OriginalAppleGuy
Suspended
HA! Speak for yourself and others that may have been around you! I loved DOS. In fact, if you knew how to use it, you could do advanced things others had no clue about. CMD today is a DOS window by the way.
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When do you first remember using a computer?
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HA! Speak for yourself and others that may have been around you! I loved DOS. In fact, if you knew how to use it, you could do advanced things others had no clue about. CMD today is a DOS window by the way.
We had a Commodore 64 at home when I was very young; I vaguely recall its existence at my first house, and we moved when I was three. Dad reckons I was doing very simple (read: PRINT "HELLO") programming by about age six.
My first exposure to DOS would've been in the late 80s or maybe early 90s with an 8 MHz machine running DOS 3.3. We would later have a Windows machine. I think I first used a Mac in 1994 and was fascinated, to the point of playing with emulators in ~1997 and finally getting an iBook in 2003.
Since then I've discovered Acorn's now-retro machines and currently have a soft spot for RISC OS, to the point where I've even released a couple of apps for it.
My first exposure to DOS would've been in the late 80s or maybe early 90s with an 8 MHz machine running DOS 3.3. We would later have a Windows machine. I think I first used a Mac in 1994 and was fascinated, to the point of playing with emulators in ~1997 and finally getting an iBook in 2003.
Since then I've discovered Acorn's now-retro machines and currently have a soft spot for RISC OS, to the point where I've even released a couple of apps for it.
1972, first year university. Intro computer course. Stack of Fortran cards creating a self-limited do loop. It worked. The rest is history.
960design
macrumors 68040
Same here: TI99/4A I was 10 years old, 1981, my dad won it in a contest. Wrote my first game "Agent-X" on it that same year. Became hooked and have been writing software ever since. Found a 2600 magazine just a few short years later and truly learned how to 'code'.
eyoungren
macrumors Nehalem
Before Macs entered my life I had a saying…"Windows and Macs are a crutch for those who refuse to learn DOS."
Needless to say I was not very popular. 🙂
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Micky Do
macrumors 68020
At university in NZ in 1975 when I conducted a trial I entered data on to a coding sheet, which which went to the office that ran the IBM mainframe. Someone put it on punch-cards and fed it into the computer. I got the results and the punch cards back a few days later. I guess I still have them stashed away somewhere.
It was several years before I had anything to do with a computer again. That included a couple of years living in a part of SE Asia where mains electricity and the nearest telephone were 20 km away.
My first hands on experience was on the original Mac in 1985, when I went back to university. They had just installed a lab full of them, and we were allowed a few hours a week on them for a basic computing course. I finished the course within about half the time allowed (and got my only ever A grade). I used the remaining time available to make spreadsheets modelling different scenarios for another course (in which I got a B+, not bad for a student who would normally happily settle for a C). We also learned to use IBM clones running MS DOS…. dunno why. I guess still have the now obsolete floppy discs I used then stashed away somewhere.
Again it was about a decade before I used a computer again, when I heard about "internet cafe's". I checked one out in Cambridge, England, and signed up with the Hotmail address I still use, and became a regular user of email as other folks I knew got on-line. A few years later, working at various places, I started to use Word and Photoshop a bit on office desktop computers….. all seemed a bit of hassle, having to install drivers for peripherals and not all that reliable though. At that stage a computer was a computer to me. I knew nothing of differences between operating systems, apps and so on.
The first computer I owned was the original Mac Mini in 2005. Living a somewhat itinerant life, I wanted something occasionally easily transportable, but I didn't (and still don't want) a portable. It was pleasing to discover that it was much easier to use, and more reliable than the Windows based machines I had been using…….
It was several years before I had anything to do with a computer again. That included a couple of years living in a part of SE Asia where mains electricity and the nearest telephone were 20 km away.
My first hands on experience was on the original Mac in 1985, when I went back to university. They had just installed a lab full of them, and we were allowed a few hours a week on them for a basic computing course. I finished the course within about half the time allowed (and got my only ever A grade). I used the remaining time available to make spreadsheets modelling different scenarios for another course (in which I got a B+, not bad for a student who would normally happily settle for a C). We also learned to use IBM clones running MS DOS…. dunno why. I guess still have the now obsolete floppy discs I used then stashed away somewhere.
