Old PC Technology [Archive] - Trans Ladyboy Forum

a9127

01-16-2019, 06:12 PM

Many of us have worked in "IT" or a related field. All of us at one time or another have been affected for better or for worse by the "offerings" from Microsoft, Apple, Cisco, Motorola, etc. or the many PC manufacturers who have come and gone through the years. Thought it might be fun and different to share experiences with some of the earliest technology that you have used. Feel free to post anything--good or bad... :eek:

I got my start with computers long before I was ever in school by helping my dad with reports and calculations for his work (Sales Executive for GM). He had a "T1" line and if I was "good" I was allowed to spend time on it. It turned out to be good experience for what I do today. One of my earliest memories is using '"Lotus 1-2-3". Perhaps the "granddaddy" of all PC-based business applications. The first version I remember ran under "DOS" and used the "CGA" graphics color scheme. :(

(Note to younger members... The "82" on the chart refers to "1982."):lol:

ila

01-16-2019, 07:01 PM

The first computer I used was a Commodore 64. It had two 5-1/4" floppy drives. One ran the program in use and the other was used for saving files. The monitor was a portable tv. I only used a very basic word processor, but I thought it was just the greatest thing ever and much more fun to use than a typewriter.

a9127

01-17-2019, 11:05 AM

In my office, I have an antique IBM PC/AT motherboard, 20MB Hard Drive, Paradise "EGA" card, and 1.2Mb floppy drive from my first "real" computer that was passed onto me by my Dad way back when... The "AT" used an Intel "286"processor running at a blazing 8Mhz. :eek: We added the "287" math co-processor and extra memory through an "Above Board." DOS's limit was 640K but Lotus 1-2-3 could taake advantage of it. The Hard Drive has been disassembled and has the date "1985" stamped on it. I'm going in later today, I'll take some pics. Why I kept it I'll never know. The computer is almost as old as I am... My students are amazed that that they had computers back then. :lol:

By the way, ila's "Commodore 64" with real floppies was quite advanced for it's time. :respect: My very first computer was a "Vic-20" with cassette drive my mom found on sale at K-Mart. One Christmas I got a "Microcomputer Trainer" from Radio-Shack that taught "assembly language." So that's how a career was born. :blush:

My Dad had a Compaq DeskPro 386 (about $10,000 back then) and a "T1" line paid for by General Motors. I used to help him with stuff before I was even in school. If I was "good" I was allowed to use it for fun. Not that there was much to do then (alt.binaries.erotica). :innocent: The "T1" was a digital phone line and would be like the 80's and 90's "high speed Internet." They are still around.

God I feel old that I even remember what all this stuff was. :(

ila

01-17-2019, 05:20 PM

In the early '90s I was moving into a job that involved a lot of work on computers. My Commodore knowledge wasn't enough to get by in my new position. I was advised to take some courses to get me up to speed so I went on a course that was conducted on weekends only. For a long time I thought that the computers we used on the course were Atari, but I'm not so sure anymore.

The course taught DOS, a pretty basic word processor, Lotus 1-2-3, and db III+. I really hated db III+ as it was the most awkward program to be able to do anything.

a9127

01-17-2019, 06:18 PM

These antiques should bring back memories both good and bad... :(

IBM "AT" motherboard. This "monster" had an Intel 286 processor running at 8mhz. Considered "blazing fast." For 1984... :lol:

Paradise "EGA" graphics card. An "upgrade" from the awful Cyan Magenta White palette of "CGA" this standard allowed 16 colors at a time (if memory serves me) from a total of 64. Enough to show "dirty pictures." Well almost... :drool:

IBM thought a "High Capacity" 5 1/4" floppy would be enough for the future. They were wrong... :eek: The date of manufacture? May, 1985.

Computer Science textbook from 1969. This was given to me by a professor who retired the year I first started teaching. It means a lot to me and occupies a special place on my bookshelf. Interestingly, the algorithms, data storage concepts, and system design principles are still valid 50 yeas later. :respect:

Anyone know what this is? There was a time that everyone had to access the Internet through a "Dial Up" connection. If you know what "RS-232" is you get an "A". Class dismissed... ;)

How about these? Know what they are used for? No, of course not. Everything is wireless now. The date on the case says "June 2001." :blush:

ila

01-17-2019, 09:55 PM

liesjeversteven

01-20-2019, 10:16 AM

a9127

01-20-2019, 11:02 AM

It looks like I get an A. Make that an A+ as I not only know what an RS-232 cable is, but I used them and repaired them.

I know the tools in the tool case quite well as I've used them for work and not just at home for my own purposes.

To go back a really long ways (for the computer age) I remember when base 2 arithmetic was introduced in the primary grades at school. We were told it was because we were now in the space age and not the iron age. At the time no one (teachers and pupils) knew that the arithmetic was to be the basis on which we were to learn all about computers and computing. Of course at the time computers weighed a few tons, occupied complete rooms, and were only used by big corporations and utility companies.

Ila gets an "A+." Well done. :respect:

My own students (college) don't know "Base 2." They also don't think we landed on the moon. I help my nieces (8 and 10) with their homework. They are both very smart. But the math problems are like "circle the picture with five cats." Or "count to 100." The 10 year old is starting to do multiplication and division.

a9127

01-20-2019, 11:20 AM

ila

01-20-2019, 02:31 PM

My first computer was also a c64, but with a tape drive still...

You and ila both have me beat. My "first" was just a lowly "Vic-20" hooked up to an old color TV via an adapter that attached to the antenna. :( Like you, I had the "tape drive." I am jealous of ila that he had an actual disk drive. :cool:

Did either of you have the "VIC-Modem"?

The "oldest" computer I have ever used was a "NorthStar" running "CP/M." Its case was made of wood (Hehe..hehe...hehe he said "wood"). It belonged to one of my professors in grad school. He said he bought it in 1979. It was still running after all those years! He let me try using "WordStar." I wrote a memo to him updating my research proposal then printed it off on an equally ancient "dot matrix" printer.

(Fun fact: WordStar used the S, E, X, and D keys for "cursor movement." :drool:)

I didn't own the C64 that I used. It belonged to my boss. I asked so many questions about it that he told me to learn how to use it.

I've seen a couple of old tape drives, but I've never used any.

The first computer I ever bought was a Gateway 2000 486 33Mhz. I almost bought a 286 from someone I knew that was selling it, but then I saw an advertisement for a new 486 and it was cheaper than the used 286.

The first modem I ever used was on radio teletype circuits. At a guess I would say it was 15 inches wide by 10 inches high by 18 inches deep and weighed around 20 pounds. It wasn't a digital modem as radio teletype back then was analogue.

The first digital modem I had was when I got my internet connection. It weighted a couple of pounds (if that much) and was about the size of my two hands together. I've been through a few more versions since then with my current one being the size of one of my palms and weighing just a few ounces.

I've heard of Word Star, but never used it. My first printer was a wide carriage dot matrix and I had a 24 pin cable that connected it to my computer.

a9127

02-05-2019, 11:18 AM

ila

02-05-2019, 05:24 PM

Back in 1954 this was one possible "vision" of what home computers of the future might look like. :(

Made by RAND Corporation, it was expected to be in use by 2004! According to the caption, it was "easy to use" with its Teletype interface and Fortran language.

My favorite part is the "wall mounted display." :lol::lol::lol:

That "wall mounted display" looks like an old tv that I once had.

I got a laugh from what looks like a ship's wheel on the computer. I wonder if RAND thought their computer had to be steered.

