tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post659782591772809556..comments2023-08-10T12:55:23.427+01:00Comments on SUBROSA: My First Computer - What Was Yours?subrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-44292575324546606192013-01-11T14:35:37.290+00:002013-01-11T14:35:37.290+00:00No it's not good Elby. I think perhaps there&...No it's not good Elby. I think perhaps there's something on this machine that caused it though and I'm thinking of not transferring all data automatically but doing it manually and using Dropbox to keep some archives.<br /><br />Aye these Sinclairs were wee things and used to lie about on my floors too in the late 70s/early 80s.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-9556020027675237912013-01-11T12:57:16.753+00:002013-01-11T12:57:16.753+00:00Rosie,
I first used a Mac in 1997, on my first vi...Rosie,<br /><br />I first used a Mac in 1997, on my first visit to the USA, to see my brother and family in SF. It was a disastrous machine, crashing all the time. It was, however, ancient, and whilst I can fix most Windows PCs, having worked on them since 3.1, Macs are a mystery to me. Not good that yours should have gone so quickly. <br /><br />I meant to mention that the computer at Hatfield Poly was run by blokes in white coats, and was huge. <br /><br />Also, we bought the kids one of those Sinclair thingies, end of the 70s I would guess, but my wife trod on it and that was that!Elby the Beserkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15060519682739666145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-7395811956659191062013-01-10T23:38:23.886+00:002013-01-10T23:38:23.886+00:00Of course JimS - but I didn't trust myself to ...Of course JimS - but I didn't trust myself to find the symbols or Blogger to reproduce them :-)<br /><br />@Englishpensioner - Yes! The first programme I ever wrote (in machine code) was keyed into the front panel of a PDP 8. It was fun the way you could switch it off mid programme then restart days later because the wound core memory remembered without any power.Woodsy42https://www.blogger.com/profile/12355671210161625647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-90086766532164561482013-01-10T19:26:49.172+00:002013-01-10T19:26:49.172+00:00Arg Woodsy, I hate you educated IT folks. :)
Supe...Arg Woodsy, I hate you educated IT folks. :)<br /><br />Super history of Apple. Thanks.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-64116619997575775362013-01-10T19:25:31.495+00:002013-01-10T19:25:31.495+00:00Oh I think that was one of the first Dr. I bought ...Oh I think that was one of the first Dr. I bought a later one for children's use but sold it off. Just as well I didn't keep it because it would have been worth nothing. :)subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-21424749296040532222013-01-10T19:24:05.970+00:002013-01-10T19:24:05.970+00:00Ah them were the days right enough Elby. I'm ...Ah them were the days right enough Elby. I'm not going to post about this but my new iMac is now defunct. This afternoon it died a death and after 3 hours on the phone to Apple, they've said it's cremated and are sending me one by 'urgent delivery'. I'm now back to my old one which doesn't seem too happy to see me.<br /><br />These were the days right enough.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-69206355761571465442013-01-10T17:27:43.671+00:002013-01-10T17:27:43.671+00:00Woodsy, surely an Apple ][ ! Oh what fun we had sc...Woodsy, surely an Apple ][ ! Oh what fun we had scanning the ASCII table trying to find a character that could be used in a different way!<br /><br />I wrote my own version of a game called 'Rhino' and the Pi character served for the rhino, with its tail up and head down!<br /><br />Now all the fun seems to be trying to find where Microsoft thinks our files should be saved on each succeeding version of Windows. I've never felt rich enough to go the Apple way.JimShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09295953179246578687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-66832699134646416012013-01-10T17:05:12.187+00:002013-01-10T17:05:12.187+00:00My first was a home brew kit from an electronics h...My first was a home brew kit from an electronics hobbyist company. I think it was a UK101, just a bare board with keyboard, tape interface and TV out. Came as a pile of components and was a bastard to build!<br />The first 'real' one was an Apple II. Purists might remember that the Apple II was NOT in the mac line. <br />It was always rumoured that IBM designed the first IBM Pc to be 10 times better than an Apple II - indeed it was 10x faster, 10x more memory but architecturally very similar. It was the machine that Apple should have built.<br />But Apple changed direction completely and brought out the Lisa then the first Mac while the IBM design, based on an Apple II, morphed into the modern PC.<br />I haven't owned any overpriced and underpowered Apple kit since the Apple II<br />Woodsy42https://www.blogger.com/profile/12355671210161625647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-14763977797125994672013-01-10T16:18:57.244+00:002013-01-10T16:18:57.244+00:00My first computer at home was a Sinclair spectrum....My first computer at home was a Sinclair spectrum. The first one I used was an HP with a green screen in 1981. I cannot remember the model. In 1987 I was using a Mac similar to the one you have posted up.Dr Evilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00176521760477086914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-51682733211914172572013-01-10T15:24:26.563+00:002013-01-10T15:24:26.563+00:001967. Our Maths teacher was keen on computers, so ...1967. Our Maths teacher was keen on computers, so he taught us some Algol, which we then used to program various problems (mine, to prove the Theorem of Quadratic Equations), and we all then went down to Hatfield Poly, where they were keyed in onto paper tape, and then run. <br /><br />1983. Commodore CBMs, programming them for our Library Backup system - sent my first email that year, over our company X25 packet network to Canada.<br /><br />Ah. Them were the days...Elby the Beserkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15060519682739666145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-64152780778773995042013-01-10T15:23:39.612+00:002013-01-10T15:23:39.612+00:00You still have your Amstrad WY? It's soon be a...You still have your Amstrad WY? It's soon be an heirloom. :)subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-63103169771546514022013-01-10T15:19:12.284+00:002013-01-10T15:19:12.284+00:00The Commodore was popular Carl if I remember. Lots...The Commodore was popular Carl if I remember. Lots of youngsters used one I think.