Published by: Softdisk
In: USA (Shreveport)
First issue: 1986
Last issue: 1998
Price: 9.95 USD
Language: English

Big Blue Disk was a monthly magazine, published beginning in November 1986, containing one or more attached floppy disks. It took its title from IBM's nickname, Big Blue.

IBM sued IBM in 1989 for trademark infringement, and the magazine was renamed On Disk Monthly starting with issue 58, and Softdisk PC starting with issue 91, eventually becoming Softdisk for Windows in the Windows era.

At a time when telecommunications infrastructure was very slow, it quickly reached 15,000 subscribers who were willing to spend $9.95 a month to receive the long-awaited floppy disks by mail.

The floppy disk contained applications and video games licensed under shareware or freeware, or demo versions of commercial programs, but also included other material original to the magazine. In addition to various articles (reviews and guides) and a readers' mailing list.

Among the video games released, some notable ones were created by Scott Miller before the founding of Apogee Software, such as the first four episodes of the Kroz series (issues 20, 29, 35, and 47 respectively); others written by John Romero, such as Twilight Treasure (issue 35), Zappa Roidz (issue 36), and Pyramids of Egypt (issue 46); three titles by John Carmack: Catacomb (issue 50), Dark Designs I: Grelminar's Staff, and Dark Designs II: Closing The Gate (issues 52 and 54); and ZZT, by Tim Sweeney (issue 60).



A dozen competitors attempted to imitate Softdisk, but none were as successful.


To motivate its community, Softdisk launched a contest called CodeQuest, encouraging its readers to propose programs of all kinds. The first prize was $1,000, the second $500, and the third $250.

As the popularity spread, in 1989 Softdisk was sued by IBM for using the term "Big Blue." The PC subscription was renamed On Disk Monthly, then Softdisk PC, and finally Softdisk for Windows.

Starting in 1996, the floppy disk was replaced by a CD-ROM.

This particular type of software distribution by postal subscription finally ceased in the late 1990s following the irreversible expansion of the Internet, which made hundreds of thousands of programs available to all users for free. However, Softdisk continued its business, initially rebranding itself as an online software retailer (via download or mail order). Later, it expanded into the creation and maintenance of Internet/intranet/extranet sites and as a local access provider for the Shreveport, Louisiana, area.