I'll bet the energy consumption of that was measured in MWh.

franalexes

02-06-2019, 04:54 PM

I remember of seeing pictures of computers in the 50's. They were as big as a room.
My brother used a computer in the late 60's. He put in a program , punched in a long code of numbers and letters for what seemed like twenty minutes. Then pushed one more button and the screen went totally red for 3 seconds. That was the program !

a9127

02-07-2019, 01:57 PM

That "wall mounted display" looks like an old tv that I once had.

I got a laugh from what looks like a ship's wheel on the computer. I wonder if RAND thought their computer had to be steered.

I'll bet the energy consumption of that was measured in MWh.

Somehow the prospect of watching Internet porn on that doesn't seem so appealing. :( :turnoff: Wait, there wasn't any "Internet" back then! :lol::lol::lol:

I wondered about the "ship's wheel" as well. It kind of reminds me of an old movie I once saw about submarines. Looks sort of like the "control room."

Thinking the same thing. Wonder how much power "one in every household" would consume?

(Also Fortran isn't exactly "user friendly" and was mostly used in engineering applications. I can see entire families sitting around this thing at night writing code together... :eek: Mom: "Andy what are you doing in your room with the door locked?" Me: Trying to generate a picture of Marilyn Monroe. :inlove: "Just 1057 more lines of code left, mom!")

ila

02-14-2019, 05:29 PM

My very first computer was a sliderule. They were quite good and fast for multiplying, dividing, and trigonometry. The C and D scales were especially useful. I'm quite sure I could find that when I was proficient in using one that I could multiply or divide two numbers faster than someone using a calculator.

I've attached 3 sample pictures so that those that are unfamiliar with a sliderule know what one looks like.

a9127

03-01-2019, 09:56 PM

ila

03-02-2019, 05:16 PM

Cisco 2500 series router. Have one similar to this sitting on a shelf in my office. Some company donated several to our school. I earned a CCNA years ago. Don't really work with this stuff anymore. Kept one just for fun. Who remembers "token ring"? :lol:

Token ring - now there was a flashback to a nightmare of trying to understand what was meant by token ring when the person explaining had no clue himself. 'And, by the way, there's a test on this tomorrow.' :eek: Talk about having to hit the books.

a9127

03-02-2019, 08:57 PM

Simple "token ring" example from 2001. :(

(My students find it amazing that computers once were connected with wires... :lol:)

ila

03-02-2019, 09:24 PM

I remember those diagrams (not those particular ones, but similar).

a9127

03-05-2019, 11:04 AM

Not a PC, but certainly "older" technology. In 2004-05, the phone to have was the Motorola "Razr" V3. I had the standard "silver" one but my "ex" had to have a "pink" one. Just like Paris. That's either "cute" or "ick" depending on how you see it. Fifteen years later I'm strongly leaning towards "ick." :lol::lol::lol:

Word is now they are coming out with a "foldable" Razr V4 smartphone. Estimated price: $1,500 USD. Must have one... Must have one... Must have one... :drool:

ila

03-06-2019, 05:28 PM

a9127

03-10-2019, 10:53 AM

Before smartphones there were smart pagers. RIM kicked off the revolution in texting and mobile email access with their 900 series pagers with full text capability. My job at the time required me to carry a 950 model shortly after its introduction.

I never wore a pager but I know many people who did. "RIM" would go on to make the "Blackberry" line of smartphones until they were beaten out by Apple and of course the "Androids." I had a Blackberry 9800 at one point. Everything I've owned since then has been a Samsung Galaxy.

But I think this guy has surpassed everyone for collecting old technology (https://www.pcmag.com/feature/363802/gear-envy-my-collection-of-500-pieces-of-computer-and-gaming?utm_source=email&utm_campaign=whatsnewnow&utm_medium=image). :respect:

ila

03-12-2019, 05:33 PM

I never wore a pager but I know many people who did. "RIM" would go on to make the "Blackberry" line of smartphones until they were beaten out by Apple and of course the "Androids." I had a Blackberry 9800 at one point. Everything I've owned since then has been a Samsung Galaxy.

I had an alphanumeric pager before I had the RIM. The advantage to having a rim was that it could send messages instead of just receiving them. RIM's innovation led to texting and email capabilities on phones and eventually to the smart phone as we now know it. The advances in portable computing (smart phones) were extremely rapid during this period.

But I think this guy has surpassed everyone for collecting old technology (https://www.pcmag.com/feature/363802/gear-envy-my-collection-of-500-pieces-of-computer-and-gaming?utm_source=email&utm_campaign=whatsnewnow&utm_medium=image). :respect:

That's quite the collection of boat anchors that he has. :lol:

MistressStevie

05-05-2019, 11:56 AM

the Digital PDP 11s were a hoot. The paper feed DEC Writers gave you a hard copy of all your keyboard interaction. Now where did I put those logs from the early 80s.

a9127

06-05-2019, 10:47 AM

From PC Magazine. “The Biggest Software Flops of All Time.” :( How many of you remember any of these?

I remember some of them. Netscape and Joost for example. And I had a Palm Pilot. Mine was the color m505 from 2001. :blush: Before “smartphones” that was what you had to do. The most useful thing about it was when I drove across the United States with my first wife in 2004, we were able to download all maps to it and plan our routes. We didn’t have a “navigation” system in our vehicle back then. But the Palm could take advantage of GPS. I paid a lot for it.

Even worse, I remember and actually used “Mosaic.” That was in the earliest days of the “Web.” Maybe 1993? A graphical browser! Awesome! Younger members might like to see what a “Web Page” in 1997 looked like. :lol: There is an example of one in Netscape 6. My first “Web Site” was designed in grade school and called “Andyz Home Page” I had a lot of stuff on me and school and sports activities plus pictures of my family on vacation. Also a section on exotic “carz.” Remember this WAS “social media” back then!!!

Of course I remember upgrading to Windows Vista in early 2007 (at major expense). I had just started my “technology” blog then. One of my first articles was a review of Vista. I wasn’t kind. I documented that it had “crashed” necessitating a total restart (and losing everything) no less than 23 times… :eek:

Here’s the link:

https://www.pcmag.com/feature/345740/the-biggest-software-flops-of-all-time?utm_source=email&utm_campaign=whatsnewnow&utm_medium=title

ila

06-05-2019, 05:39 PM

I remember when Netscape came out and it was the best there was at the time. It was easy to use. I never had a problem with it. The MS started bundling IE with Windows and before anyone realized it Netscape was gone. I also remember the big uproar caused by MS when IE became a basically free program. The world was going to end, but obviously it hasn't.

There was a lot of hype around Vista when it came out. I had friends who jumped right on it and then started complaining about it. By the time I got Vista a lot of the problems had been fixed plus computers had advanced enough that Vista worked quite good. I used Vista until the computer I had broke down due to hardware failure. I think ME was a much worse version of Windows than was Vista.

Harvard Graphics wasn't mentioned and I don't consider it a flop. I do wonder what happened to it as it was easy to use and had features that PowerPoint wouldn't have for many years.

MistressStevie

06-05-2019, 07:58 PM

a9127

06-05-2019, 09:59 PM

I will see that list of flopped software and raise it by a muted meow from the widely panned CueCat!

The Wikipedia article is kind compared to the comments I remember in the day:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CueCat

I remember these! We had one. Think it came to my Dad in the mail. Probably because he subscribed to Forbes. :lol:

The "nose" scanned the code. Never used it. We have it somewhere... probably in a box in the garage.

"QR" codes and smartphones have made this obsolete. Besides it used a wire. Even in 2000 it was clear the next thing was to eliminate that. Never knew they invested $185 million in it. :(

a9127

06-05-2019, 10:25 PM

I think ME was a much worse version of Windows than was Vista.