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-68099736796223701802013-01-10T15:18:02.781+00:002013-01-10T15:18:02.781+00:00Ah Dioclese, is that your claim to fame? You'...Ah Dioclese, is that your claim to fame? You're fortunate to have one especially when it's connected with the word computer. :)subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-90263937679099887232013-01-10T15:17:01.151+00:002013-01-10T15:17:01.151+00:00BBCs seemed popular EP. Didn't schools have t...BBCs seemed popular EP. Didn't schools have them too?subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-40217565338367639192013-01-10T15:15:58.414+00:002013-01-10T15:15:58.414+00:00I don't know about posh Jim, but I was told Ap...I don't know about posh Jim, but I was told Apple's were idiot proof compared with PCs which had lots o coding to even get started.<br /><br />I save up for it for months. :)<br /><br />Have to admire your knowledge about computers though. Doubt if my small brain could have absorbed it all.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-11553758282510801902013-01-10T15:12:56.501+00:002013-01-10T15:12:56.501+00:00I must admit the Spectrum appeared in my house not...I must admit the Spectrum appeared in my house not far short of 35 years ago Joe. It wasn't for me though, but I paid for it. Right enough, I remember now buying an old TV to use as a screen.<br /><br />I'd a friend who swore by Psions and goes on about them still.<br /><br />You're right, lots of today's technology doesn't provide us with what we really want.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-40301773981770056432013-01-10T15:09:44.735+00:002013-01-10T15:09:44.735+00:00Ah, I know that one BF.. Phew!Ah, I know that one BF.. Phew!subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-14338241928402316832013-01-10T15:09:14.123+00:002013-01-10T15:09:14.123+00:00Had to look that one up too dognamed blue. It'...Had to look that one up too dognamed blue. It's an education.:)subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-64795207341575201592013-01-10T15:08:38.737+00:002013-01-10T15:08:38.737+00:00Jings,PJH, I've had to look most of these up b...Jings,PJH, I've had to look most of these up because I haven't heard of them, but you've had an interesting selection.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-7564580829817046992013-01-10T14:25:31.711+00:002013-01-10T14:25:31.711+00:00I've still got my first computer. The ZX Spect...I've still got my first computer. The ZX Spectrum 128k +2. Built in tape deck and a proper keyboard. 128kbytes of storage. Quite cutting edge stuff at the time.<br />Games loading was a bit slow and the graphics weren't too good but it worked ok.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08987287543554842489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-32661745123771130982013-01-10T14:24:04.291+00:002013-01-10T14:24:04.291+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08987287543554842489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-75374882722565470972013-01-10T13:39:17.522+00:002013-01-10T13:39:17.522+00:00Mine was a Sharp MZ80K. Integrated VDU and tape de...Mine was a Sharp MZ80K. Integrated VDU and tape deck with square keyboard. An all in job. Still got it up in the attic. My dad got a Amstrad PPC640 luggable laptoppy thing as his first. I've still got that too. School consisted of punched cards and paper tape sent to Man Uni to run on their mainframe.SadButMadLadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17836368722377421009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-73046346456290846612013-01-10T13:11:52.403+00:002013-01-10T13:11:52.403+00:00I started with progamming lesson at high school wh...I started with progamming lesson at high school which involved writing out all the commands required onto a gridded sheet. They were then sent to Edinburgh Uni and it came back with a pile of punch cards and a note saying if it had worked or not.<br /><br />At work in the mid-late seventies I used a terminal hanging off an IBM 34 mini which was anything but.<br /><br />A Commodore Pet was next which used a cassette tape for loading programmes etc, We played land Concorde at lunchtimes. Not a great graphical experience.<br /><br />Then a twin 5 1/4" floppy drive Sirius which gave us word processing and spreadsheets. We did some pretty cool admin stuff on that.<br /><br />Nest IBM PC then the XT and AT versions. Apricots, Toshiba laptops at £2500 a pop in the early 80's. I even used Panasonic laptops which were £4000 in the mid 90s. Lots of clones as well and I used to build clones for clients.<br /><br />I got an order for 18 at once and started a wee production line building them. They all stopped loading MS Windows at the same point. luckily one of the sale guys from the hardware parts supplier was on holiday in Scotland at the time and he came in and verified the fault and organised a very quick swap out of the boards. Whew!<br /><br />Now I'm on Macs. I've a 27" IMac, a 13" MacBook Air, Ipad Mini, a gen 5 Ipod (best amplifier), a Gen6 Nano, the latest shuffle and of course an Iphone 5. <br /><br />Great kit and wonderful just to look at.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-79406085868108488552013-01-10T13:11:18.344+00:002013-01-10T13:11:18.344+00:00Amstrad PC1640. I still have it.
Its first hard d...Amstrad PC1640. I still have it.<br /><br />Its first hard drive (didn't come with one originally) was 32Mb, filled one and a half full-length ISA slots, sounded like a 707 taking off, and - get this - cost £240. That's for the hard drive, not the computer...<br /><br />Those were (not) the days.Weekend Yachtsmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04262853091154005651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-41849568767899170792013-01-10T12:42:04.766+00:002013-01-10T12:42:04.766+00:00I got a second hand Commodore 16 for Christmas. in...I got a second hand Commodore 16 for Christmas. in the mid 80s. I was so chuffed. The graphics were excellent!Carl Minnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02063631234472917655noreply@blogger.com