Old PC Technology

[ila]

Originally Posted by a9127

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]

Originally Posted by ila

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...

On this calculator, ℼ is 3.141592.

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

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


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.

"Streaking" was popular around the world.

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

[ila]

A little bit of calculator humour.

[ila]

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.

[a9127]

Originally Posted by ila

A little bit of calculator humour.

Well, that has always worked for me...

Originally Posted by ila

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.

Good one! 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.

[ila]

Originally Posted by a9127

Well, that has always worked for me...

If all else fails that what I also do.

Originally Posted by a9127

Good one! 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.

Those are some good screenshots.

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]

From computer antiquity. 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.

Except for that stuff… Sorry, no “early porn.” 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... 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 sometime. She needs to visit the USA.

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]

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.