Anybody else miss ZDTV (tech-tv)?

[sammythecat]

I do.

I found it in '99 when I got my first computer and got online. I was a total newbie, the whole concept seemed so exciting and I was absolutely addicted to ZDTV. In the beginning I didn't even know what in the hell they were talking about most of the time, but I loved hearing it anyway. Their enthusiasm was so infectious and I figured osmosis would take care of the rest.

Kate, Leo, Silicon Ali, Patrick, all gone now. :( I remember the first time I watched Kate Botello on The Screensavers I was stunned at her complete and total nerdiness. What an incredibly goofy chick! About a month later I was deeply in love with her.

I think it jumped the shark with the ascendence of Morgan Webb and Martin Sargeant. Not saying it was because of them, just saying it was around that time things started to go to hell.

R.I.P. ZDTV :cry:

[HopeHoops]

1. Dang, I remember that!

Funny how things can change in 10 years.

At least The Onion is still around (and better than ever).

[sammythecat]

2. yeah, 10 years!

Amazing that it's been that long.

[HopeHoops]

3. I was on the Internet long before that.

In some ways, I really miss Archie and Gopher. I hate when you are looking for something simple, type in a detailed search string with subtraction of terms that get in the way and it STILL comes back with "Items 1-20 of 43,592".

I remember when HTML 1.0 first hit the net. My first "browser" was Chameleon, I think by a company called NetManage. The Internet was simple then and most of the content was educational (university sites), well other than the porn.

[sammythecat]

4. Took me a minute to absorb what you said there.

I didn't get into this until it was all run by electricity. :)

You're kinda like Kit Carson or one of those mountain men.

[HopeHoops]

9. Well I DO have long hair and a full beard!

:hippie:

[BlueJazz]

5. Yep..Watching Kate and Leo was a Wonderful part of my day.

I say "Bring them back"
There's a market for them.. :) :)

[sammythecat]

6. You think?

I've wondered about that, if the novelty has worn off and it's "old hat" for too many people now. I guess I'm thinking mostly of "Call for Help" here, but I agree there was a lot of other good stuff on that network that should still have an audience.

And yes, Kate and Leo were great. It was live and it was everyday. I want it back. x(

[BlueJazz]

16. You know, I was a tech (even) back then and the percentage of people..

..who were into computers and "Hi-tech" stuff was actually fairly low.
Most folks thought that a mouse was only something that lived in your walls and came out at night and were rather cute. :)

Today though, a lot of people are into all the gadgets/Toys they can get their hands on.
The Leo and Kate show was canceled because of low ratings (Well..Geez...only about 10 percent of people had computers!)
Nowadays...I think a show like "Z" would have a large, loyal audience.

:) :)

[sammythecat]

7. dupe

dammit

[alarimer]

8. Yes. I can't stand G4.

It was supposed to be about tech and video games but all they do is show reruns of COPS and Cheaters.

[sammythecat]

10. Yeah, G4 is no substitute for tech-tv

Not at all. Not even a little bit.

It's disturbing that something so like tech-tv fails and G4 succeeds.

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. Tech-TV was great. After that not so much.

[NYCGirl]

12. I now watch Leo when he records his podcasts. Here's the link:

http://live.twit.tv/

(They also replay tapings, so you can watch almost 24/7!)

[sammythecat]

13. Thanks! Good to see this.

I clicked, and right there was Becky Worley and John Dvorak. Familiar old faces.

I used to check in now and then with "The Lab with Leo Laporte", until it disappeared too.

Thanks for the new bookmark. :hi:

[NYCGirl]

14. You're welcome. There are so many podcasts from Leo's group, TWIT

(This Week in Tech). All of them (sans video) can be accessed in iTunes. I especially love Mac Break Weekly.

Edited to add: The Daily Giz Wiz with Dick DiBartolo is also one of my faves, and Patrick Norton sometimes guests on This Week in Tech.

And edited to add again: More info on the podcasts are at www.twit.tv

[ghostsofgiants]

15. The Screen Savers was a great show.

I miss it. I liked Morgan and Martin though.

Kevin Rose is now super rich because he created Digg.

[sammythecat]

32. I liked Martin too

A bit too sarcastic at times (for me), but he certainly brought humor and a different perspective and he had a place. I was mostly thinking that it was right around the time he began to be featured more that things seemed to start falling apart. IIRC, that was probably the same time Leo left and I think that had a whole lot to do with things going sour.

[ghostsofgiants]

34. I probably liked him because I am young and sarcastic...

So I was pretty much the demographic he was meant for, haha.

Leo was around for a while at the same time as Martin, but Martin was filling in for Leo for a while before he came back, if memory serves correctly.