Again it was about a decade before I used a computer again, when I heard about "internet cafe's". I checked one out in Cambridge, England, and signed up with the Hotmail address I still use, and became a regular user of email as other folks I knew got on-line. A few years later, working at various places, I started to use Word and Photoshop a bit on office desktop computers….. all seemed a bit of hassle, having to install drivers for peripherals and not all that reliable though. At that stage a computer was a computer to me. I knew nothing of differences between operating systems, apps and so on.
The first computer I owned was the original Mac Mini in 2005. Living a somewhat itinerant life, I wanted something occasionally easily transportable, but I didn't (and still don't want) a portable. It was pleasing to discover that it was much easier to use, and more reliable than the Windows based machines I had been using…….
pippox0
macrumors regular
My first computer was a Radio shack TRS-80 model III in 1981, then some time later an IBM personal computer with DOS.
The monitor was green monocrome and i learned BASIC.
The monitor was green monocrome and i learned BASIC.
AlliFlowers
macrumors 601
I still miss DOS. I miss when you could exit Windows and shell to DOS. When I first encountered Windows the required use of a mouse drove me crazy. I'd still rather leave both my hands on the keyboard and not have to reach for a mouse constantly!
Which is why I keep my precious Terminal in my dock 😉 (not that I miss DOS however, but I used IRIX machines a loooooonnng time ago so the Terminal in OS X has always been very handy...)
1979-ish - it was a clunky black machine at school - I was 8. It used 8 inch Floppy Disks, and had RM (Research Machines?) written on it. We could program it to control a turtle with a pen (pen down, forward 10, turn 90 ... all that).
Then it was BBC Micros a year or so later at another school.
Then it was BBC Micros a year or so later at another school.
cut my teeth on an apple //e that was upgraded twice, first into a 128 k machine and then into a GS.
yes, we had one of these
I remember that in order to play War in Middle Earth, we had to replace the slot 4 mouse with an ADB model.
yes, we had one of these
I remember that in order to play War in Middle Earth, we had to replace the slot 4 mouse with an ADB model.
Simpfan
macrumors newbie
I first experienced computer usage around the same time as word processing typewriters -- in 1989/1990. My husband had left me and I ventured out into the world of technical training, eventually graduating with an administrative support diploma. I was 33/34 and took every computer class which was offered as an elective. Caller ID on landline phones was merely a blink into the future. VCRs were still going strong and pricy. I finally acquired a desktop computer 4-5 years ago, and a smartphone two years ago. At 61, I consider myself very technically literate. The second college I attended had little more than UNIX shells and telnet portals on both their PCs and Macs. Now I have Facebook, email, and office software, as well as a ton of games. I have days where I don't login at all, but they're rare. Social networking keeps me in touch with family and old classmates.
eyoungren
macrumors Nehalem
I appreciate this.
Too many people I know that are this age or older don't want anything to do with computers, phones or technology of any kind. I work with one of those people and it's been 13 years of explaining the same thing over and over and over again because she doesn't want to 'get' it or there are no $$$$ signs attached to it to benefit her.
So when I run across people who embrace technology it makes me happy. It indicates a willingness to plug in to what's out there and to stay connected.
I frequent an area of the forum for PowerPC Macs (Macs made before 2007) and we have a gentleman there in his 80s. Always nice interacting with him because he's been current with technology for his entire life. It was something he was always interested in. That makes talking to him a lot of fun.
But it's always a shame dealing with those who get older and want nothing to do with this stuff. They shut down and shut out anything new that they don't want to expend energy on. I'm not saying that they are not active with other things, but the lot I usually experience have issues relating with society in any form and wanting nothing to do with technology is just one aspect of that.
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Melrose
Suspended
A Mac at my friend's house. It had a 5.25 floppy drive...an Apple II? I don't remember but I'm almost certain it was one with a flat case.
The only thing I distinctly remember was the apple logo. Apparently I only remember the important stuff. I imprinted on Apple early on. Same with asian women. 😛
The only thing I distinctly remember was the apple logo. Apparently I only remember the important stuff. I imprinted on Apple early on. Same with asian women. 😛
Stefan johansson
macrumors 65816
dwig
macrumors 6502a
1965 - While I was in Junior High, dad gave my my first lesson in the then new BASIC language and ran my simple program for me on the time share computer at his work.
