Q-Link
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Q-Link was an online service that ran from 1985
-1994. It was
operated by Quantum Computer Services, now AOL. In fact, AOL's
very early
('89 -'91) v 1.xx disks show Quantum Computer Services
as
the parent company, with America Online as a registered service mark. Q-Link was for Commodore
computer users; it was designed around
the Commodore's GEOS operating system.
Diskettes were included with
Commodore
modems.
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Modem box. Note the Q-link sticker,
advertising the diskette inside and
a month's free trial membership. |
In the early 1990's, the
Mac and PC gained market share among
home users, causing Commodore to shut down. Q-Link was
shuttered shortly after; details can be
read in the letter from Steve Case.
Q-Linkers were invited to join
AOL, the new online service Quantum
had formed. However, since AOL software wasn't compatible with
the GEOS operating system,
Q-Linkers had to buy a Mac or PC.
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Here are two
of the four Q-Link versions. These big
floppies are two-sided; you actually removed,
then flipped them over in the disk
drive to read!
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Quantum marketed Q-Link
as aggressively as it marketed
its AOL service. Included with
Commodore computers were offers for cheap modems. Here's an offer for a
300 baud modem for $29.95. Such a deal! |
For more information
about Q-Link, visit:
Apple
Link, PC Link, eWorld and Promenade
were other online services run by Quantum. Visit
http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Fall2000/McAtee/
for more information.
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