Harvard Graphics wasn't mentioned and I don't consider it a flop. I do wonder what happened to it as it was easy to use and had features that PowerPoint wouldn't have for many years.

Windows ME always puzzled me. There was of course 95, then 98, then ME. I remember "98" as a worthwhile upgrade. But I always wondered if "ME" was only released to take advantage of the hype surrounding "Y2K." It was supposed to stand for "Millennium Edition." No one I know knew whether it should be pronounced "M E" or "mee." :lol: I never used it, instead installing "Windows 2000" which was based on the more robust "Windows NT." It's funny that "XP" would come out shortly after in 2001 and be around for so many years. I know businesses that still rely on it.

Harvard Graphics was awesome. The company was probably late in porting it to "Windows" in the 90's or people were just too easily satisfied with PowerPoint. I have found in Business, in general, it's hard to get away from the "Office" suite. That may change in the future.

But do you remember the "Paper Clip"? Maybe one day the "digital assistant" will look like the "Real Doll" I configured in the "Dating" thread. :drool:

ila

06-06-2019, 05:49 PM

Windows ME always puzzled me. There was of course 95, then 98, then ME. I remember "98" as a worthwhile upgrade. But I always wondered if "ME" was only released to take advantage of the hype surrounding "Y2K." It was supposed to stand for "Millennium Edition." No one I know knew whether it should be pronounced "M E" or "mee." :lol: I never used it, instead installing "Windows 2000" which was based on the more robust "Windows NT." It's funny that "XP" would come out shortly after in 2001 and be around for so many years. I know businesses that still rely on it.

I always pronounced ME as the two separate letters. I liked XP a lot. It worked so well that many people I know would not give it up until their computer died and they had to upgrade because their new computer came win an OS other than XP. Yes, I was one of them.

Harvard Graphics was awesome. The company was probably late in porting it to "Windows" in the 90's or people were just too easily satisfied with PowerPoint. I have found in Business, in general, it's hard to get away from the "Office" suite. That may change in the future.

Harvard Graphics was slow to go to a Windows version, but even after it did PowerPoint in any version would not convert HG Windows to PowerPoint.

But do you remember the "Paper Clip"? Maybe one day the "digital assistant" will look like the "Real Doll" I configured in the "Dating" thread. :drool:

I remember that :censored: annoying paperclip all too well. Like BOB, it always popped up at the most inconvenient time and far too often. I was glad to see that paperclip finally disappear. :lol:

a9127

06-13-2019, 12:28 PM

Not everything is “in the cloud.” “Mainframe”? Remember those? They’re still around… :eek:

This was in my inbox this morning. From “eWeek”:

“In essence, the reason that the mainframe has thrived for well over a half century is because IBM has reinvented it time and again to support the evolving needs and business requirements of its enterprise customers. That ability to evolve in order to support the evolution of others is clear in the Tailored Fit Pricing for IBM Z offerings that the company announced this past week.

So how exactly has IBM altered the mainframe over the years? For the first three decades, the company’s path was fairly conventional. The mainframe, after all, began as a digital complement to the mechanical calculators and other transaction-focused business machines that were central to IBM’s success. Over time, new technologies, including increasingly powerful database and middleware offerings, were used to extend the mainframe’s ability to support and extend emerging business applications.

Then in the mid- to late-1990s, IBM began exploring uncharted territory with its decision to formally and financially support Linux and other open source technologies, beginning with its (then named) zSeries mainframes. The decision was not universally popular—in fact, some IBM board members believed Linux would destroy the mainframe’s value. History proved those naysayers to be as utterly wrong as they were shortsighted.”

a9127

07-14-2019, 11:02 AM

This was in my Twitter feed this morning. Party like it's 1985! Fuck yeah. :drool: Riiight. More like "gag me with a spoon." :(

This is "Windows 1.01." If you used a PC back then, you either ran "DOS" by itself or "Windows" that acted as a shell providing a "user friendly" interface. :lol:

That "game" is called "Reversi" and appeared on several later versions of windows well into the 90's. I used to be really good at it. How many remember playing it?

I actually sort of like the colors. I think to get this color scheme you had to have an "EGA" card or else it would appear in B/W. Both at an "amazing" 640X480 pixel resolution. :confused: My current "desktop" back home uses a "4K" display.

My first real interaction with Windows would not come until 1990 with the "much improved" Windows 3.0. By then, it was posible to get a "VGA" display and have resolutions up to 1024X768, still OK for some applications today. But most monitors of the time were only 14" or 15".

NEC offered a 17" Multisync that I (with money earned from doing computer projects for other people) paid over $1,500 USD for in 1995. Think of what you could get today for that. When we moved out of our old offices last year our university's "IT" department had to call a "recycling" service to dispose of it safely. All monitors back then were "CRT" design. Think "Die Hard" where Bruce Willis uses a monitor strapped to a chair to detonate the explosive in the elevator scene (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2WFXpO0y8I). I'm sure my university would not have appreciated me tossing it down one of our elevators. :( Although the thought did cross my mind. :innocent:

Finally, my "favorite" Windows 3.0 theme. This was called "Flourescent" and what I used most of the time. There is also a bright red and yellow theme called "Hot Dog Stand" that still has fans today. I've seen versions for "Windows 10" even. Buy really, why would you want that?

a9127

07-16-2019, 05:23 PM

In the earliest days of PC’s, long before YouTube, Twitter, and “Social Media” ever existed, everybody knew that personal computing technology wasn’t ever going to be used for anything “good.” :lol::lol::lol:

“Astrotit” was a popular “shareware” PC game from 1987. Especially revealing of just how “primitive” graphics were back then is that each of these screenshots is 320x200 resolution, common for many monitors of the time. Compare it to the screen you’re currently using. Amazing isn’t it?

Note the “Cyan Magenta White” color palette. Unless you owned an “EGA” graphics card, that was it. Until “VGA” became standard a few years later. Offering up to 1024x768 resolution and “unlimited” colors, VGA was the first to be able to show real pictures. Most of them dirty… :drool:

ila

07-16-2019, 08:45 PM

In 1992 I had a state of the art 14 inch monitor with a 640 x 480 resolution. My VGA card would display 16 colours.

a9127

07-21-2019, 11:19 AM

ila

07-21-2019, 05:42 PM

Had to think about what the "oldest" working piece of technology I own is. I think it is a Casio fx-11 "Scientific" calculator from 1974.

This belonged to my dad. I last "fired it up" sometime last year. It takes 4 AA type batteries. Power switch is "iffy" but if you wiggle it enough it will turn on.

One of the most interesting features is the green flourescent tube display and the "little" zeroes. So "ninety" looks like "9o."

(Pictures courtesy of Casio)

I couldn't help but notice the ℼ key. I checked my handheld calculators and none of them, including the scientific versions, has that key. The various calculators on my computer do. Even my old slide rules had ℼ marked on them. It's so much faster to do a lot of calculations if the key/mark is there rather than having to remember 3.1416 or divide 22 by 7. :)

a9127

07-28-2019, 03:02 PM

I couldn't help but notice the ℼ key. I checked my handheld calculators and none of them, including the scientific versions, has that key. The various calculators on my computer do. Even my old slide rules had ℼ marked on them. It's so much faster to do a lot of calculations if the key/mark is there rather than having to remember 3.1416 or divide 22 by 7.

I never paid attention to that before but you are right. I have a "TI-84" in a drawer in my office that I never use. Think you have to press the "2nd" key to get ℼ.

