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Gordoneu

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#10475 24-Nov-2006 16:12

I'm an old fart trying to keep up with the latest technology. I started punching cards at uni in 1972, and got my first "PC" in 1982 - a Sinclair ZX81. Anyone go back further than that? Just getting into bluetooth comms now.

grant_k

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#53529 24-Nov-2006 16:27

Gordoneu: Anyone go back further than that?

No, I can't quite lay claim to go back further than that but close...

My first "PC" bought in 1983 was an S-100 bus based system with an 8-bit Z80 CPU running at 2.5MHz with 56kB of RAM. It ran CP/M (a forerunner to MS-DOS) and had originally been a microprocessor development system. There were two 8" Single-Sided Single-Density Floppy Drives fitted which held a huge 241kB each!!! I bought it off my boss at the time for $900 and it became the nucleus of a Hardware/Software Design Consultancy I set up in 1984.

So I can't quite pip your claim of 1982, but almost.

Welcome to Geekzone

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Cheers,
Grant.

bradstewart

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#53535 24-Nov-2006 17:10

Welcome to Geekzone

I can't go back that far... My first PC was a 286 8/16Mhz with the RAM upgraded to 1Mb and a 8Mb HDD (16 with doublespace).

I got that when I was 8 if I recall. I feel so young!

dm2000

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#53561 24-Nov-2006 23:40

Welcome to GZ. Unfortunately I only go back to 1996

pebbles

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#53569 25-Nov-2006 01:58

Welcome :) Unfortunately your computer beats my lifespan so you've won that hands down

Invinciblegdog

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#53578 25-Nov-2006 09:34

Cant compete with that. I would have had to have bought a computer before I was two.

Lipex666

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#53581 25-Nov-2006 09:44

Welcome Gordoneu

pebbles - Unfortunately your computer beats my lifespan so you've won that hands down

That was funny and you missed so much. The days of DOS and green screens and programes that just did number crunching.

Things like blogs, internet and life as we know was hard to imagin how far we have come in the last 20 years with pc's

Being a old fart as well I had to go back and relearn how to use a PC as when I went to school at age 5 we still use chalk boards and only the geeks in form 5 in some cclasses used typewriters - yep the pc was not around when I was at highschool us guys just stuck to woodwork or metalwork.

"The only way to learn some- thing is to do it"

freitasm

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#53584 25-Nov-2006 09:59

Welcome to Geekzone... My first experience with computers was back in 82 with a TRS80, and used CP/M & MP/M at university. After this worked with mainframes for years as a Burroughs/Unisys employee until a few years ago...