[slay]

17. Yeah it was a good geek channel back then - I loved it

It was only a matter of time until they tried to reach a wider audience though. Although, Morgan Webb is hot. :evilgrin:

[Mudoria]

18. I think hot would be the word indeed

[slay]

22. Her pics in Maxim

right here --> http://www.maxim.com/girls/girls-of-maxim/44654/morgan-webb.html?p=2#2

[sammythecat]

23. Whoa! Too "Playboy" for me.

Air-brushed and re-touched to hell and back. Honestly, if you didn't identify her, I wouldn't have recognized her.

(2minutes later) I was looking for a picture of her as I remembered her, and the first one made me think I should eat my words.

My, she has changed, and the dark hair suits her just fine.

This is how I remember her though.


Attractive and pretty for sure, but I felt she was like an intrusion. Eye candy for the 18-24 demographic. She always seemed to be self-consciously playing to the camera and I didn't trust her geek cred. For me anyway, she was fine in a limited (like, hardly ever) role, but I was disappointed when her role was increased.

Kate Botello, on the other hand,


while not a classic beauty, had genuine enthusiasm, curiosity, and a lively personality that (I think) made her a lot more appealing, even sexier, than Morgan Webb. People like her are who I wanted to see on that network, not statuesque beauties with big boobs. I mean, with tv and the internet, eye-candy isn't exactly a rare delight. It's ordinary, and that's partly what happened to tech-tv I think. It got ordinary and then it died.

Oh well, RIP ZDTV.
I'm off to bed, shoulda been there hours ago.

[slay]

24. Nah

Morgan's hot and she seems pretty knowledgeable with her geek cred but not my favorite either. And the prude - she got offered Playboy and declined! How horrible for her. And by her I mean me. :evilgrin: Thanks for posting the pics - I too remember Morgan from the old days. Oddly to me, she seemed more real to me back then. I like Leo and Kate in the pic above too - Screen Savers was awesome. So many cool things they covered on there. Night. :hi:

[kentauros]

19. Can't say I recognize the name...

...but I do listen to these guys every so often:

Technology Bytes :D

[sammythecat]

30. I don't think it was available everywhere.

Maybe that's why.

Thanks for the link. Looks like a good show. I'll check it out.

[kentauros]

35. That's probably the case

and you're welcome on the link. It is a good show. Plus, I've known Jay Lee since high school, so I know how much of a geek he is ;)

[Drunken Irishman]

20. Yes, I remember catching The Screen Savers every afternoon.

[CreekDog]

21. yeah i miss it, i watched a lot of it when I had Astound cable

but i listen to Leo LaPorte's podcasts. he's a terrific host and he manages to keep people up to date on the latest in technology through a very interesting show.

[sammythecat]

27. Yeah, that Leo.

A smooth ham who could do a good job hosting anything I believe, but he's in a niche that he really enjoys and he's excellent. I think Leo and his shows were the lynchpins of that network.

[SKKY]

25. I absolutely do! I was a faithful "The Screen Savers" watcher for almost 2 years...

...in fact, I remember when Patrick took over for Kate (He was very, very awkward at first. Almost painful to watch!) Fresh Gear with Sumi Das was another show I watched pretty regularly.

[sammythecat]

26. Very, very awkward. Painful to watch. That's it exactly.

He knew his stuff and all, but, god almighty, was he ever stiff. He loosened up pretty quickly though and then I really liked him.

I liked Fresh Gear too. Sort of a Consumer Reports for gadgets. Good show. Off hand, I can't think of one that I didn't like. They did have some sort of anime show for a while though. I never quite got the whole anime thing. Just didn't appeal to me right away and I never gave it a chance.

[SKKY]

28. I never liked the show about video games...

...probably because I'm not a gamer, but it just never appealed to me.

[sammythecat]

29. Yeah, games didn't really appeal to me at first

and I've kind of purposely tried to stay away from them. I spend enough time at the computer as is. I hardly ever watched Gamespot, but if I was a gamer I probably would have loved it. In fact, Adam Sessler is, I think, the only "survivor" from the beginning of the network and he still does a game oriented show on G4.

[baldguy]

31. I miss the star of Unscrewed with Martin Sargent

Laura Swisher

[sammythecat]

33. I think I'm seeing your perspective there.

Yeah, I liked her too. She was a good fit with him and I can't deny that she was nice to look at. :)

[LanternWaste]

36. Kat Schwartz from Screen Savers...

Kat Schwartz from Screen Savers... sigh. She was the bees-knees!

[sammythecat]

37. Well, ok then

Since this thread is about half "Babes of Tech-TV", my fav was Allison Strahan (Silicon Ali). A little more mature, attractive, smart, great laugh, and that accent just killed me.