the latter became popular! The InterFact Book and CD-ROM (or Floppy Disk) series were released in the 1990s by Two-Can Publishing and World Book that combines physical paper reading in a binder-style book with computer-based interactivity on a floppy disk or CD-ROM designed for children, featuring science and history topics of different subjects. Two-Can Publishing is also responsible for publishing children’s books from Alan Rogers’ Little Giants series such as Blue Tortoise, Red Rhino, Green Bear and Yellow Hippo, which eventually went to the CD-ROM world in 1995 for Macintosh and Windows 3.1 developed by Motion Works and published by Corel, which H+A acquired the Corel CD Home series in 1997 before its abandonment in 2000. The InterFact CD-ROM and Floppy Disk series were developed using Authorware 2.2, and will work on a variety of systems with no installation required from Windows 3.1 (unofficially Windows 3.0) up to Windows 10 32-bit (Incompatible with Windows 11 and 64-bit systems), and on Macintosh computers running System Software 6.0 up to Mac OS 9.2.2 (including OS X Classic Environment, but not compatible with Leopard and above). The InterFact Book and CD-ROM/Floppy Disk series uses low memory and processor requirements, requiring at least at 68020 Macintosh or 386SX IBM PC Compatible at 16 MHz with 4 MB of RAM. The titles will look best at 256 colours with 640×480 screen resolution, although they can work in 256 grayscale like my PowerBook 180 as long as the resolution is set to 640×480. The InterFact series is also SheepShaver, Basilisk II and Mini vMac II compatible, but it runs on Mini vMac (the same is true with a Mac Plus or a Mac SE), but not enough screen resolution and memory for the titles to run properly! Also, when running under a Mac Plus/SE or Mini vMac, the graphics will look pale due to using the 1-bit black and white depth, so I recommend using 256 grayscale or 256 colours for the best experience. For the Windows side, it will work on most emulators and virtualization suites, including Linux with Wine, as long as you use a 32-bit operating system due to the program being 16-bit. For the Macintosh side, the program is 68k only with no PowerPC code in sight. Some of the titles I remember in the InterFact series are the Electricity and Magnetism title and the Vikings title. I remember borrowing the Electricity and Magnetism title from the public library back then (early 2000s to be exact)! The Vikings title is the one we found second-hand back in the late 2000s. (It seems to be from a garage sale of all things!) The file size for each InterFact CD-ROM or Floppy Disk is around 2-10 MB, which explains the low memory and processor requirements explained earlier. These books are long out-of-print, and you know, it's unusual to see unusual book formats! Don't you think? It seems that Book and CD-ROM/Floppy Disk titles for children was pretty much outdated, but I didn’t know that these titles existed when I was a kid! Nowadays, a book would feature a QR code to scan for additional content on a smartphone or tablet, thus not needing a CD-ROM or floppy disk to access additional content! Times have changed, and technology changes too! And now we have eBooks that contain interactivity! It shows how far we progressed over the years! Version 2.0 of the InterFact series came out in 1997, so there you go! On the InterFact book series, while you are reading a book based on a topic, you will encounter an icon which prompts you to insert the floppy disk or CD-ROM on a Windows or Macintosh computer, and you use the arrow buttons to pick the icon that matches what’s on the book, providing interactive activities related to the subject. It makes book reading a lot more fun and interactive! What are your opinions on the InterFact Book and CD-ROM/Floppy Disk series? Discuss the series here, and take care! Regards, Katie Cadet
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Katie Cadet's Computer and Video Game Collection Testing results for the Complete Christian Collection by Packard Technologies:
- Compatible with Linux on Wine. (Will also work on Intel Macs.)
- Compatible with Windows 10 64-bit. (Will also work on most virtual machines such as VMWare, VirtualBox, Parallels Desktop, and Bochs on Linux and Intel/Apple Silicon Macs. Windows 11 uncertain.)
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Katie Cadet's Computer and Video Game Collection Testing results for InterFact Vikings:
- Compatible with Linux on Wine. (Will also work on Intel Macs.)
- Compatible with Windows 10 32-bit. (Will also work on most virtual machines such as VMWare, VirtualBox, Parallels Desktop, and Bochs on Linux and Intel/Apple Silicon Macs. Not compatible with 64-bit systems and Windows 11.)
- Compatible with SheepShaver running Mac OS 9.0.4 (Power Macintosh G3) with Infinite Mac.
- Compatible with Basilisk II running Mac OS 8.1 (Quadra 650) with Infinite Mac.
- Compatible with Mini vMac II running System Software 6.0 up to System Software 7.5.5 (Mac II) with Infinite Mac.