Anyway, here's the "real deal." It still works. Hardest part was finding 4 "AA" batteries around the house. All our remotes take "AAA." Came to life right away. Not bad for 45... :respect:

On this calculator, ℼ is 3.141592. ;)

The instructions are yellowed and crumbling. Hope I don't forget how to use it. :blush:

And you can see the "little zeroes" I was talking about. :lol:

To put this all in perspective. In 1974:

Skylab was still active. It would fall back to Earth in 1979.

The US speed limit was 55 MPH (about 88 kph). :(

Nixon (US President) was embroiled in the "Watergate" scandal and facing impeachment. He would resign in August.

In April, tornadoes caused many fatalities in the mid-west United States during what was known as the "Superoutbreak." It wouldn't be surpassed until 2011.

"California Jam" took place featuring many hard rock bands of the era. Black Sabbath featuring Ozzy was one of the headliners. You can find the entire thing on YouTube. :drool:

"Streaking" was popular around the world. :innocent:

ABBA was very popular. "Waterloo" was #1 in the UK (Agnetha :inlove:).

ila

09-01-2019, 05:18 PM

A little bit of calculator humour. ;)

ila

09-01-2019, 05:22 PM

The reason why if you've ever tried to sort numbers on your computer and got a string that went like this:

1, 10, 11, 100, 101, 2, 20

is because Bill Gates and, by extension, Microsoft don't know how to count. :lol:

a9127

09-01-2019, 08:40 PM

A little bit of calculator humour. ;)

Well, that has always worked for me... :confused:

The reason why if you've ever tried to sort numbers on your computer and got a string that went like this:

1, 10, 11, 100, 101, 2, 20

is because Bill Gates and, by extension, Microsoft don't know how to count. :lol:

Good one! :respect: Forgot there was a "Windows 2.0." I included some screenshots. Especially like the "floppy disk" icon. The early version of Excel: "Fiscal Year 1986." And is that chart not impressive? Um... No. :( And of course "Miami Vice." I think it was the #1 show on TV back then. Fast cars and women. :drool:

ila

09-01-2019, 09:12 PM

Well, that has always worked for me... :confused:

If all else fails that what I also do. :)

Good one! :respect: Forgot there was a "Windows 2.0." I included some screenshots. Especially like the "floppy disk" icon. The early version of Excel: "Fiscal Year 1986." And is that chart not impressive? Um... No. :( And of course "Miami Vice." I think it was the #1 show on TV back then. Fast cars and women. :drool:

Those are some good screenshots. :respect:

I think the floppy icon is a 5 1/4" disc; when floppies really were floppy.

I'm thankful for the early versions of Excel. They showed me that working with a spreadsheet program was very easy. As the programs got more complex I easily adapted to the changes because of the background knowledge I had.

a9127

09-02-2019, 10:04 AM

From computer antiquity. :lol: These disks are older than many of my friends. Older than my wife… Older than me? Well almost… Sadly, no.

Ila, yes that is a 5¼” floppy icon on the Windows 2.0 screen. Here’s a couple of rare “finds.” Knew these were around somewhere. Had to go digging in our garage this morning. Might take these in to show my students. They, like me now, store everything “in the cloud.” I still use a USB drive for backup but almost everything I do for school or work is stored on-line so I can get it anywhere, anytime. :cool:

Except for that stuff… Sorry, no “early porn.” :drool: I’m sure if I did have it my mom or my “ex” threw it away long ago. :(

The first two disks are a “promo copy” of Excel that was sent to my dad. Copyright 1988.

I remember installing this for him. On a “Compaq 386.” He didn’t know how. Sorry dad... :blush: One of my earliest experiences with “Business” software. The “Computer Whiz Kid” certificate I posted a long time ago (also from 1988) was from our principal. I helped him with a project. That was back in Kindergarten. Who knew these would mark the beginning of a career? Academics and sports are the only two things I’ve ever been any good at.

The other is an original copy of Tetris. Copyright 1987. In Russian! Will have to play it with my friend Aleksandra (http://forum.transladyboy.com/showpost.php?p=274002&postcount=107) :inlove: sometime. She needs to visit the USA. :innocent:

Published by Spectrum HoloByte. Russia was known as the USSR (CCCP) back then. The box even featured the “hammer and sickle” logo. Sorry, don’t have it anymore. Very historical. As I remember, it was much more fun to play than any of the “modern” versions. Like what's on my phone.

ila

09-02-2019, 09:14 PM

On thing that stood out for me on the Excel discs was "Copy Freely." That used to be normal. Now users are threatened with legal action if they copy some things. Times sure change.

One time back in the early days of PCs I took a 2 day word processing course. Sitting in a corner of the classroom was an old computer that was no longer used. This computer stood out for me because it used 8" floppy discs for storage as compared to the (at that time) ultra-modern 3-1/2" discs.

I've attached a picture to compare the 8, 5-1/4, and 3-1/2 inch discs.

a9127

10-11-2019, 05:44 PM

ila and others might enjoy these "old" computer books I found in my office today. The "77"on the Fortran Book means "1977." Older than me by several years but looks to be in much better shape. :blush: Another text I "inherited."

"Hacking Exposed." :drool: Don't get your hopes up the title is much more intriguing than the text. Got it free at a conference. Around 2007.

"Disaster Recovery." Younger members, the cover picture is of the remains of the World Trade Center on 9/11/2001. Jon Toigo is a friend of mine. Got this at a seminar I attended years ago. Good reading. :respect:

Back in the days when I was still trying to learn more about the "IT" thing. From 2003. Was still listenening to "nu-metal." :blush: See the post of my "flexible" friend in the "Dream Girls" thread. :inlove: She was part of an "ad campaign" I did with our Marketing majors. We placed #1 in the nation. When I was still very young, I learned the big money was in using technology to create something, or make a business run more efficently, or pull valuable information out of the tons and tons of data generated with every transaction... Not in fixing the damn stuff. It becomes obsolete and you are best off throwing it away and replacing it. It's not the 70's anymore. :(

Well then again... Some skills never "grow old." This book is titled "Mathematics For Data Processing." Another "inherited" book but I am old enough to remember the term "Data Processing." Long before the Internet, Social Media, "Smartphones," "apps," "wi-fi," and free porn. :innocent:

And this antique... The first "web server" I ever set up. It was for a class project. Ran an early version of Red Hat Linux. If I remember correctly our "team" named it "fight club." Of course we did. :lol: I've hung onto it for years for sentimental reasons. Even carrying it through the snow to my new office on campus. It's older than my students. :eek:

ila

10-12-2019, 09:35 PM

ila and others might enjoy these "old" computer books I found in my office today. The "77"on the Fortran Book means "1977." Older than me by several years but looks to be in much better shape. :blush: Another text I "inherited."...

...And this antique... The first "web server" I ever set up. It was for a class project. Ran an early version of Red Hat Linux. If I remember correctly our "team" named it "fight club." Of course we did. :lol: I've hung onto it for years for sentimental reasons. Even carrying it through the snow to my new office on campus. It's older than my students. :eek:

Speaking of old computer books I still have Peter Norton's Inside the PC 5th Edition. It was published in 1993. There are 3 chapters on DOS and another one on Windows (which was still very new at that time). I've hung onto it for sentimental reasons as well as the odd snippet of information that is still relevant today.

I got my network administrator qualifications in what now seems like another lifetime. Back then network operating systems were all DOS based (my qualification isn't from Novell). I actually enjoyed typing all instructions on the command line.

I remember one instructor telling us that passwords were buried deep in the system and that no one would ever find them. That sounded like a challenge so I went exploring. It was interesting what I found in the file system, but I never did find where the passwords were stored.

MistressStevie

10-13-2019, 02:11 PM

I remember one instructor telling us that passwords were buried deep in the system and that no one would ever find them. That sounded like a challenge so I went exploring. It was interesting what I found in the file system, but I never did find where the passwords were stored.

