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Thread ID: 28365	2002-12-17 10:54:00	Years of computing experience	rugila (214)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
106968	2002-12-18 00:50:00	>so-called "IBM compatible" (who invented such a monstrosity of a name?). The main reason we all use IBM compatable PCs is because they're all based on IBM x85 PCs. Other manufacturors at the time all used custom chips (Apple, Commodore, MSX, Tandy Radio Shack etc etc). So any compatable machine had to have one or several chips produced by that company. Because all IBM chips were "off the shelf" anyone could build a motherboard or PC which was compatable with IBM PC. Hence the term "IBM Compatable" or "IBM PC". I don't think IBM even tried to licence the term PC. Up until fairly recently PC referred to IBM PCs only.	crozier (2004)
106969	2002-12-18 01:06:00	I started on the Commodore Pet (using Pascal) in 1981 at University in Glasgow. Moved onto DEC PDP-11 using FORTRAN, ALGOL etc. First job was on an IBM System/38 in 1983 and in 1986 I moved into freelance consulting. Moved to NZ in '89 and have been freelancing here ever since, on IBM AS/400, System/36 and System/38. Over the last few years, I have begun coding in VB, HTML and ASP, but leave the design work to the experts.;) Cheers Miami	Miami Steve (2128)
106970	2002-12-18 01:18:00	>I started on the Commodore Pet (using Pascal) in 1981 at University in Glasgow Ah. So that's where you got your nick name of Miami ;)	crozier (2004)
106971	2002-12-18 01:33:00	1982 a workmate had a strange thing called a "computer" and was a member of the local computer club. Couldn't understand how such things could be so fascinating or what use anyone could find for them. Definitely weird. 1988 my brother showed my 5 year old how to play a game in Basic on his XT. The local library also computerised their catalogue. Kids and libraries knowing more than me??? This is Not On! 1989 bought a 2nd hand XT and taught myself how to use DOS. Have worked with computers for years and should finish the computer degree next year (it will have taken 7 years part-time). How things change.	Heather P (163)
106972	2002-12-18 03:12:00	IBM 1620. Yes ... 10 cps IBM typewriter as printer. 10000 or 20000 (decimal) digits (not bytes -- 5 bit "biquinary"). I've still got the book on Fortran II (1965). I've built two Z80's, and a monitor, and a keyboard from parts. (and the power supplies). And hand-assembled a monitor, which finished up with Basic andLisp in the same 2k PROM. Used PDP8, PDP11, Vaxen, Prime, Burroughs, PCs, Apple II, Apple Mac, -() , Acorn, Amiga, Texas, Osborne (trans)Portable ...	Graham L (2)
106973	2002-12-18 03:16:00	The old Amiga's were quite fun to play with. I still preffered my C64. I can remember the first time I unplugged it to take it to the other room and lpugged it back together myself. I thought I was so clever, but that's what you get at the age of 5 :D	Chilling_Silence (9)
106974	2002-12-18 03:26:00	Burroughs E8000 (circa 1970) IBM system/34 Still have both of the above processor cabinets as shed cupboards! Motorola 6802 kit ZX80 Z80 (made it myself) 48k RAM Sanyo MBC 550 DOS based PC Original IBM PC IBMXT clone AT 286 Toshiba T1000 (4 Mhz 8086) 512 kB RAM (still got it) 486 (still got it) Pentium 133 Pentium 266 Pentium 600 Pentium 667 Toshiba Satellite P600 Laptop P4 2 GHz 6802 Assembly language Z80 Assembly language 8080 Assembly language 8086 Assembly language Basic Fortran Pascal Cobol	godfather (25)
106975	2002-12-18 03:32:00	I think my first computer experience must've been back in '91, possibly earlier (my memory fails me for really really old stuff). My dad won a computer from one of the Westpac competitions that staff entered... got a new computer, it was either DOS or a Commodore or something like that. I remember playing preschooler games in DOS, particularly one that did not like exiting (so you had to restart the computer). I particularly remember the noisy dot-matrix printer whirring and clicking as they do, printing out on those large pieces of lined computer paper. After that it was all component-by-component upgrading (pre-built computers?! Where the hell is the fun in that? And you get just about no customisation [save a few companies that offer additional components for more money or allow you to select between two things, such as a CDRW or a DVD drive]). So now I have four working, fully functional computers, and many, many spare parts, including many IDE cables, processors, RAM, a few motherboards, graphics cards, and just about enough to put together another computer. Only reason stopping me is that it wouldn't be of much use.	agent (30)
106976	2002-12-18 03:55:00	PC's I have owned.... Amstrad 1612HD (4.77MHz, 20Mb HDD, running Gem which was like windows, but distributed by Digital (I believe)) - circa 1987. IBM PS/2 (20MHz, 160Mb HDD microchannel architecture, running OS/2 V2.0) - 1992 PC Direct (120MHz Pentium, 1.2Gb HDD running Win 95) - 1996. Still in use. Now has additional 8.6Gb HDD. :D Gateway (700MHz PIII, 20Gb HDD running Win2k Pro and Win 98SE) - 1999/2000? Now has additional 80Gb HDD. (Where does all that space go? :D) Current machine, but due for replacement B-) Cheers Miami	Miami Steve (2128)
106977	2002-12-18 05:14:00	I started off with a zx spectrum many moons ago , no monitor, no drives just hooked up to the TV and cassette tape deck(for software loading)etc 16k of memory it had i think. lots of early saturday mornings playing Horace goes skiing and typing in programs from magazines used to spend ages getting the bugs out of them. great stuff. moved on to a 286 of my grandads , he used it for typing letters and I used if for everything, then my own 386sx25 32 mb ram I still have the case and keyboard but the rest has crapped out. Then I bought a p200 which I used up until about a year ago. Currently own a p111 550 which is my main machine which humms along allright most of the time. I am building up a p150 to have a play with linux at the moment so that will keep me occupied along with the usual friend and family units i have to keep running and the new units I might have to build from scratch for small businesses . I love it, don't u ?	zip1nz (2251)
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