General Discussion

MineralMan

(151,287 posts)

38. I know. Really.

Thu Mar 9, 2017, 10:56 AM

Mar 2017

However, there are a lot of people who have never known a world without computers everywhere and massive connectivity. Once in a while, I like to show something from the beginnings of that.

What looks old and useless today was once the cutting edge of technology. I'm an ancient old guy of 71 years, but I've been messing with computers since 1963, when I took my first programming classes. My subscription to Byte started with its first issue, and I still have a copy of the Popular Electronics issue where the first actual personal computer was on the cover.

It has been a great ride. These days, I'm just using the technology. Back then, I was helping it happen. Boomers are good for something, I guess.

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My First Laptop Computer [View all] MineralMan Mar 2017 OP

Hah! Nice one, and older than my first. My first laptop I spray-painted purple. Just because. randome Mar 2017 #1

Omg! Lotusflower70 Mar 2017 #2

I have never seen a laptop that look like that. Does look like museum stuff. nt Blue_true Mar 2017 #22

I first learned to type on one of those in elementary school Blue_Tires Mar 2017 #3

I upgraded to this Zenith ZF-171 MineralMan Mar 2017 #4

Dude, are you sure that isn't like from 1887? nolabels Mar 2017 #9

I miss my IBM 360!!! LeftInTX Mar 2017 #11

First computer I ever used was an IBM 1620, way back MineralMan Mar 2017 #15

We were lucky, the computer lab ran our jobs during the evening. LeftInTX Mar 2017 #25

I still have an old 286 tucked away. nt tblue37 Mar 2017 #21

Do you have back problems? Surely you had a cart for that thing. Blue_true Mar 2017 #24

This Zenith was the slowest ogsball Mar 2017 #39

Yes. It was not a great PC, by any means. MineralMan Mar 2017 #40

My first "luggable" was a Mitsubishi MP 286L hunter Mar 2017 #49

Been on an anthropological dig in my late dad's den and found lots of old TRS80 stuff. Gidney N Cloyd Mar 2017 #5

Cool. Try some of it out. MineralMan Mar 2017 #7

Finally, a laptop with batteries: The Zenith 180 MineralMan Mar 2017 #6

HA!! greytdemocrat Mar 2017 #8

I gave all of the old stuff away when I moved to Minnesota. MineralMan Mar 2017 #17

I had one of those, too PJMcK Mar 2017 #10

Famous name advertising Commodore. area51 Mar 2017 #12

Jan 12, 1908? Thor_MN Mar 2017 #13

that predates Apple...it survived Y2K Demonaut Mar 2017 #23

TRS80 was my first desk top. OldHippieChick Mar 2017 #14

My first computer BlueStateLib Mar 2017 #16

Very cool! MineralMan Mar 2017 #18

One of mine too! hunter Mar 2017 #51

I have a working Coleco ADAM computer PCIntern Mar 2017 #19

That's amazing, considering how MineralMan Mar 2017 #20

Bought it for $700 because I needed PCIntern Mar 2017 #50

Used it for over a decade... sfwriter Mar 2017 #26

How many mb of storage did it have? kimbutgar Mar 2017 #27

I believe it's 4k fescuerescue Mar 2017 #30

Mine was of the same era - Osborne Executive luggable! moonscape Mar 2017 #28

Where is the pull cord to start it? eom guillaumeb Mar 2017 #29

My first computer... neeksgeek Mar 2017 #31

That trash 80 form factor d_r Mar 2017 #32

Kicking. littlemissmartypants Mar 2017 #33

It's fun to look back a little in time. MineralMan Mar 2017 #34

I think your laptop was the prototype for this one: Orrex Mar 2017 #35

Could be, but we had what we had in the 80s MineralMan Mar 2017 #36

Hey, I'm in no position to mock anyone (except good-naturedly) Orrex Mar 2017 #37

I know. Really. MineralMan Mar 2017 #38

LOL--I love it! Orrex Mar 2017 #45

I decided to back up an image of the entire hard drive on my new PC. MineralMan Mar 2017 #46

The "Osborne Effect" ksoze Mar 2017 #41

Tons of companies came and went quickly during the early 80s. MineralMan Mar 2017 #43

Love my TRS-80 ogsball Mar 2017 #42

My first printer was a Radio Shack Daisy Wheel Printer. MineralMan Mar 2017 #44

My first computer was a Commodore 64 Occulus Mar 2017 #47

On a somewhat related note Saboburns Mar 2017 #48

If you want them to survive for long, keep them charged. MineralMan Mar 2017 #52

Thanks MM Saboburns Mar 2017 #55

My first computer Trailrider1951 Mar 2017 #53

Yup. That's just like the one I took to college in 1963 as MineralMan Mar 2017 #54