Your first Computer - Retro Tech Thread

barneysplash · 06-02-2008 02:22PM #1

Hi all,

Inspired by the success and coolness of the first mobile thread, how about a first computer thread?

Also we could post pics and stories of your early technology experiences.

To start:

The first computer I used was an Apple II Europlus. Our Family got if from
where my dad worked one xmas. It was a great machine:

What about you?

Ruu_Old · 06-02-2008 03:53PM

Wang 386, think it had 100MB hard drive, 3 1/2" and 5 1/4" disc drives. The amazing gui of Windows 3.1

It had the awesome power of the Intel 386 processor.

mike65 · 06-02-2008 04:10PM

Dont have a picture but it was one of these

It was dads really, my first was a 486 DX4 100.

The Commadore ran on BASIC and it had to be loaded everytime you wanted to use it. I'm amazed computing caught on frankly.

Mike.

Dub6Kevin · 06-02-2008 04:13PM

How cool was I?

Actually... How old am I? <sob>

Tails142 · 06-02-2008 04:24PM

First computer we had at home was an ICL OPD (One Per Desk) around 1985/86 which my dad brought home from work. We still have one up in the attic though I think the one we have has a monochrome monitor.

It was gas, had a phone built into the keyboard and you could set a voicemail thing which read out pre-defined words in a computerised voice; only had a limited vocabulary though of business related words; though you could spell words phonetically; much amusement was had by my friends as we tried to make it say penis

The funniest thing was that we had a 'colour' printer for it at one stage; which was just a rainbow coloured ink ribbon and would print the words out in a rainbow effect. Not much use. Have a few games for it, Sidney the Snake (like Snake on Nokia) and Poker - all on small one inch cassettes. Can still smell and hear the sounds in my head now that I think back. Used to be able to hook it up to some Bulletin Board system or something; was a bit like teletext over a modem. Good times.

Got an ICL 386sx around 91 I'd say. Was pretty rubbish, only 2mb ram, so even for its time it ran very few games - or was it that we just didnt have many games for it. It stayed up in the attic too, which considering our attic wasnt even converted was very strange for such an expensive piece of machinery. Just goes to show you the sway my mother had over the household.

The 'rennaissance' of computing in my household didnt take place until 98 when after much pleading my parents finally gave into buying me a PC. I remember getting in such a mood because I wanted a Packard Bell but my dad insisted on going to a local shop which custom built. Was a much better idea obviously; funny to think. First game I got for it was Theme Park; followed by Age of Empires that Xmas, staying up all night playing it over the school break. Maybe not exactly retro but its all in the history books now.

Never got into the Commodore/Amiga scene, though my cousin did have an Atari. Filled that void by getting a nes in 88 which filled my youth and gaming needs very nicely.

Auvers · 06-02-2008 05:53PM

Dub6Kevin wrote: »

How cool was I?

Actually... How old am I? <sob>

10 Print "Ahhh the auld rubber key speccy this was also my first computer"
20 goto 10

Dub6Kevin · 06-02-2008 05:54PM

to Auvers!

Dub6Kevin · 06-02-2008 05:55PM

Mid thirties?

Auvers · 06-02-2008 07:44PM

Dub6Kevin wrote: »

Mid thirties?

Yeah and loving it

Just like when I finished Atic Attic for the first time

Mr. Presentable · 06-02-2008 07:48PM

Wow! That's a big Wang you got there Ruu. You must be so proud

Mr. Presentable · 06-02-2008 07:51PM

Dub6Kevin wrote: »

How cool was I?

Actually... How old am I? <sob>

Crimony, when I were a lad, we plugged the psu for the printer into the speccie by mistake and blew her out. IIRC.

monkeyfudge · 06-02-2008 07:53PM

My first was the Commodore Vic-20

The friendly computer... not like those other nasty computers.

I didn't have a tape deck with it at first, so you'd have to type in the code of the games you wanted to play. C&VG would have pages and pages of code in the magazine for you to type in so you could play the games... they used to have these cool illustrations along with the code of giant robots fighting each other... many hours later and you're left with the letter 'H' firing '@' symbols at the letter 'Q'

Retro Gamer magazine have feature on the Vic-20 this month actually.

ergo · 06-02-2008 07:57PM

aaahhhhhh *goes misty eyed* the old Commodore C64C (the slighly more modern casing with the exact same hardware)

c64

30,000,000 units sold apparently. the fun we had waiting for the (cassette) game to load....:rolleyes:

though my first exposure to anything computer-like like that was on a neighbour's Atari 2600, Pacman etc

Firetrap · 06-02-2008 08:00PM

One of these - A Sinclair Spectrum +2 with 128k of RAM.
Sinclair_Spectrum+2_System_s1.jpg

Not quite as iconic as the old rubber keyed 48k model but all that extra memory had to count for something

Auvers · 06-02-2008 08:04PM

monkeyfudge wrote: »

I didn't have a tape deck with it at first, so you'd have to type in the code of the games you wanted to play. C&VG would have pages and pages of code in the magazine for you to type in so you could play the games... they used to have these cool illustrations along with the code of giant robots fighting each other... many hours later and you're left with the letter 'H' firing '@' symbols at the letter 'Q'

ahh the memories, I remember this with the speccy after typing it all in with someone reading it out to you.

then having to go over the code to see where you made a mistake.