1969 - I first sat at a terminal (Teletype with paper printout and punch tape reader/writer) and typed in an ran a simple program on a remoter time share computer.
1972 - first used a punch card station to help my fiance finish a COBOL program for a class of her's
1980 - bought my first personal computer (Tandy TRS-80 Color Computer) and brought it home, though I'd had several programmable calculators prior to that.
1969 - I first sat at a terminal (Teletype with paper printout and punch tape reader/writer) and typed in an ran a simple program on a remoter time share computer.
1972 - first used a punch card station to help my fiance finish a COBOL program for a class of her's
1980 - bought my first personal computer (Tandy TRS-80 Color Computer) and brought it home, though I'd had several programmable calculators prior to that.
D.T.
macrumors G4
I used to ride my bike up to the local Radio Shack in the late 70s, and type in code I wrote "offline".
As soon as computers became affordable, especially for a kid, I started owning them, ZX80, VIC-20, etc. (my long list of hardware isn't really the topic 😀) I never stopped loving tech, still banging out code, writing about technology, and owning it for work, but also for fun.
As soon as computers became affordable, especially for a kid, I started owning them, ZX80, VIC-20, etc. (my long list of hardware isn't really the topic 😀) I never stopped loving tech, still banging out code, writing about technology, and owning it for work, but also for fun.
BarracksSi
Suspended
I don't remember which one was the first.
The first school computers I remember using were in 5th and 6th grades. A magnet school opened up and I was lucky enough to get in via lottery. They had a couple roomfuls of black Apple II computers, and every classroom had one or two, too. We also had a science lab where we had weekly sessions.
A friend had... oh, maybe a Commodore? Or TRS-80?.. and had it dial up so he could communicate with another friend down the block. He's in a career building flight simulators now.
My dad brought home a Radio Shack word processor from work. I forget the model name, but it had a black & white LCD and could send documents by sticking a phone receiver into an adapter thing. I found out how to program an Etch-A-Sketch-like drawing program into it.
I used school labs all the way through college until my senior year. That's when I realized that I'd need to get a computer of my own. Coincidentally, Apple introduced the first iBook that year, and I thought it was the first laptop that truly made sense -- I could easily have my own wireless internet. I mean, what good is a laptop that has to be plugged into a wall? So, I bought it, and I spent the next decade wondering why the rest of the world wasn't all on WiFi like I was.
The disappointing thing is, because I could now do all my computer stuff in my own apartment, I stopped meeting people at the school lab. I was getting on good terms with a couple cute girls there, too. 🙁
The first school computers I remember using were in 5th and 6th grades. A magnet school opened up and I was lucky enough to get in via lottery. They had a couple roomfuls of black Apple II computers, and every classroom had one or two, too. We also had a science lab where we had weekly sessions.
A friend had... oh, maybe a Commodore? Or TRS-80?.. and had it dial up so he could communicate with another friend down the block. He's in a career building flight simulators now.
My dad brought home a Radio Shack word processor from work. I forget the model name, but it had a black & white LCD and could send documents by sticking a phone receiver into an adapter thing. I found out how to program an Etch-A-Sketch-like drawing program into it.
I used school labs all the way through college until my senior year. That's when I realized that I'd need to get a computer of my own. Coincidentally, Apple introduced the first iBook that year, and I thought it was the first laptop that truly made sense -- I could easily have my own wireless internet. I mean, what good is a laptop that has to be plugged into a wall? So, I bought it, and I spent the next decade wondering why the rest of the world wasn't all on WiFi like I was.
The disappointing thing is, because I could now do all my computer stuff in my own apartment, I stopped meeting people at the school lab. I was getting on good terms with a couple cute girls there, too. 🙁
BarracksSi
Suspended
Speaking of old people and computers --
My parents got a hand-me-down Windows 3.1 machine and kept it in the basement. I think my dad might have written some of his newspaper stories on it, but I have no idea. I don't even know if it's still there.
