AI Generated Image
Engineer identifies and explains every '90s computer seen in Jurassic Park
Ars Technica • • technology
Key Points:
- Jurassic Park’s production team meticulously sourced authentic computer hardware and software for the film’s sets, reflecting writer Michael Crichton’s attention to technical detail.
- Google engineer Fabien Sanglard conducted a detailed analysis identifying specific hardware used in the film, including Thinking Machines CM-5 systems, Motorola Envoy PDAs, and SGI workstations like the IRIS Crimson and R4000 Indigo.
- The film featured $1.7 million worth of computer equipment loaned by companies like Silicon Graphics and Apple, with real software such as QuickTime and the experimental FSN 3D file system browser showcased on screen.
- Two Macintosh Quadra 700 computers were used by the character Dennis Nedry, despite Apple’s modern policy against placing its products in villainous roles.
- Enthusiasts can explore the FSN file explorer and other software from the film through the “Virtual OS Museum,” a large collection of vintage software released by computer historian Andrew Warkentin.