In 1983 on Digital PDPs that we had at college the password and permissions file was findable in the rudimentary network we used at the time.
I edited the permissions file preferences for myself to have a much wider view. Then I remember changing peoples passwords when they forgot theirs. The CS instructor kept saying that it was not possible. But in many ways we all knew very little then compared to today.

tux

10-13-2019, 03:59 PM

Like most of you guys, I have been cutting my teeth back in the 1980's. Back then, I used all sort of machines. Like C64, Amiga and early Dos PC's. I still use C64, Amiga and Dos PC's today, as they are my hobby. I have like 4 Amiga's and a couple of C64's and then 6 AT machines and 2 ATX machines. (286, 486's, Pentium, Pentium3 and Pentium 4) Then tons of spare hardware in boxes and so on.

a9127

10-14-2019, 06:58 AM

The Norton Utilities “Disk Editor.” This was Version 7.0.

a9127

10-14-2019, 07:42 AM

I am of the belief that anything can be found. A simple "deep scan" of my PC this morning turned up the following. Wonder why this would be on my computer? :drool: :inlove::lol:

a9127

11-17-2019, 05:44 PM

Don't ask me why I was browsing for stuff like this as a 14 year old. :drool:

http://www.jeff-goldsmith.org/amusingrefs.html

Or why I came across it today... Guess I was just curious to see if the page was still out there. Had been talking about "search engines" with a friend and somehow remembered this and wanted to see if it was still around. It was. :(

Here's a screenshot of "Alta Vista" from 1997. You know, before there was Google. I used this a lot for school (and other things obviously :innocent:). Anyone else remember it?

ila

11-18-2019, 04:43 PM

I took a look through some of the old PC books that I have. There is one, published in 1996, specifically for searching the internet. It includes search engines such as Alta Vista, Yahoo, Web Crawler, and a few others. The one search engine not mentioned is google.

a9127

11-18-2019, 06:05 PM

Ila, I don’t know when “Google” first became popular? I seem to remember first using it in late ’99 or early ’00. It was the “cool,” “new,” thing and over the last 20 years, has grown so much more as a company. Much of what I teach it is almost impossible to not be involved with “Google” in some way. I use their analytics and many of my students prefer to use “Google Docs” rather than Microsoft. Our major applications however are still Excel and Access, Oracle, also Power BI, and Tableau. We also use SAS, SPSS, R, and teach Python.

According to “Wired,” The Mosaic browser was released in April 1993. I remember my first time using it but I don’t remember the exact date. The whole idea of “hypertext” and “world wide web” started in the late 80’s anyway (Tim Berners-Lee) so I had used software that “linked” to other resources before.

My parents had “CompuServe” for a long time and I still remember ordering clothes for school from Sears or J.C. Penney’s using their credit card. Of course our computer crashed right after I placed the order (it was a “text” interface) and worrying that I would get in trouble. :(

But enough… :blush: Here’s a few “screenshots” that are sure to bring back memories. And for those who weren’t born yet… yes, this really was what the Internet was like back then and was considered “awesome.” :lol::lol::lol:

a9127

12-09-2019, 01:03 PM

Sorry to disappoint everyone but I’m still here… :lol:

CompuServe? Through a 300 bps modem? The kind you put the phone into. Anyone remember those? :eek:

This ad is even older. From 1979… But she’s kind of hot. :drool: :inlove: :innocent:

From the keyboard and “mall shots” I’m guessing this is from around the mid-80’s to early-90’s. Within my lifetime. But I could be wrong. The world as imagined in “the year 2000.” Yes, they were right. We call it “Amazon.” :yes:

“Internet in a Box.” I remember seeing these in places like BestBuy. From 1995. Mom and Dad didn’t have to worry, they had me. I would have been embarrassed to be seen using this to get online even as a kid. :blush:

And of course “Windows 95.” But pre-release it wasn’t called “Windows 95.” It was codenamed “Chicago.” I can’t remember the exact version but one of my teachers was in a Microsoft “beta tester” program and let me take his copy home to install on my PC. It was on a stack of 3½” floppies—like a zillion of them. Took forever to install. :censored:

Finally, really old CompuServe. “Pre Internet Browser” era, no GUI, probably 300 bps at best (see old modem in first pic). Newspaper is dated July 9, 1980. :confused:

(Just been very busy with work. That and spent some time in the hospital getting IV antibiotics after a leg infection flared up. Yes it goes back a long time to an old football injury. Otherwise known as a “compound fracture.” :()

ila

12-10-2019, 04:52 PM

...CompuServe? Through a 300 bps modem? The kind you put the phone into. Anyone remember those? :eek: ...

300 bps was far faster than the first modem I ever used. It transferred data at the screaming rate of 75 baud.

Actually I do remember 300 bps modems. I also remember having to put a telephone handset in the cradle of the modem so that it could transfer data.

One time I upgraded my computer so that I had a fax/modem card inside it. I was so ultramodern with that. :lol: I purposely bought a fax/modem card because some companies still did business with a fax machine and I could send documents directly to a fax to be printed out.

One thing I learned from the above attached pictures is that CompuServe was owned by H & R Block. I had previously only ever thought of them as a strictly financial company that did personal income taxes as a sideline.

a9127

12-15-2019, 08:45 AM

ila,

75 baud? I believed you but had to look it up. :eek: It looks like those speeds were used with "teletypewriting" or TTY (mainframe terminals?). I have seen that term "TTY" used with Modems. Don't remember if I ever set anything for that. Maybe for CompuServe? The slowest I've ever used was a "VIC Modem" which was 300 baud. Blazing fast for the time. At least you could get "on line." :drool:

What makes me feel old today is this (well that and Billie Eilish turns 18 in three days... :innocent:). This is "Windows 2000." It was based on "NT"--the more powerful and "stable" version of Windows. Ran this for a couple of years until "XP" came out. Ran them "side by side." Had an iMac as well. Never had it crash. :respect: I noticed Windows 2000 was released 20 years ago today. Can't be. Can't f'ing be... :blush:

(You may have to click the "NT info graphic" several times to see it. I just "screen capped" it from Wikipedia. All the info is correct as far as I remember.)

a9127

12-15-2019, 10:53 AM

Phones, phones, phones… Thinking about phones... How they have changed over the years. At my university, we still have desk phones, but hardly anyone ever uses them. Like most people now, I take my Samsung Galaxy everywhere. When I started teaching we still had an old (mid 90’s) “Octel” voicemail system. I and the rest of the “younger” faculty hardly ever used it. Hell, I am considered “old” today for using an “Android.” :blush: My students a couple of years ago had a campaign to get me to switch to an “iPhone.” “FaceTime” was a big reason for it.

But back to Octel. Everyone made fun of the “nasty lady” who’s voice was heard saying things like “you have three new messages.” She came across as “cold,” “impersonal,” and “authoritarian” and most people hated her. She’s actually a nice person. I read an interview with her several years ago.

I hate voicemail anyway. Don’t have time to listen to a rambling message. Would rather get an email or text. I can read it quickly and decide if it’s important right away. Or trash it… :innocent:

I don’t know what kind of phone we have at school now but I only seem to get “spam” and calls from “book reps” or "telemarketers.” However it looks much cooler than the old system with a touchscreen interface.

