Comments on: What was your first computer like? http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/what-was-your-first-computer-like/ Web development and Internet trends Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:08:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Matt M. http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/what-was-your-first-computer-like/#comment-107976 Matt M. Sat, 22 Sep 2007 06:31:27 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/333/#comment-107976 First computer I owned was given to me by my uncle. It was a Tandy Model 2, with about 8k ram. This computer was a keyboard and monitor housed in a casing, with a bay for a 5 1/4 floppy drive. It did all of black and white, with no real graphics - everything was extended ascii characters. Next computer I had was a Tandy Color Computer 2, with 8kb ram, a 5 1/4 floppy drive with a disk controller that plugged into the cartridge slot, and the computer connected to the TV. It was basically a keyboard with a motherboard underneath, and some ports on the back like for TV out, joystick, and a printer. This computer would do 16 colors, or 256 colors with the 16kb ram upgrade. The OS was ROM-based "Color BASIC", or the disk ROM "Color Disc BASIC", built into the disk controller cartridge if you were using the disk drive. Bootup time took an amazing 1/2 second before you were presented with a flashing multi-color square cursor on a green screen with black text. The cooler thing about this OS was that it was essentially a BASIC interpreter, so it would either take built-in ROM commands for loading files from disk, or it would take lines of BASIC code as input. First computer I owned was given to me by my uncle. It was a Tandy Model 2, with about 8k ram. This computer was a keyboard and monitor housed in a casing, with a bay for a 5 1/4 floppy drive. It did all of black and white, with no real graphics - everything was extended ascii characters. Next computer I had was a Tandy Color Computer 2, with 8kb ram, a 5 1/4 floppy drive with a disk controller that plugged into the cartridge slot, and the computer connected to the TV. It was basically a keyboard with a motherboard underneath, and some ports on the back like for TV out, joystick, and a printer. This computer would do 16 colors, or 256 colors with the 16kb ram upgrade. The OS was ROM-based “Color BASIC”, or the disk ROM “Color Disc BASIC”, built into the disk controller cartridge if you were using the disk drive. Bootup time took an amazing 1/2 second before you were presented with a flashing multi-color square cursor on a green screen with black text. The cooler thing about this OS was that it was essentially a BASIC interpreter, so it would either take built-in ROM commands for loading files from disk, or it would take lines of BASIC code as input.

]]> By: Robert Nyman http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/what-was-your-first-computer-like/#comment-4193 Robert Nyman Fri, 21 Apr 2006 14:14:31 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/333/#comment-4193 Bruce, Thanks for sharing! Bruce,

Thanks for sharing!

]]> By: Bruce Anderson http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/what-was-your-first-computer-like/#comment-4190 Bruce Anderson Fri, 21 Apr 2006 13:49:05 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/333/#comment-4190 My first computer was an Commodore 64. White case. I sold it to buy Amiga 500. I still keep cassette tapes of 64. Also, I keep all flopy diskets of Amiga. My first computer was an Commodore 64. White case. I sold it to buy Amiga 500. I still keep cassette tapes of 64. Also, I keep all flopy diskets of Amiga.

]]> By: Robert Nyman http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/what-was-your-first-computer-like/#comment-3720 Robert Nyman Mon, 27 Mar 2006 07:30:09 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/333/#comment-3720 Angela, Wow, that really was some time ago! $14,000, eh? Imagine what you can get for that money nowadays! :-) Angela,

Wow, that really was some time ago!
$14,000, eh? Imagine what you can get for that money nowadays! :-)

]]> By: Angela http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/what-was-your-first-computer-like/#comment-3708 Angela Fri, 24 Mar 2006 21:56:50 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/333/#comment-3708 It was an Atari 130XE that my dad bought in 1987. It had a 5 1/4 inch floppy drive, dot matrix printer, and keyboard; you plugged it into a TV for the screen. We used a small (about 12") black and white TV. You could program in Basic on it, and there was a place in the back of the keyboard where you could plug in cartridges to run applications. We had a game cartridge (Jungle Hunt) and a word processor cartridge. We actually still have it and it still works. We later got a Tandy computer, I think it was a 286. That one had a hard drive and monitor, and I loved the Paint program on it. It also had a music composer (sounded similar to midi music). Prior to the Atari, my parents had bought a Commodore for their work... all I know about it is that it cost them about $14,000 to buy!!! Can you imagine spending that for ONE computer, even a server? It was an Atari 130XE that my dad bought in 1987. It had a 5 1/4 inch floppy drive, dot matrix printer, and keyboard; you plugged it into a TV for the screen. We used a small (about 12″) black and white TV. You could program in Basic on it, and there was a place in the back of the keyboard where you could plug in cartridges to run applications. We had a game cartridge (Jungle Hunt) and a word processor cartridge. We actually still have it and it still works.

