Thursday, September 3, 2009

If I Could Blog Back Time Thursdays - First Computer

Come join me for this week's edition. Post yours Thursday and comeback and sign up with MckLinky.
This Thursday's topic is: First Computer -
What was your First Computer like? How much did you spend?
What extras did you get? What did you use it for?
For details on how you can submit a topic, and if used, earn 100 Entrecard Credits, click here.
Some of us are really going to show our age on this one. My first computer was really a glorified Video Game System. It was a Commodore 64. One of these set you back a cool $595 when they first came out in January 1982. And for that, it didn't even come with a tape drive (yes, I said tape drive. Cassette tape drive or using their vernacular, Datasette) or 5 1/4 disc drive (remember those huge things?). The Operating System was KERNAL/Comodore BASIC. I wasn't one of the first to buy it, I waited until the price came down. It was still considerably more expensive than today's video game systems and since that is mostly what I used it for, hence the comparison.
I bought:
1. The Commodore 64 unit, which looked kind of like a keyboard on steroids.
2. Monitor.
3. 5 1/4 inch Floppy Drive.
4. Datasette (never used.)
5. Joystick.
6. Games - Centipede, Dig Dug, Frogger, Galaga, Galaxian, Pole Position, Pong.
7. A book about KERNAL/Comodore BASIC.
The lure of Centipede, Frogger, Galaxian, and Pole Position kept me from really writing any programs.

I sold my Commodore 64 and all that I bought for it at my Dad's estate sale in 1991. I think I got five bucks for the whole lot and the geeky teenager who bought it was ecstatic.

So what's your First Computer story? Did you have a Tandy TRS-80, or a Tandy 1000, or an Apple I or Apple II? Or was your first computer one of the first PC's? Or maybe you're much younger, and you got your first computer in the last 10 years. Share your story. Please post your "First Computer" post on your blog. Then come back to Lola's Diner and leave the actual post link here. Please grab the html code for If I Could Blog Back Time Thursdays! Badge HERE.

There hasn't been much participation in this meme lately and I wonder if I should discontinue it. I have created a poll at the top of this page.
PLEASE BE SURE TO VOTE IN THE POLL.
If you have any ideas on how I could get greater participation, please let me know in the comments or email me.
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5 comments:

  1. Auntie ESeptember 3, 2009 at 5:59 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Auntie ESeptember 3, 2009 at 6:03 AM

    Hubby remembers those. He said "Oh Wow". He said we had one in the 1980's.Can't remember what he paid for his but it was not that much according to him, around $395. purchased in Germany. I kind of remember it.Hubby is refreshing my mine as I type this. We had it in Germany and he said I played games like Space evaders til 2Aam,lol. I didn't even know it was a considered a computer. Looked at it is a gaming tool. Hubby said It was. You will have to read my post. I think he was trying to reel me in during the 80's,LOL

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  3. Alice AudreySeptember 3, 2009 at 3:48 PM

    This is the first time I've seen If I Could Blog Back Through Time. I already do Thursday 13 pretty religiously, so probably won't take this one on, unless I can combine them or something. I'll think about it.

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  4. vicySeptember 4, 2009 at 4:08 AM

    Hello..Droppin by here..I added you in my technorati favorites..Please add me too if it's ok with you..God Bless!!Please buzz me when you're done..Thank you so much..Following your blog too

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  5. JD at I Do ThingsSeptember 4, 2009 at 8:21 AM

    In the late '80s I had a horrific job as an administrative assistant,and had to learn how to use a Wang word processor. Once I'd mastered it, I wanted one of my own SO BADLY. My typewriter just didn't cut it. I imagined I'd get so much more writing done on my Wang. I never did get one, and it makes me laugh when I think of how cool I thought it was. You couldn't even play games on it!

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