For my consulting business, I use my cell phone exclusively. I will most likely be getting the “5G” folding model in 2020. We also haven’t used a “landline” in years at home. Not long after we were married in 2011 we got a “AT&T U-Verse” package that came with a landline phone and number. Never hooked it up. Think it’s still in a box in the garage. :(

And there used to be telephone “exchanges.” I know a little about it. You dialed something like “MUrray Hill 5-9975” (the phone number on “I Love Lucy”). Or “BUtterfield 8.” :drool: The name of the movie starring Elizabeth Taylor :inlove::inlove::inlove::inlove::inlove: for which she won the 1961 Academy Award. :respect:

I am from Detroit which is area code “313.” They replaced “exchanges” with “area codes” sometime during the 60’s and 70’s. I was born after that so I don’t know what the “exchange” for our location was. We lived on the West side. Not far from Dearborn. South of “8 Mile” road. You can buy merchandise with 313 on it. Eminem has a song called “313.” Troy, where we eventually moved is area code “248.”

ila

12-17-2019, 04:38 PM

ila,

75 baud? I believed you but had to look it up. :eek: It looks like those speeds were used with "teletypewriting" or TTY (mainframe terminals?). I have seen that term "TTY" used with Modems. Don't remember if I ever set anything for that. Maybe for CompuServe? The slowest I've ever used was a "VIC Modem" which was 300 baud. Blazing fast for the time. At least you could get "on line." :drool:

Yep, 75 baud was teletype. It was analogue communications though and not digital. The method of transferring data is somewhat similar except that analogue communications usually measured the voltage level, which varies according to the character being transmitted, whereas in digital the voltage is either on or off.

a9127

04-01-2020, 07:30 AM

Up early today to work with my students online. Taking a break. Don’t exactly know where to post this. Since it features old technology of the day, I will place it here. Today is April 1st.

April 3, 1974 was a very bad day for weather in the United States. Almost 150 tornadoes in 24 hours. Many lives lost. A record that would not be broken until 2011. :(

Anyone remember it? Probably most of us weren’t around yet. But if you live in the Central US you most likely know someone who survived it. I am from Detroit. On the map, you can see there is one tornado (#30) that went between Michigan and Canada. I think it crossed over into Windsor in Ontario and caused damage there. Not sure, I wouldn't be born until the 80's. :blush:

Members of my family remember this day however. Both my parents remember it although they hadn’t met yet. We are all “West Siders” so I don’t know how bad it actually was where they lived but there were tornado watches and warnings issued for lower Michigan and Canada.

Ironically, the location in Indiana where I live today, appears to have been “spared.” Monticello Indiana did not fare so well. The city took a direct hit from an F4 or F5 tornado that caused great devastation and loss of life. That's the long track in Northern Indiana (#12 and #13). I knew 2 people at Purdue who survived this tornado. Very young then, they both lost their homes and told me they thought they were “going to die.” One remembers his mom covering him under a table as their house was torn apart.

In Southern Indiana, Hanover College was destroyed. The tornado, an F5, then headed straight for Madison, an historic city along the Ohio river and popular vacation destination. At the last second, it changed course. My current wife and also my “ex” have spent lots of time visiting Madison. It’s a popular vacation destination in Indiana. And they have powerboat races on the Ohio. Check out the movie “Madison.” Belterra Resort and Casino, today, is not far from there. This picture of the tornado is posted in many places around town. I have also visited Hanover College. Some signs of the devastation remain today.

But perhaps the story most people have heard was about the Xenia, Ohio tornado. Striking late in the afternoon. It killed over 30 people when it hit a subdivision around dinner time. It is known in popular culture as the tornado that threw a school bus onto the stage. Not an urban legend, this really happened. Students had been rehearsing for a play when one looked out a stage door and saw the approaching tornado. They all took cover. You can see what happened to the school below. :eek:

The technology of the time included radar (based on WWII technology—no Doppler then), early satellites, and “teletype” machines. Most warnings went out over radio or TV. Some too late…

(This “outbreak” is legendary in the United States. And there are many people still alive who will never forget that day. I wonder if "Dr. Amy" (http://forum.transladyboy.com/showpost.php?p=275859&postcount=912) :inlove: was born yet? I think she looks too young. Right now it’s in the 30’s F here. So today we are most likely to get snow… We have our own problems right now with the coronavirus… Stay well!)

ila

04-01-2020, 04:26 PM

...The technology of the time included radar (based on WWII technology—no Doppler then)...

Doppler just means the change in frequency between the transmitted signal and the received signal. All radar does and always has worked by the Doppler effect.

The difference between early radar and modern versions is the quality of the receiver/computer that can process the returned signal. Modern radar is able to get more and better detail than the old analogue vacuum tube radar.

a9127

04-01-2020, 04:53 PM

Doppler just means the change in frequency between the transmitted signal and the received signal. All radar does and always has worked by the Doppler effect.

The difference between early radar and modern versions is the quality of the receiver/computer that can process the returned signal. Modern radar is able to get more and better detail than the old analogue vacuum tube radar.

What about the rest of my post?

I know what the "Doppler Effect" is. And how radar works. I was under the impression that the radar standard used for years (in the US at least) was WSR-57 and produced images like the one I included in my post above. The Xenia Ohio tornado was indicated by the "hook" echo which must have come from the Doppler effect. Weather radar today uses a different, upgraded standard introduced in 1988 known as "WSR-88." From what I've read, these can measure motion or "rotation" inside a thunderstorm and identify cells that might produce a tornado.

Some of the old "WSR-57's" lasted into the 90's. I read somewhere that Hurricane Andrew in 1992 blew one of the last operational ones off the roof of a weather station in Florida. :(

The site is all yours my friend... I have contemplated leaving many times. Guess it's time.

ila

04-03-2020, 05:20 PM

The whole purpose of my post was to dispel the misconception some people have that Doppler radar is something new or something special. I was merely stating, for those interested, what Doppler means. My post was meant to convey the fact that radar since its inception has worked on the Doppler effect. The main difference now is in the signal processing capabilities of equipment whereby more information can be gathered. My post in no way was to insinuate that you did not understand what is the Doppler effect or how radar functions.

a9127

04-04-2020, 01:05 PM

Did not know this font had been around for over 60 years. The slide show accompanying the article is interesting. No wonder it seems like it is everywhere… :drool:

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/helvetica-60-years/index.html

(Below is an Apple “Mac” circa 1984. My current students think dinosaurs roamed the earth back then. :()

a9127

05-05-2020, 09:19 AM

How many of you owned one of these? Although we had Macs like the one above in school, my “first” Mac was this one. A “Biondi Blue” model purchased in 1999. If I remember right you could get them in at least 5 colors.

I also opted for the 3 ½” external floppy drive which connected through a USB interface. Steve Jobs did not want anyone to use “floppies” as he envisioned an interconnected world via the “Internet” (quotes because back then it was a still a “thing”… :lol:). But as you can see, there still are wires! And a small CRT display. :eek: Wonder what was up with that? Just a few years later that would all change. :blush:

It came with a “Jurassic Park” style game. I also had Microsoft Office for it so I could use Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. “Nanosaur” was released April 6, 1998. And an update was offered in 2002 (Nanosaur Extreme). My nieces would probably like Nanosaur. Too bad my iMac ended up in a landfill many years ago.

I still have the 3 ½” floppy in my office… just in case. It has come in handy. My current students have never even used one. :(

a9127

06-25-2020, 08:49 AM

How many of these can you guess? This appeared in one of my "clickbait" ads this morning. :confused: Many people still have "vintage porn" in some of these formats. :drool:

(The only one I'm not 100% sure of is the small black cartridge with the red stripe in the center. If it's what I think it is, they were used for digital recording and computer backup. Showing my age on the others I guess. Either that or I'm a "student of technology." Hey it's my job... :()

ila

06-25-2020, 04:40 PM

paladin68

08-05-2020, 01:47 PM

That small black w/ red stripe looks like an old DAT cartridge. I still have a Panther mini 2000 DAT drive (SCSI) and a few cartridges but I haven't used it in years.