- Compatible with Classic Mac OS versions up to Mac OS 9.2.2, including Mac OS X Classic Environment on PowerPC Macs up to Mac OS X 10.4.11. (Not for Intel.)
- Problematic on Mini vMac running System Software 6.0 up to System Software 7.0 (Mac Plus and Mac SE) with Infinite Mac.
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Katie Cadet's Computer and Video Game Collection Testing results for Master Gecko’s Home Row Typing by Ohio Distinctive Software:
- Compatible with Linux on Wine. (Will also work on Intel Macs.)
- Compatible with Windows 10 64-bit. (Will also work on most virtual machines such as VMWare, VirtualBox, Parallels Desktop, and Bochs on Linux and Intel/Apple Silicon Macs. Windows 11 uncertain.)
- Compatible with SheepShaver running Mac OS 9.0.4 (Power Macintosh G3) with Infinite Mac.
- Compatible with Basilisk II running Mac OS 7.5 (Quadra 650) with Infinite Mac.
- Compatible with Classic Mac OS versions up to Mac OS 9.2.2, including Mac OS X Classic Environment on PowerPC Macs up to Mac OS X 10.4.11. (Not for Intel.)
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Katie Cadet's Computer and Video Game Collection Testing results for Liftoff Space Simulation Series Part 1:
- Not tested on Linux on Wine.
- Compatible with Windows 10 64-bit as tested on an Acer Aspire 5552. (Identical to my Custom Built High Performance Windows 10 Gaming PC, an HP Pavilion 15 Gaming Laptop and an Acer Aspire ATC-280-EB11 with the same OS. Will also work on most virtual machines such as VMWare, VirtualBox, Parallels Desktop, and Bochs on Linux and Intel/Apple Silicon Macs. Windows 11 possible.)
- Compatible with Classic Mac OS versions (PowerPC only) from Mac OS 8.1 up to Mac OS 9.2.2, including Mac OS X Classic Environment on PowerPC Macs up to Mac OS X 10.4.11. (Carbonized. (will work up to Mac OS X 10.6.8 Snow Leopard.))
- Not tested on SheepShaver.
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Katie Cadet's Computer and Video Game Collection Testing results for Arc Media's Whales (found at a thrift store):
- Not tested with Linux on Wine.
- Compatible with Windows 10 64-bit. (Will also work on most virtual machines such as VMWare, VirtualBox, Parallels Desktop, and Bochs on Linux and Intel/Apple Silicon Macs. Windows 11 uncertain.)
- Compatible with SheepShaver running Mac OS 9.0.4 (Power Macintosh G3) as tested on Infinite Mac.
- Compatible with Basilisk II running Mac OS 7.6 (Mac IIFX) as tested on Infinite Mac.
- Compatible with Classic Mac OS versions up to Mac OS 9.2.2, including Mac OS X Classic Environment on PowerPC Macs up to Mac OS X 10.4.11. (Not for Intel.)
- Incompatible with Mini vMac II running SSW 7 (Mac II) as tested on Infinite Mac. Reason: Crashes the emulator on startup. (Even though the system requirements mention a 68020.)
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The Mars Software/Arc Media titles was a tough one for Mini vMac II emulation on Infinite Mac! When I started one of the titles from 1998 on that emulator, it hard crashed with a bomb error message saying that it is a BAD F-LINE INSTRUCTION! (Ah, the good old days of the macOS…) Fortunately, it worked fine on SheepShaver (Mac OS 9.0.4) and Basilisk II (Mac IIFX, Mac OS 7.6), so the backup plan was working very well in my opinion! Of course, you will need a beefier 68030 Macintosh to play these Arc Media/Mars Software titles from 1998, as a 68020 Macintosh, especially Mini vMac II emulation, won’t cut it!
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The Mars Software/Arc Media titles from 1998 require a beefier 68030 Macintosh or a beefier 486SX IBM PC Compatible running Windows 3.1 up to Windows 10, and System Software 7.0 up to Mac OS 9.2.2. It may work on 68020 Macintosh computers, but I’ve tried them on Mini vMac II, and like I said before, they hard crash the emulator! I don’t have a real 68020 Macintosh, so I cannot test a similar effect.
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Katie Cadet's Computer and Video Game Collection Testing results for Arc Media's Dinosaurs (found at a thrift store):
- Not tested with Linux on Wine.
- Compatible with Windows 10 64-bit. (Will also work on most virtual machines such as VMWare, VirtualBox, Parallels Desktop, and Bochs on Linux and Intel/Apple Silicon Macs. Windows 11 uncertain.)