We later got a Tandy computer, I think it was a 286. That one had a hard drive and monitor, and I loved the Paint program on it. It also had a music composer (sounded similar to midi music). Prior to the Atari, my parents had bought a Commodore for their work… all I know about it is that it cost them about $14,000 to buy!!! Can you imagine spending that for ONE computer, even a server?

]]> By: Robert Nyman http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/what-was-your-first-computer-like/#comment-3228 Robert Nyman Mon, 20 Feb 2006 08:47:11 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/333/#comment-3228 Michel, Thanks for sharing! :-) Also, I'm very glad to hear that you like my web site, and I sure hope I will write things good enough to make it worth while coming back here. :-) Michel,

Thanks for sharing! :-)

Also, I’m very glad to hear that you like my web site, and I sure hope I will write things good enough to make it worth while coming back here. :-)

]]> By: Michel T Dallaire http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/what-was-your-first-computer-like/#comment-3217 Michel T Dallaire Sat, 18 Feb 2006 23:58:30 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/333/#comment-3217 Hi, I started in 1979 with the <a href="http://www.trs-80.com/trs80-1.htm" rel="nofollow">TRS-80 Model I</a>, the very first version without the numeric keypad, without floppy, without any expansion at all. Imagine 4K of memory!!! At the time, I was only 8 years old but with good books my father had bought for himself, one year after, I could have told you by heart any poke memory value and it's use. I finally got the extension in the next few years and almost every Tandy Corporation computers made in the following 7 years. (My father as it's office at home and was constantly changing computer. Luckily, I was authorize to use them.) The funny part happen last year, I found out a TSR-80 emulator that I downloaded. It was crazy to reminisce my young time and I can tell it's like bicycle, It comes back fast. :) <em>Robert, today it's my first visit of your web site. I have been reading over 20 articles by now, seems I can't get enough! Congratulation for your work, I love it.</em> Hi,

I started in 1979 with the TRS-80 Model I, the very first version without the numeric keypad, without floppy, without any expansion at all. Imagine 4K of memory!!! At the time, I was only 8 years old but with good books my father had bought for himself, one year after, I could have told you by heart any poke memory value and it’s use.

I finally got the extension in the next few years and almost every Tandy Corporation computers made in the following 7 years. (My father as it’s office at home and was constantly changing computer. Luckily, I was authorize to use them.)

The funny part happen last year, I found out a TSR-80 emulator that I downloaded. It was crazy to reminisce my young time and I can tell it’s like bicycle, It comes back fast. :)

Robert, today it’s my first visit of your web site. I have been reading over 20 articles by now, seems I can’t get enough! Congratulation for your work, I love it.

]]> By: Robert Nyman http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/what-was-your-first-computer-like/#comment-3084 Robert Nyman Sat, 11 Feb 2006 18:03:22 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/333/#comment-3084 Max, Thanks for sharing! Seems like you've been around for a while... :-) Max,

Thanks for sharing!
Seems like you’ve been around for a while… :-)

]]> By: Max http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/what-was-your-first-computer-like/#comment-3083 Max Sat, 11 Feb 2006 16:01:52 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/333/#comment-3083 Got my first taste of computers in 1981 with an apple IIe clone purchased in Hong Kong. I think it had 16K ram 2 5 1/4 floppy disks and 9" or 10" inch monitor. Eventually we bought a CPM card and dot matrix printer and I thought I was the coolest kid on the block. Now that I just took a walk on memory lane I feel like a dinosaur. Cheers Max Got my first taste of computers in 1981 with an apple IIe clone purchased in Hong Kong. I think it had 16K ram 2 5 1/4 floppy disks and 9″ or 10″ inch monitor. Eventually we bought a CPM card and dot matrix printer and I thought I was the coolest kid on the block.

Now that I just took a walk on memory lane I feel like a dinosaur.

Cheers

Max

]]> By: Robert Nyman http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/what-was-your-first-computer-like/#comment-3068 Robert Nyman Fri, 10 Feb 2006 12:41:49 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/333/#comment-3068 Ken, Nah, those are times long gone. :-) Ken,

Nah, those are times long gone. :-)

]]> By: Ken Liu http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/what-was-your-first-computer-like/#comment-3066 Ken Liu Fri, 10 Feb 2006 12:26:42 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/333/#comment-3066 I had a Commodore 128. Yeah, that's right, that's 64 better than the C64. The C128 ran at a whopping 2 MHz, twice as fast as the C64. Zillions of cool games. They still don't make them like they used to. I had a Commodore 128. Yeah, that’s right, that’s 64 better than the C64. The C128 ran at a whopping 2 MHz, twice as fast as the C64.

Zillions of cool games. They still don’t make them like they used to.