Jimbo · 06-02-2008 08:11PM

One of these:

Man, I feel old.

Sorry for posting this in ATR btw

barneysplash · 06-02-2008 08:51PM

The best computers that were out when I was a kid were:

The Atari ST 520

The Atari 520 and his big brother the ST 1040 were famous for their music capabilities, thanks to the inclusion of a MIDI
output in their specs. Many famous early acid house / rave tunes were programmed / processed on these computers.

and the Commodore Amiga 500

They were both very expensive, and very cool computers. The amiga especially was the home computer to have.

I remember using 2 other old dears, the BBC Micro and the Acorn. Anyone else remember these?

Ruu_Old · 06-02-2008 09:59PM

nipplenuts wrote: »

Wow! That's a big Wang you got there Ruu. You must be so proud

MARTIN PRINCE
(wearing a shirt saying "Wang Computers") Thank goodness he's drawn attention away from my shirt.

silverharp · 06-02-2008 10:58PM

Acorn Atom, 11k memory, what I liked about it was you could tinker with the insides, used to go to Peats to buy 1/2K chips

barneysplash · 06-02-2008 11:01PM

I knew I was different from the other lads in school when I wanted an Oxford United jersey,
not because of football but because it had a computer company on it. But the players
haircuts were cool too

My year was one of the first to have computer lessons in our school.

We had the RM Nimbus, we learned to program a turtle called logo that made drawings,
and played snake when the teacher wasn't looking

x

dingding · 06-02-2008 11:03PM

My first computer:- (Spectrum ZX81)

My First PC (Amstrad PPC 512)

With its supplied "laptop bag"

Used 8 "d Cells" when used as a portable.

Paid £25 for a pack of 10 5 1/4 " floppy disks

Avns1s · 06-02-2008 11:05PM

Amstrad CPC 464.

Countless hours spent waiting for the tape games to upload!!

Jimbo · 06-02-2008 11:12PM

barneysplash wrote: »

We had the RM Nimbus, we learned to program a turtle called logo that made drawings,

We had that aswell at school. Oh the memories. We thought we were very high tech :rolleyes:

Linky

dudara · 06-02-2008 11:16PM

The good old Commodore 64 complete with tape deck and joystick. TV optional. Got it for Christmas in either 1985 or 1986 (I really don't remember when, but I was the coolest kid for miles around because of it - literally miles, I lived in the country!)

It's still at home somewhere in the original packaging. Probably works too.

barneysplash · 06-02-2008 11:27PM

dudara wrote: »

It's still at home somewhere in the original packaging. Probably works too.

I really like retro tech stuff, and recently bought a great book "Collectable Technology" by Pepe Tozzo.
It's a guide for collecting / buying / selling antique tech stuff like computers and office equipment.
It like Miller's antique guide for gadgets.

The book says The Commodore 64 has a current guide price of £20 - £50 GBP.
But you have the original packaging, it would be worth more.

Not really a lot of money, but in years to come, your kids might appreciate it.
I remain convinced that my Transformers stash will put 'em through college.:)

Obelisk29 · 06-02-2008 11:43PM

my first portable bought in US for close to $5k in 1983!

Kaypro II

weighed in at 27Lbs but had a great Star Wars game on it

barneysplash · 07-02-2008 11:54AM

Then in 1997 the family got an AST Advantage:

Windows 95 - remember the game called "Hover" on the disk?
And the "fabulous" multimedia video from Edie Brickell of
a crap song called "Good times"

The specs were:

Pentium I 133 MHz

16 MB DDR RAM

1 MB S3 Trio something Graphics Card

Sound Blaster Sound Card & Speakers

8 x CR-ROM Drive

28.8 Kps fax/modem

No USB ports!

A great machine, the one that I "served my time" on to use the apprentice analogy.

Hermy · 07-02-2008 03:09PM

My first was a Sinclair ZX81 and my second was the Spectrum 48. Still have both at home somewhere.

Reku · 08-02-2008 10:29AM

First one my family had was the Sega Megadrive console, then after that a P75 from Dell. Before this though I would spend many a holiday playing on my aunt's Bull (brandname, not a complaint against the computer) 286 PC.

barneysplash · 08-02-2008 11:41AM

Had an Amstrad 6128 in the early 90's.

Missed the golden era of the 464, as I was too young.

Came with a cartridge driving game called "Burning Rubber"

Used 3 inch floppy disk. I got loads of old disks off people and some of the games I remember:

Space Quest - that little egg thing, wandering the planet looking for the bits of his ship.

Bruce Lee - Great fun

Anyone else remeber those crap games that were like bad 3-D rooms that you would walk
into and avoid nasties, and move to other rooms. Like this:

They were usually terrible.

Was fun for about six months, then I saved up and got one of these:

Sega Megadrive. Yes Mam, I've done all my homework.

Boggles · 08-02-2008 11:51AM

barneysplash wrote: »

I remember using 2 other old dears, the BBC Micro

Ah yes, the BBC Micro, that was a long time ago.

Your first Computer - Retro Tech Thread

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