- Compatible with SheepShaver running Mac OS 9.0.4 (Power Macintosh G3) as tested on Infinite Mac.
- Compatible with Basilisk II running Mac OS 7.6 (Mac IIFX) as tested on Infinite Mac.
- Compatible with Classic Mac OS versions up to Mac OS 9.2.2, including Mac OS X Classic Environment on PowerPC Macs up to Mac OS X 10.4.11. (Not for Intel.)
- Incompatible with Mini vMac II running SSW 7 (Mac II) as tested on Infinite Mac. Reason: Crashes the emulator on startup. (Even though the system requirements mention a 68020.)
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The Mars Software/Arc Media titles was a tough one for Mini vMac II emulation on Infinite Mac! When I started one of the titles from 1998 on that emulator, it hard crashed with a bomb error message saying that it is a BAD F-LINE INSTRUCTION! (Ah, the good old days of the macOS…) Fortunately, it worked fine on SheepShaver (Mac OS 9.0.4) and Basilisk II (Mac IIFX, Mac OS 7.6), so the backup plan was working very well in my opinion! Of course, you will need a beefier 68030 Macintosh to play these Arc Media/Mars Software titles from 1998, as a 68020 Macintosh, especially Mini vMac II emulation, won’t cut it!
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The Mars Software/Arc Media titles from 1998 require a beefier 68030 Macintosh or a beefier 486SX IBM PC Compatible running Windows 3.1 up to Windows 10, and System Software 7.0 up to Mac OS 9.2.2. It may work on 68020 Macintosh computers, but I’ve tried them on Mini vMac II, and like I said before, they hard crash the emulator! I don’t have a real 68020 Macintosh, so I cannot test a similar effect.
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Katie Cadet's Computer and Video Game Collection Testing results for Arc Media's Visual French Language Learning Series (found at a thrift store):
- Not tested with Linux on Wine.
- Compatible with Windows 10 64-bit. (Will also work on most virtual machines such as VMWare, VirtualBox, Parallels Desktop, and Bochs on Linux and Intel/Apple Silicon Macs. Windows 11 uncertain.)
- Compatible with SheepShaver running Mac OS 9.0.4 (Power Macintosh G3) as tested on Infinite Mac.
- Compatible with Basilisk II running Mac OS 7.6 (Mac IIFX) as tested on Infinite Mac.
- Compatible with Classic Mac OS versions up to Mac OS 9.2.2, including Mac OS X Classic Environment on PowerPC Macs up to Mac OS X 10.4.11. (Not for Intel.)
- Incompatible with Mini vMac II running SSW 7 (Mac II) as tested on Infinite Mac. Reason: Crashes the emulator on startup. (Even though the system requirements mention a 68020.)
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The Mars Software/Arc Media titles was a tough one for Mini vMac II emulation on Infinite Mac! When I started one of the titles from 1998 on that emulator, it hard crashed with a bomb error message saying that it is a BAD F-LINE INSTRUCTION! (Ah, the good old days of the macOS…) Fortunately, it worked fine on SheepShaver (Mac OS 9.0.4) and Basilisk II (Mac IIFX, Mac OS 7.6), so the backup plan was working very well in my opinion! Of course, you will need a beefier 68030 Macintosh to play these Arc Media/Mars Software titles from 1998, as a 68020 Macintosh, especially Mini vMac II emulation, won’t cut it!
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The Mars Software/Arc Media titles from 1998 require a beefier 68030 Macintosh or a beefier 486SX IBM PC Compatible running Windows 3.1 up to Windows 10, and System Software 7.0 up to Mac OS 9.2.2. It may work on 68020 Macintosh computers, but I’ve tried them on Mini vMac II, and like I said before, they hard crash the emulator! I don’t have a real 68020 Macintosh, so I cannot test a similar effect.
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Katie Cadet's Computer and Video Game Collection Testing results for Hachette FLE Alter Ego + 1 CD-ROM (found at a garage sale):
- Compatible with Linux.
- Compatible with Windows 11.
- Compatible with macOS 14 Sonoma as tested on a 2017 iMac Pro. (macOS 15 Sequoia possible.)
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Katie Cadet's Computer and Video Game Collection Testing results for EuroTalk Vocabulary Builder Canadian French:
- Compatible with Windows 10 64-bit as tested on an Acer Aspire 5552 and on a Custom Built High Performance Windows 10 Gaming PC. (Identical to an HP Pavilion 15 Gaming Laptop and an Acer Aspire ATC-280-EB11 with the same OS. Windows 11 uncertain.)
