how times have changed

shilala · 06-09-2009, 09:00 PM

I had to save my stuff on cassette and write my own code on a texas instruments.
I can remember writing a computer christmas card complete with a tree and blinking lights playing jingle bells in around '79. That was cutting edge stuff considering they didn't even teach BASIC in school yet.
In the coming years I learned to really hate computers.

qwerty1500 · 06-09-2009, 09:13 PM

Our first computer was a Vector Graphics with a 10 MB hard drive. My goodness that was all the storage space you would EVER need.

I remember when we needed a mailing list, we would start it, go to lunch and it would be just about finished sorting it when we got back.

06-09-2009, 09:40 PM

I have a working Atari 800 (with Happy(r) drive modification) hooked up to a late 70s tv in my basement. 8 bit bus, 64Kb addressable memory

.

I collect and use old computer hardware at work as some old system controllers can't use anything else. ISA cards and such.

I won't even describe what I paid $3,500 for in '93.

I still have it and it still works. (I think, I haven't turned it on in a few years.)

alley00p · 06-09-2009, 10:59 PM

[quote=BC-Axeman;416935]I have a working Atari 800 (with Happy(r) drive modification) hooked up to a late 70s tv in my basement. 8 bit bus, 64Kb addressable memory

.
QUOTE]

I started out with an Atari 400 - the one with the "Burger King" keyboard, and a tape drive! Then a year later, we came up with enough cash for me to buy an Atari 800 and and 810 5 1/4 floppy drive - Heaven!!!

I then blew $450 on my first 24-pin dot matrix printer, mainly because it had the ability to print zeroes with a line through them to allow you to tell the difference between an "O" and a "0".

I still have both of them, and a ton of games on tape, floppies and cartridges!

Remember Star Raiders on the cartridge? Wow! I was totally blown away by the graphics!

I even have a "pong" game that hooked to the tv!

06-09-2009, 09:00 PM	#1
shilala Dear Lord, Thank You. Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Scott Posts: 13,721 Trading: (252)	Re: how times have changed I had to save my stuff on cassette and write my own code on a texas instruments. I can remember writing a computer christmas card complete with a tree and blinking lights playing jingle bells in around '79. That was cutting edge stuff considering they didn't even teach BASIC in school yet. In the coming years I learned to really hate computers. __________________

06-09-2009, 09:13 PM	#2
qwerty1500 Good thing I'm normal Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: One Particular Harbor Posts: 607 Trading: (0)	Re: how times have changed Our first computer was a Vector Graphics with a 10 MB hard drive. My goodness that was all the storage space you would EVER need. I remember when we needed a mailing list, we would start it, go to lunch and it would be just about finished sorting it when we got back.

06-09-2009, 09:40 PM	#3
BC-Axeman Guest Posts: n/a	Re: how times have changed I have a working Atari 800 (with Happy(r) drive modification) hooked up to a late 70s tv in my basement. 8 bit bus, 64Kb addressable memory . I collect and use old computer hardware at work as some old system controllers can't use anything else. ISA cards and such. I won't even describe what I paid $3,500 for in '93. I still have it and it still works. (I think, I haven't turned it on in a few years.)

06-09-2009, 10:59 PM	#4
alley00p Adopted MassHole Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Charlie Location: HOCKEYTOWN! Posts: 1,770 Trading: (41)	Re: how times have changed [quote=BC-Axeman;416935]I have a working Atari 800 (with Happy(r) drive modification) hooked up to a late 70s tv in my basement. 8 bit bus, 64Kb addressable memory . QUOTE] I started out with an Atari 400 - the one with the "Burger King" keyboard, and a tape drive! Then a year later, we came up with enough cash for me to buy an Atari 800 and and 810 5 1/4 floppy drive - Heaven!!! I then blew $450 on my first 24-pin dot matrix printer, mainly because it had the ability to print zeroes with a line through them to allow you to tell the difference between an "O" and a "0". I still have both of them, and a ton of games on tape, floppies and cartridges! Remember Star Raiders on the cartridge? Wow! I was totally blown away by the graphics! I even have a "pong" game that hooked to the tv! __________________ Alley00p - I may be a FOG, but I'm still trying to dance!! Just don't trip over my cane!