[ShadowAce]

Long, but fun.

[Redleg Duke]

And to think that all of this happened "after" I graduated from college with a BSEE!

Lord, am I getting old! ;-)

Seriously, it has been one hell of a trip from the four-function calculators that couldn't replace my Post Verslog and CRC Math Tables in undergrad school to the laptop my son takes for granted now to do his high school homework and research!

[Dan Nunn]

Imagine a world in which all cars are like the Toyota Prius: four-door midsize hybrids. Sure, they aren’t bad cars, you can paint them any way you want and even modify some parts, but in the end you still just have a generic Toyota with a funky paint job.

That’s the world of personal computing today. It doesn’t matter if you’re running Windows, Mac OS, or Linux. Your machine is almost certainly using Intel chips at its core and almost everything else is fairly generic—even the world’s greatest case mod with water-cooled dual-Xeons and quad-SLI graphics is just a really fast PC.

Interesting article but I don't really buy the analogy. Their 'diverse' computing world would be if everyone had different vehicles - that each had different, incompatible propulsion methods. Gas-engined vehicles would need to scope out an appropriate gas station, hydrogen vehicles the same, electric vehicles would need a power station, and the like.

We have plenty of different models of computers that all have features in common (x86) that allow us to run many varieties of software and operating systems with very little inconvenience.

It's a great time to be in computers!

[ejonesie22]

Ah memories...

I think I have owned a least half the PCs listed here...

In some ways it was easier then to master the art of being in what would become IT...

[qam1]

Xer Ping

Ping list for the discussion of the politics and social (and sometimes nostalgic) aspects that directly effects Generation Reagan / Generation-X (Those born from 1965-1981) including all the spending previous generations are doing that Gen-X and Y will end up paying for.

Freep mail me to be added or dropped. See my home page for details and previous articles.

[dfwgator]

Now here's the first computer:

[laotzu]

even the world’s greatest case mod with water-cooled dual-Xeons and quad-SLI graphics is just a really fast PC

Even the world's greatest McClaren, with water-cooled dual turbos and four wheel drive is just a really fast car.

[Gondring]

Great memories... Thamks for posting!

[TChris]

*sigh*

Once again, the way-ahead-of-its-time Commodore Amiga machines are left out of a "history of the personal computer" bit.

All the powers-that-be scoffed and ridiculed the Amiga for capabilities we all have come to expect in a PC today.

History of the Amiga - Part 1

History of the Amiga - Part 2

History of the Amiga - Part 3

History of the Amiga - Part 4

History of the Amiga - Part 5

History of the Amiga - Part 6

History of the Amiga - Part 7

[Free Vulcan]

Geek power!

[martin_fierro]

And you can still probably find a lot of that Olde Tyme Weirdeness right here:

[dfwgator]

[mysterio]

TRS-80! I learned BASIC on one of those when I was about 8.

[Fresh Wind]

‘Nother cool site:

http://www.thegalleryofoldiron.com/

[ßuddaßudd]

Way cool !
Anyone want to buy a 1986-7 Compaq Portable,, it still boots up..

[humblegunner]

The most awesome Kaypro:

It sucked.

[SunkenCiv]

Shaky Early Days of Apple Revealed
NBC Bay Area | Tue, Jun 2, 2009 | JACKSON WEST
Posted on 06/02/2009 2:22:49 PM PDT by nickcarraway
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2263234/posts