- Compatible with Mac OS X 10.11.6 El Capitan as tested on a Late 2012 Mac Mini and on a 15-inch Mid-2009 MacBook Pro. (Compatibility up to macOS 10.14 Mojave uncertain, but may work.)
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Katie Cadet's Computer and Video Game Collection Testing results for Plumo on the Farm by Micro-Intel/Les Jeux GB (found at a garage sale):
- Compatible with Linux on Wine (tested on version 5.18) as tested on a Gateway 3522 Laptop running antiX Linux 19.3 32-bit. (Will also work on Intel Macs.)
- Compatible with Windows 10 64-bit as tested on a Custom Built High Performance Windows 10 Gaming PC. (Identical to an HP Pavilion 15 Gaming Laptop and an Acer Aspire ATC-280-EB11 with the same OS. Will also work on most virtual machines such as VMWare, VirtualBox, Parallels Desktop, and Bochs on Linux and Intel/Apple Silicon Macs. Windows 11 uncertain.)
- Compatible with SheepShaver running Mac OS 9.0.4 (Power Macintosh G3) as tested on an iMac Pro (2017) running macOS Sonoma with Infinite Mac.
- Compatible with Basilisk II running SSW 7.1/Mac OS 7.5 (Quadra 650) as tested on an iMac Pro (2017) running macOS Sonoma with Infinite Mac.
- Compatible with Classic Mac OS versions up to Mac OS 9.2.2, including Mac OS X Classic Environment on PowerPC Macs up to Mac OS X 10.4.11. (Not for Intel.)
- Incompatible with Mini vMac II running SSW 7.0 (Mac II) as tested on an iMac Pro (2017) running macOS Sonoma with Infinite Mac. Reason: Crashes the emulator on startup. (Even though the system requirements mention a 68020.)
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Got a Beatles 1 compilation cassette from 2000 from a local thrift store and sounded great on my Nakamichi CR-1A with 24-bit digital remastering, XDR quality control, Dolby HX-Pro, and Dolby B-type Noise Reduction.
(Beatles 1 (1+) is also available on Vinyl LP, DVD (Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 Surround Sound), and Blu-ray (Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround Sound).)
The other cassette from 2000 that I got earlier was a press kit of Steve Bell, a Canadian Christian Singer/Songwriter, and played fine on my Nakamichi CR-1A with CrO2 (Chrome/Chromium Dioxide) tape formulation, Dolby HX-Pro, and Dolby B-type Noise Reduction.
The latest audiobook on cassette that I also got at a thrift store is from Carol Higgins Clark from 2003, briefly played on a JVC portable from 1982 and sounded good to me.
For completeness sake of the Beatles 1, I also found the Beatles 1962-1966 compilation on XDR HX-Pro cassette and on Compact Disc, and the Beatles 1967-1970 compilation on Compact Disc, both sourced from pure analog masters.
(The Beatles 1962-1966 and The Beatles 1967-1970 compilations are also available on Vinyl LP, Blu-ray (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Surround Sound/Dolby Atmos Immersive Audio), and 24-bit digital download and streaming.)
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Acquired a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray of 2001 A Space Odyssey (1967) from a local thrift store (July 2024). (R.I.P. Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke)
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Newcomer to the 80s Office Stereo System (July 2024):
- SEARS RE-1000 8-track Cartridge Player (1970s)
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Newcomer to Katie Cadet's Computer and Video Game Collection (June 2024):
- Acer Aspire ATC-280-EB11 (2016-2017)
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I've picked up the Dirty Dancing (1987) 2012 double pack on Blu-ray from a book sale to compliment my 20th anniversary DVD that I got earlier.
The Dirty Dancing Blu-ray featured in the pack is the 2010 Keepsake Edition released in Canada in Late 2011 by Lionsgate/Alliance/eOne Films. It contains 22 extensive bonus features compared to other releases, a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 Lossless Surround Soundtrack with a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround EX backup, and an expanded 1.78:1 matted aspect ratio with a better quality transfer unlike the earlier Blu-ray releases. (Maybe someday I'll get around watching this 80s collectible!)
I also got the first season of the original 1992 Sailor Moon series of the 2014 Viz Media dub from the thrift store, which I enjoyed sharing clips from the show with you guys sourced from YouTube, on DVD (the Blu-ray is worse in video quality, literally no point for an old show like Sailor Moon), and I also got the first season of the Simpsons television series from that same place because of Matt Groening's work of parody and humour.
So that's my update for today! More coming soon!
-Katie Cadet, February 2024, Canada
P.S. I also got Star Wars Rebel Strike for the GameCube for my Nintendo Wii!
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technology Ever Use A Beta Max Or Laser Disc Player?