Later, they wanted to get a good, usable computer, and the iMac had just come out. They eventually got a second-gen grape iMac, and kept using it until iChat gained video conferencing -- which gave them a good reason to upgrade to a white "Jay Leno chin" iMac and video chat with me and my sister.
Although my mom was scanning photos and retouching them for later use, along with page layout stuff and general mucking around, she didn't really get the hang of it until we bought her a year's worth of One-On-One sessions at the local Apple store. She got herself a 13" MB Pro and kept going to the sessions for one or two more years, leaning how to edit video and leverage Pages in ways that she hadn't considered to be possible.
They're 70 now, and literate enough to use the iMac (now an aluminum model) and the MBP for anything they need. I don't think they'll be writing any shell scripts, though.
My parents got a hand-me-down Windows 3.1 machine and kept it in the basement. I think my dad might have written some of his newspaper stories on it, but I have no idea. I don't even know if it's still there.
Later, they wanted to get a good, usable computer, and the iMac had just come out. They eventually got a second-gen grape iMac, and kept using it until iChat gained video conferencing -- which gave them a good reason to upgrade to a white "Jay Leno chin" iMac and video chat with me and my sister.
Although my mom was scanning photos and retouching them for later use, along with page layout stuff and general mucking around, she didn't really get the hang of it until we bought her a year's worth of One-On-One sessions at the local Apple store. She got herself a 13" MB Pro and kept going to the sessions for one or two more years, leaning how to edit video and leverage Pages in ways that she hadn't considered to be possible.
They're 70 now, and literate enough to use the iMac (now an aluminum model) and the MBP for anything they need. I don't think they'll be writing any shell scripts, though.
OriginalAppleGuy
Suspended
OMG - I haven't thought about Choplifter for some time. One of my favorite games of all time!
I've been thinking about the original question. Wasn't thinking about it then, but we got an HP25 when they came out mid 70's. Favorite on that was the lunar lander program.
I'm trying to remember if I used the machines in high school before or after I got my machine at home, but the ones at school were 386/486 DX with 5.25"/3.5" floppy drives. Most of the machines had old MFM HDDs in them.. Those were fun. If you formatted the machine on it's side, you had to leave it there or the MFM drives wouldn't boot. Same with setting them down horizontally. Weird.
Hmm... First machine owned? Probably 1993-94? Packard Bell Pentium 100. Woo that thing was terrible. I loved my parent's dearly for buying it, but we ended up returning it and buying a Gateway Pentium 120 instead.. Gotta love those cow boxes!
My first Mac was a Blue & White G3 Tower. Man how I hated Apple then. "Who would want that thing?" I was a network admin for a company that also did sales. One of our sales guys said "buy it and if you don't love it, I'll buy it from you full price." Why not, right? I've been an Apple user ever since.
Well played James. . . I bet he bought Apple at 8.00 a share back during that timeframe too.
Hmm... First machine owned? Probably 1993-94? Packard Bell Pentium 100. Woo that thing was terrible. I loved my parent's dearly for buying it, but we ended up returning it and buying a Gateway Pentium 120 instead.. Gotta love those cow boxes!
My first Mac was a Blue & White G3 Tower. Man how I hated Apple then. "Who would want that thing?" I was a network admin for a company that also did sales. One of our sales guys said "buy it and if you don't love it, I'll buy it from you full price." Why not, right? I've been an Apple user ever since.
Well played James. . . I bet he bought Apple at 8.00 a share back during that timeframe too.
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eyoungren
macrumors Nehalem
My first ever retail PC purchase was a Packard Bell 486 in '94. Got it home, set it up, turned it on. Nothing!
Futzed with it for 20 minutes or so then called the help line. Working with them for about 30 minutes it eventually got to the point where the case had to be removed.
So, trying to follow the support guy's instructions I'm looking and what do I find? A giant empty hole where the processor is supposed to be!
At that point the only thing he could suggest was to return the computer. Now that's back in the days where business wanted a logical, believable reason for a return. Not like it is now where they ask no questions.
So, getting them to understand that they sold me a computer with a missing processor was another trial.
Very wierd. Someone had to have broken into and taken the processor and put it all back so it looked like it hadn't been tampered with. Either that or the assembly line missed the "insert processor" step when they made that computer.