]]> By: Robert Nyman http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/what-was-your-first-computer-like/#comment-3047 Robert Nyman Thu, 09 Feb 2006 08:30:09 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/333/#comment-3047 Shane, Yes, sometimes memories should just stay as memories. :-) Shane,

Yes, sometimes memories should just stay as memories. :-)

]]> By: Shane http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/what-was-your-first-computer-like/#comment-3042 Shane Wed, 08 Feb 2006 21:47:47 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/333/#comment-3042 My first machine was an Acorn Electron, circa 1985/86. I remember struggling to get a 2 line program to run. I eventually cracked it with: 10 PRINT "HELLO SHANE" 20 GOTO 10 Ever since then, I've been programming. I remember the electron so fondly. I've been tempted to buy one on ebay, but I think that the reality may not match the memory. Best leave it then. My first machine was an Acorn Electron, circa 1985/86.

I remember struggling to get a 2 line program to run. I eventually cracked it with:

10 PRINT “HELLO SHANE”
20 GOTO 10

Ever since then, I’ve been programming. I remember the electron so fondly. I’ve been tempted to buy one on ebay, but I think that the reality may not match the memory.

Best leave it then.

]]> By: Robert Nyman http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/what-was-your-first-computer-like/#comment-3025 Robert Nyman Tue, 07 Feb 2006 11:26:15 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/333/#comment-3025 Mauri, Ah, I remember the Vic20 commercials on the back of comic magazines when I was little... :-) Mauri,

Ah, I remember the Vic20 commercials on the back of comic magazines when I was little… :-)

]]> By: Mauri http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/what-was-your-first-computer-like/#comment-3024 Mauri Tue, 07 Feb 2006 10:16:47 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/333/#comment-3024 A Commodore Vic 20 back in 1983 (less than 1MHz processor, 3.5 k RAM ... beat this one! :D <a href="http://retroinformatica.net/ordenadores/vic20" title="Commodore Vic 20" rel="nofollow">The 1981 Commodore Vic20</a> A Commodore Vic 20 back in 1983 (less than 1MHz processor, 3.5 k RAM … beat this one! :D
The 1981 Commodore Vic20

]]> By: Robert Nyman http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/what-was-your-first-computer-like/#comment-3002 Robert Nyman Mon, 06 Feb 2006 07:37:01 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/333/#comment-3002 Reine, Thanks for sharing! I definitely wasn't programming back then, but yeah, I can imagine it's a vast difference! :-) Reine,

Thanks for sharing! I definitely wasn’t programming back then, but yeah, I can imagine it’s a vast difference! :-)

]]> By: Reine http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/what-was-your-first-computer-like/#comment-3000 Reine Sun, 05 Feb 2006 21:25:31 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/333/#comment-3000 Around 1983 I got a MSX computer with a Z80 inside and a whopping 64k. The name came from the built-in basic interpreter, "MicroSoft eXtended Basic". Oh my, this means I used Microsoft technologies for programming even 23 years ago! But luckily it's quite a difference between MSX Basic and ASP.NET. Around 1983 I got a MSX computer with a Z80 inside and a whopping 64k. The name came from the built-in basic interpreter, “MicroSoft eXtended Basic”. Oh my, this means I used Microsoft technologies for programming even 23 years ago! But luckily it’s quite a difference between MSX Basic and ASP.NET.

]]> By: Robert Nyman http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/what-was-your-first-computer-like/#comment-2990 Robert Nyman Sat, 04 Feb 2006 19:57:24 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/333/#comment-2990 Ecki, Thanks for sharing and for the link! :-) Philip, Good story! :-) Tompa, Sounds like a perfect setup! :-) Ecki,

Thanks for sharing and for the link! :-)

Philip,

Good story! :-)

Tompa,

Sounds like a perfect setup! :-)

]]> By: Tompa http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/what-was-your-first-computer-like/#comment-2986 Tompa Sat, 04 Feb 2006 15:56:20 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/333/#comment-2986 My first computer was a Sinclair ZX Spectrum, astonishing 48 kB RAM and a speaker at the 'bottom' of the plastic box that holds both the computer and the the rubber-keys on top of it. Sounded almost as good as the 7.1 systems available today. Data flow was driven by an old tape recorder (just any will do as long as you have clean read/write head in it). Had it connected to a black&white portable 12" TV of house-wagon model. My first computer was a Sinclair ZX Spectrum, astonishing 48 KB RAM and a speaker at the ‘bottom’ of the plastic box that holds both the computer and the the rubber-keys on top of it. Sounded almost as good as the 7.1 systems available today.

Data flow was driven by an old tape recorder (just any will do as long as you have clean read/write head in it).

Had it connected to a black&white portable 12″ TV of house-wagon model.

]]> By: Philip Meadows http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/what-was-your-first-computer-like/#comment-2979 Philip Meadows Fri, 03 Feb 2006 22:07:01 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/01/31/333/#comment-2979 First computer I owned was a PCs Limited 286/8. Small Texas based computer company run by some kid named Michael Dell. First computer I owned was a PCs Limited 286/8. Small Texas based computer company run by some kid named Michael Dell.

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