While i never owned a name brand desktop PC I've used the original compaq portable (with the little built in 9" green screen), IBM XT & AT, compaq 386, Apple IIe (with a microsoft softcard to make it a CPM machine), commodore 64 with tape and diskette drives, and still have a couple old ST412/MFM hard drives. I still have original IBM DOS 2.1 and 3.1 manuals & IBM Basic 3.0 manuals, and lots more.

When I switched to IBM ThinkPads over 20 years ago I always kept the old ones and have them rtom the 600 and 760 series (late 90s) and T series from T21 through T (&W) 530.

Anyone remember ARCnet, or Corvus Omninet?

Token ring - it wasn't even a ring configuration. It was really laid out just like star Ethernet (which we all use now).

Never used the original "thick" Ethernet - that was for very large installations. I did use and run lots of thin or "cheaper"net BNC connected coax Ethernet before the star configuration took over.

ila

08-05-2020, 03:57 PM

That small black w/ red stripe looks like an old DAT cartridge...

I, too, initially thought it was a DAT cartridge so I looked for a matching image, but I couldn't find anything that resembled the exact shape and size. It could be that there were different sizes made. It's quite awhile since I've even seen anything DAT so I don't remember all the different tapes and equipment.

franalexes

08-05-2020, 06:11 PM

My first computer had no program. I had to type in all commands. The first one( for training I guess) took over 300 keys ( letters, numbers, and symbols) and then hit "enter". result: the screen went red for one second. I then waited ten years for a Gateway computer.

a9127

08-21-2020, 06:51 PM

As I began my new position as Executive in Residence at my university last week, I started cleaning out my home office as well. This is the program I wrote way back in grade school with one of my teachers. It was called “Chart Analyst for Windows.” My dad got his attorney to write up a license agreement and also to keep the teacher from taking advantage. As he always said "trust nobody." :respect: The program was written in C++. I did most of the coding.

Thought this might be of interest here as it’s all pretty obsolete now. Especially the “modem settings” routine. :lol: 1994? 1994??? Christ! :( I guess it was what it was. I still have an external 3½ USB drive. May try “installing” it later tonight to see what happens?

Anyway it didn’t make me the next “Bill Gates” but I made enough money to buy a Corvette for my 16th birthday some years later. Invested the rest.

Eventually this venture became the basis for the market research consulting firm I now own.

Last picture. Black of course. Six speed manual. Z51 suspension. HUD. At my parent’s home in Michigan. Spring Break 2000. Would’ve taken Dove Cameron :inlove: out but she was only 4. :eek:

ila

08-21-2020, 08:58 PM

a9127

08-22-2020, 11:46 AM

Maybe someone else had one of these antiques? In another post, I mistakenly told ila my “first PC” was a C64 like his. In fact he was way more advanced than me. :respect: Mine actually was a lowly “VIC-20” my mom picked up on sale at K-Mart or something. :lol: Today it resides in a landfill somewhere North of Detroit. :eek:

The VIC-20 manual. That kid would be at least a few years older than me. You know he’s saying: “Dad, let’s go back to the pictures you were looking at before Mom walked in.” :innocent:

Looks like someone tried to bring one into the “21st Century.” Nice try but why isn’t anything showing up on the screen? :confused:

“Deceptive Advertising” and technology has been around since… well… forever! :drool: This was a “text based” game anyway. So there wasn’t even a poorly digitized version of her to beat off too… :blush: Today it’s called “clickbait.” :(

a9127

09-11-2020, 03:35 PM

A few "relics" I found while cleaning up my office today. Some of this stuff I've had for years... :(

The first "CD" was for a review course on Oracle. But it says "CBT." A course on "CBT"? Wonder who teaches it? Chanel Santini? :inlove: Angeles Cid? :inlove: Sign me up! :drool:

Or do I just have a dirty mind... :innocent:

The "AOL" disk is from 1999. God. This one really makes me feel old... Who remembers these? Did you ever use "AOL"? Were you even born? My students weren't. :blush:

The others are just "general interest." The best one was the CCNA "Virtual Lab." :respect:

The second pic is my membership card for the "Project Management Institute." I became a "Certified Project Manager" when I was still in Grad School. Speaking of which, I'm getting ready to teach it online again in the Spring. Here I'm "Dr. Andrew." :lol:

ila

09-11-2020, 08:19 PM

The pictures above brought back memories of 2x CD ROM drives. It was top of the line back in '92. I almost bought a PC back then with one installed. The only reason I didn't was because I couldn't afford it.

https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-a1x7hg2jgk/images/stencil/608x608/products/36311/189148/sony-cdu55e-2x-ide-internal-cd-rom-drive-1.11__25139.1490273528.jpg?c=2&imbypass=on

a9127

09-12-2020, 08:58 AM

The pictures above brought back memories of 2x CD ROM drives. It was top of the line back in '92.

You didn't miss anything really... There wasn't much around. This was from "Encarta '95." Considered to be state of the art "multimedia" and "the future of learning" during the 90's it left much to be desired...

This is the video for "Basketball." :(

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7o4wW4pUMQ
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7o4wW4pUMQ)

Like most guys I got my porn from "Usenet." :drool:

(Always wanted to know what the blonde in the pink top making a basket near the end looked like. Best part of the video. :inlove:)

ila

09-26-2020, 07:52 PM

A couple pictures I found today that have been turned into memes:

Cassette decks can't really be called computer technology, but at one time it was possible to save files to them. I wonder how many still have cassette players (I do :blush: ). That head cleaner sure was handy and it actually worked.

Who remembers clippy? I was sure glad that microsoft provided a way to turn off that annoyance.

a9127

09-30-2020, 05:01 PM

Didn't think I could find these. First "event" like that I ever went to. May 31, 2001. A long time ago. Got "Office XP" for free. :drool: The "highlight" was a "livestream" conference with Bill Gates (you could ask him questions through a moderator) and a guy in a "Clippy" costume. For an otherwise impressive event, "Clippy" was poorly done. Somehow to me he looked more like the fourth picture... :lol::lol::lol:

ila

09-30-2020, 05:08 PM

a9127

10-03-2020, 12:44 PM

Found this in a box in the garage. Who remembers “QuickTime”? It’s still around: QuickTimeX. I really don’t remember when I last used it for anything. “A Hard Day’s Night” allegedly was the “first movie” ever digitized and offered on “CD.” I’ve included a screenshot from my PC so you can see the age of the files. There were no DVD’s back then. As far as I can remember, not much of anything. Vaguely remember the “wmv” and “mov” formats. When I tried to install it on my current PC earlier today, I got a “Catastrophic Error” message. :(

A birthday or Christmas present from my mom and dad. They most likely wanted me to listen to “good music” instead of “death metal.” But many people back in the 1960’s did not like the Beatles. The sound of “electric guitars” did not score well with the “older generation.” So what has changed in 60 years? :lol:

However no post of mine would be complete without references to women. :drool:

Interestingly, last night I was watching “Goldfinger” again. After having made love to the girl who ends up painted gold, Sean Connery goes into the kitchen to get another bottle of champagne. In what was probably representative of many “older people’s” (the audience for James Bond maybe?) view of the Beatles, he says:

“My dear girl, there are some things that just aren't done, such as drinking Dom Perignon '53 above the temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. That's just as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs!”

