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Classact
11-23-2007, 01:05 PM
When did you first use a computer? When did you first use the Internet?
PostmodernProphet
11-23-2007, 03:43 PM
I took a computer class in college....we punched little holes in cardboard and fed them in stacks into the computer.....actually, the school I went to didn't have it's own computer.....we had to drive 70 miles to a state university once a month to try out our programs......

I made my first web site in 1998......using a program called Arachnophobia.....
Classact
11-23-2007, 04:07 PM
I took a computer class in college....we punched little holes in cardboard and fed them in stacks into the computer.....actually, the school I went to didn't have it's own computer.....we had to drive 70 miles to a state university once a month to try out our programs......

I made my first web site in 1998......using a program called Arachnophobia.....The reason the computer firm hired me was they had a contract to field the Army's new supply and maintenance computer system to replace the punch cards... I was a great Ginni pig to train and since I had experience as an instructor in the Army I had the skills to train large groups with my new gained skills.

I met my wife in Germany, she was a Lieutenant in one of the commands where we were fielding the systems and was responsible for providing us the training space... she majored in computer programming and can write several languages but has never used her major... she's doing her masters in Business Management right now on weekends.
jackass
11-23-2007, 04:44 PM
I first used a computer in 1984ish? A commadore I think. It was at a friends house. We just used it to play games. First time I used the internet was probably around 93 or so.
Kathianne
11-23-2007, 04:57 PM
Me too in the early 80's. My ex was the division manager at SBC, for writing programs such as the one that allows for multi-area codes in MSA's. At home was an IBM I believe. He also had a 'laptop', rather early 'portable' pc, that weighted about 30-40 pounds. :laugh2:

For me and the kids, mostly we played games, I don't remember no Windows back then and I didn't know Cobal or Fortran, etc.
5stringJeff
11-23-2007, 05:55 PM
First computer I used was an Apple IIc (IIRC) in 1982.

First internet use was in late 1994. I used to go to a Unix chat room called "Coffeehouse."
jimnyc
11-23-2007, 06:04 PM
Commodore 64 for me sometime in the early 80's. Spent about 6 hours typing in code once, hit the run button, and got to watch a balloon float to the top of the screen!
Yurt
11-23-2007, 06:25 PM
Hmmm, I remember a computer that was I think a commador 64 or something. The monitor was only a black screen with green writing. It was fourth grade I think, maybe fifth. there was this "video" game called hitchhikers guide to the galaxy (all text) that my friend played. It was the "rage" But I had a atari 5200 and couldn't be bothered by text games.

Oh yeah, see and weemember:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Atari_5200_-_trojandan_14871272.jpg/800px-Atari_5200_-_trojandan_14871272.jpg


I used the internet first in 94. Did an overseas trip through college and I had to give a report on the marshall islands and the only place I could find info on was the net. I don't think there were normal search engines. I remember coming back after a year in the islands and being blown away by how far the internet had come.
CockySOB
11-23-2007, 06:28 PM
First computer I ever got to play around on was a Tandy/Radio Shack TRS-80 Model I around 1981. The school my dad taught at had just gotten one and while he taught life sciences, his classroom and lab was directly across the hall from the math lab. I did some very, VERY simple programming in BASIC on it. I also had the opportunity to tinker on both a Model II and a Model III via school, but my real fun came with programming the Tandy Color Computer II at home using their Extended BASIC, machine code and Logo (via cartridge). Wrote a couple of cool programs, but the one I was most proud of was the graphic paint program I wrote which essentially did direct video manipulation and storage of the video memory (my "art") to cassette tape. Eventually, we got one of the cartridge-connected diskette drives and I ported the code to use the diskettes for storage. (*ahhhh* brings back some good memories!)
CockySOB
11-23-2007, 06:30 PM
My first time using the internet was 1988 while in my freshman year at college. Yeah, it wasn't the internet the kids today would recognize, but I imagine we have more than a few people here who would recognize it from the days of DARPANET.
Kathianne
11-23-2007, 06:33 PM
Hmmm, I remember a computer that was I think a commador 64 or something. The monitor was only a black screen with green writing. It was fourth grade I think, maybe fifth. there was this "video" game called hitchhikers guide to the galaxy (all text) that my friend played. It was the "rage" But I had a atari 5200 and couldn't be bothered by text games.

Oh yeah, see and weemember:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Atari_5200_-_trojandan_14871272.jpg/800px-Atari_5200_-_trojandan_14871272.jpg


I used the internet first in 94. Did an overseas trip through college and I had to give a report on the marshall islands and the only place I could find info on was the net. I don't think there were normal search engines. I remember coming back after a year in the islands and being blown away by how far the internet had come.

Wow, I forgot about the 'lime green words', not to mention all the < that preceded and > that ended each line. Atari was staple in our house too, kids were playing pacman at 3. Zelda at 4. :laugh2:
jimnyc
11-23-2007, 06:34 PM
Does a Z80 processor I worked with in tech school count? Binary rules!
CockySOB
11-23-2007, 06:38 PM
Does a Z80 processor I worked with in tech school count? Binary rules!

The Zilog Z80 was the CPU for a number of early personal computers. I'd say it counts.
actsnoblemartin
11-23-2007, 07:05 PM
September 1st, 1996


When did you first use a computer? When did you first use the Internet?
April15
11-23-2007, 07:08 PM
Still have my apple 2e
5stringJeff
11-23-2007, 09:14 PM
Atari 5200 is teh r0x0rz!!!11!1!1!!one!!
mrg666
11-23-2007, 09:32 PM
early 80's zx spectrum , atari 800 , commadore 64 , atari st , pentium 386 (first look onto a pc). first net visit 95 but it was expensive so stuck on the old bbs's till about 97
diuretic
11-23-2007, 09:34 PM
An Amstrad PCW - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_PCW

I reckon it was about 1989/1990. I think I first got on the Internet in about 1994 though, after I got a proper computer :coffee:
Gaffer
11-23-2007, 09:46 PM
My first pc was a 286 with a 1200 baud modem and 8 meg of memory. Bought it in 91. Didn't have a way to get on the internet until 95. But did a lot on BBS's which were the precursors to forums like this.
CockySOB
11-24-2007, 02:09 AM
An Amstrad PCW - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_PCW

I reckon it was about 1989/1990. I think I first got on the Internet in about 1994 though, after I got a proper computer :coffee:

Hadn't heard the name "Amstrad" for a loooooooooong time!

Anyone remember the Amiga?
shattered
11-25-2007, 08:28 AM
Hadn't heard the name "Amstrad" for a loooooooooong time!

Anyone remember the Amiga?

Egads.. I had an Amiga something.. a 500, I think? Back in the early to mid-80's. Also had an Apple IIe, something called a "Sherry".. A 300 baud *switch* modem (little white box with a toggle switch that you flipped when you dialed the computer of your choise, and got their modem.