Katie Cadet replied to Denim&Venöm's topic in Media Discussion
Anything mentioned in my following models post. -
gaming Favorite 'Free to Play' games
Katie Cadet replied to Kyoshi Frost Wolf's topic in Media Discussion
- The Sims 4 (PS4, Windows, macOS) - Fall Guys (PS4, Switch) - Rocket League (PS4) - Hatsune Miku Future Tone (PS4) - Pinball Arcade (PS4, macOS, Windows, Switch) - Pinball FX (PS4) -
I prefer Blu-ray Disc (1080p and 4K Ultra HD).
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I prefer Blu-ray Disc (1080p and 4K Ultra HD).
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technology Ever Use A Beta Max Or Laser Disc Player?
Katie Cadet replied to Denim&Venöm's topic in Media Discussion
I currently own the following models: - Sony MDP-333 - Panasonic LX-K770 - Pioneer CLD-990 - Sony SL-HFR70 - Sanyo VCR 7200 -
general What do you eat when you are sick?
Katie Cadet replied to FeatherDataReborn's topic in General Discussion
One or two teaspoons of Honey. -
I have an auto-reverse JVC TD-W307 dual cassette deck.
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The easiest way to find out is by looking at the notches on the top of the cassette. The Type IV has the additional two holes needed to identify the bias when inserted into the machine. Here it is: My Nakamichi CR-1A looks like this that I found online: https://www.hifiengine.com/files/images/nakamichi-cr1a-cassette-deck.preview.jpg Now you might think that this is the budget version of the Dragon cassette deck, which is loved by many collectors pictured here: And here is what the Maxell Metal Capsule cassette looks like: Techmoan back in 2016 has made a video on cassettes sounding good when using Type IV tapes here: But to think about Type I tapes sounding noisier when using Dolby, I prefer either a Type II or Type IV because the hiss isn't there when using Dolby C or Dolby S. I believe Technology Connections has made in-depth videos on cassettes and Dolby noise reduction as well, both linked here: And I proved that Type IV cassettes with Dolby C or Dolby S has the best signal to noise ratio when it comes to recording 24-bit digital files in 2024! Now you will know that Type IV cassettes sound better than a Type I recorded commercially, because I haven't seen any pre-recorded Type IV cassettes in my thrift store hunts. The lone Maxell Metal Capsule and Nakamichi CR-1A from thrifting really made a difference!
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Hello fellow bronies! It's time to give cassettes another chance! I found a Nakamichi CR-1A cassette deck from a thrift store, and a Maxell Metal Capsule Type IV blank cassette tape from another thrift store, and that got me thinking that I needed to record something surreal with a Hi-Res track courtesy of Sound Liaison, which has the same free track in different formats courtesy of Carmen Gomes Inc. I downloaded the 192 kHz 24-bit and DSD64 versions onto my FiiO M3K portable digital audio player, connected it to the Nakamichi deck via 3.5mm to Analog RCA, adjusted the volume levels on both the digital audio player and the cassette deck, adjusted the bias to Type IV, applied Dolby C noise reduction, and pressed record in an attempt to do multiple takes until it sounded perfect. Once recorded, I then listened back to the tape because it is a 2-head deck, and I couldn't tell a difference between the commercially recorded Type I Ferric cassettes with Dolby B produced in the 1970's and 1980's (sometimes in the 2010's and 2020's) and my Type IV Metal Bias cassette recording with Dolby C. At least Type IV cassettes take a whole new level in the age when Type I cassettes are standard in commercial production in 2024, but the only way you can do it is at home, with a deck from the 1980's. and a 24-bit digital file. I then did the same recording on a Maxell XLII-S Type II Chrome cassette from the 1980's (Epitaxial) with the same deck and settings as the Type IV, and is a second best. I even went and tried the Type IV cassette on my JVC portable that I got from Kijiji, and it also is a second best. To me, Type IV cassettes are still the champion when it comes to recording digital 24-bit files in 2024, with Type II being the second best, in overall quality and performance. I also got a JVC TD-W307 dual cassette deck from the early 1990's with HX Pro, and I actually listened to one of my other Maxell XLII-S Type II Chrome cassettes with Dolby C, and it doesn't sound bad after all! (The Black Magnetite Maxell Type II from the early 1990's has some recordings from HDTracks samplers.) What do you think? Discuss here, and I'll provide a link to the free track where you can try what I've learned, and there's lots of formats to choose as well! https://soundliaison.com/products/compare-formats-free-downloads?variant=48137798713671
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I thought cassettes were pretty much gone at that point (but of course it depends on the country, and I know there are still some collectibles being released today). 