“A Hard Day’s Night” plays upon the themes of “age” and “generational” differences. Sort of like how today everyone uses “Boomer” as an insult for anyone "over 30." Except back in 1964, today’s Baby Boomers were the young fans of the Beatles! I guess some things never change… :innocent:

I rented it on YouTube. Picked up a couple of terms: John Lennon uses the word “gear” which I guess is “good” or “awesome.” :respect: Also George Harrison refers to a girl on TV as a “posh bird.” I think this is good... :confused:

Here’s the intro:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8AavEpS6CI
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8AavEpS6CI)

From Goldfinger, a very much alive Shirley Eaton is saying: “Andy, you are SO kinky (giggle).” :inlove:

And of course in my own lifetime there was “Posh" Spice. :inlove:

a9127

10-25-2020, 03:52 PM

Besides ila, I’m not sure how many members are interested in this old technology thread? My posts earlier today on IBM graphics and games made me think of this book. Titled “IBM Graphics From the Ground Up” it was given to me by the teacher I wrote the stock charting program (http://forum.transladyboy.com/showpost.php?p=276991&postcount=69) with (above) back in the mid 90’s.

Copyright 1984 :eek: it presented several algorithms for drawing three dimensional objects using BASIC. I did the “3D” PC as an assignment in one of my classes. You could even rotate it using the arrow keys. Nothing special really but maybe more than anything else, helped launch my academic career since it led to other things.

Today this book sits safe and sound on my bookshelf at home.

Damaged during the Summer of 2016 when our temporary offices were flooded, I managed to “salvage” it although it was waterlogged.

You can see some of the water damage in this photo. :(

The back cover. He graduated from the University of Illinois. Many years later Purdue would play them in football (one of his former students was on that team). :innocent:

That is a pic of an old 19” IBM “hi res” display. One of the last of the CRT’s. Anyone remember these? Couldn’t help noticing the browser. That looks like “Windows XP” so it must be the early to mid-2000’s. “Overstock.com” is on the screen:

"Have you discovered the secret of the Big O?" :drool:

Sabine Ehrenfeld was the spokeswoman for Overstock back then. :inlove::inlove::inlove::inlove::inlove: That was back in the day when all my “celebrity crushes” were older than me. Had to look her up. Sabine was born in 1963. Almost a 20 year age difference.

When exactly did all my "future wives" become 15-20 years younger than me? :blush:

MistressStevie

11-15-2020, 12:29 AM

Besides ila, I’m not sure how many members are interested in this old technology thread?

Having written programs on punch card in Fortran and waiting overnight for results, I love this thread. It is almost as good as Divas and One Pieces Swim Suits.

I have been trying to find my old copy of JCL (job control language) to show my son how far we have come.

ila

11-15-2020, 04:20 PM

...I have been trying to find my old copy of JCL (job control language) to show my son how far we have come.

This is the first time I have heard of JCL so naturally I had to look it up to get some information. I have never worked on mainframes so now I know why I hadn't heard of JCL. It's always good to learn something new even if it's old.

a9127

11-15-2020, 06:20 PM

Having written programs on punch card in Fortran and waiting overnight for results, I love this thread. It is almost as good as Divas and One Pieces Swim Suits.

I have been trying to find my old copy of JCL (job control language) to show my son how far we have come.

Glad you enjoy this thread. I think many of us share common experiences with technology. ;)

Have heard of “JCL” but never used it. I knew what it meant. I hope you will post more about it.

My very first experience with programming was “Basic” for the Commodore Vic-20 and then on the IBM PC. In school I wrote a program with one of my teachers in C++ (see above posts). Due to Purdue’s Engineering emphasis, the “earliest” language I’ve ever used was Fortran. I of course know about punched cards but never programmed that way. Have heard many horror stories from others at Purdue.

Along the way, I learned Turbo Pascal, COBOL, Assembly Language, HTML, Java, and many “scripting” languages. Also SQL for working with data. Took an online course in Python a couple years ago just for fun. We require it in our Business analytics major. Thought I should know something about it.

Here’s a link to “Fortran 2021” :drool: It will never die! :respect:

https://www.absoft.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3YSylOCF7QIVrzizAB2Ssw_dEAMYASA AEgLoTvD_BwE

a9127

11-15-2020, 07:20 PM

You can find anything out there... :blush:

https://www.purdue.edu/registrar/legacy/Home/Course/19RJJW1BZ708O1GXBTIT

a9127

11-21-2020, 08:45 AM

Today “PC Magazine” had a look back at Microsoft Windows. It turns “35” today. :(

Below are a few screenshots from the 80’s and 90’s. :eek:

Can’t be that long ago. Can’t f’ing be! Sadly it is... :drool: :innocent: :lol:

https://www.pcmag.com/news/heres-what-we-thought-about-windows-30-years-ago?utm_source=email&utm_campaign=whatsnewnow&utm_medium=image
(https://www.pcmag.com/news/heres-what-we-thought-about-windows-30-years-ago?utm_source=email&utm_campaign=whatsnewnow&utm_medium=image)

ila

11-21-2020, 04:25 PM

This brings back a lot of memories of the various Windows iterations. I remember how excited people were with Windows 3.1. It was multitasking and multithreadiing. Except that it wasn't really either of those. However it did emulate those functions quite well.

I remember the hype surrounding Windows 95. It was the be all and end all until it was released with so many bugs that it took several updates to fix. By then Windows 98 had been released. That was a great improvement and then Windows 98se was released. That was perfect, except like all editions of whichever OS you choose, it isn't.

Windows 2000 was hyped as the best yet because no one had said anything bad about it; until it was released and then no one had anything good to say about it.

Vista was said to be good until people started saying it wasn't.

Then there was XP and 7.0. I used 7.0 before it was on general release to the public (my secret how I did that).

In fact I really have no quibbles with any version of Windows. They have all had their good points and bad points. Software and OS are an ever evolving too; and it's best to remember that. (Sorry, Andy, that last wasn't a dig at you, but a general observation)

a9127

11-21-2020, 07:03 PM

Probably the most stable OS I’ve used was Sun Solaris which was based on Unix. Also the various Mac OS’s throughout the years. Windows NT also was stable and not limited by running “on top of” DOS. Still have old copies of NT 4.0 lying around.

The following may not be the most “technical” but is based on real experience. I ran Windows 2000 Professional for a couple of years before “XP” was released. It too performed well at least for me. It was aimed at “business” users instead of home. I got it by ordering it with a new computer. Probably “Windows 98” or “Me” were the least reliable. Windows 3.1 was fine as I remember (showing my age) although more of a “shell” than true OS. I unfortunately remember a bizarre “user interface” from the late 90’s called Microsoft Bob. Never used it but have seen it running on other computers. Widely considered one of the worst products Microsoft has offered. :(

“Vista” probably was the worst OS based on personal experience. I can remember purchasing the “Ultimate” version in 2007 with great expectations. And it looked great! Sadly it crashed frequently. Too frequently, necessitating powering off. Writing in my technology blog early 2008, I noted “five Windows Failures and 23 Disruptive Shutdowns since September 2007.” Came very close to switching to a Mac for my main PC at that time.

For a very successful company, Microsoft has made a few missteps over the years. The funniest one I think, was the use of “Start Me Up” by the Rolling Stones for the release of “Windows 95.” Someone in Marketing wasn’t paying attention... The idea of course was to promote the “simplicity” of the OS as well as the use of the “Start” button. But the lyrics paint a slightly different picture.

All my friends who worked in “IT” used to quote the following:

You make a grown man cry
You make a grown man cry
You make a grown man cry

But my personal favorite was this one:

You, you make a dead man cum
You, you make a dead man cum

I can remember ordering the CD “Tattoo You” from Microsoft then listening to this. :drool: So someone HAD to know what they said. :innocent:

Sorry for such a long post. Hope some will enjoy it. :blush: