Remember the First Time You Used a Computer?

[Rudynate]

I had to do some punch-card computing in college in the late seventies. In around 1983, I got the idea that I would get a comp sci degree and enrolled in an introductory course in comp sci. I didn't last long. One of the first assignments was to decipher a small assembly language program. It took me several hours and at the end of those several hours, I found that all the program did was add two numbers together. The lab assistants were all computer geeks who thought you were lower than scum if you didn't ALREADY know how to use a computer. So, I allowed my frustration to weed me out. Fortunately, I've developed a thicker hide than I had back then.

[+ Charlie]

First computer of my very own was an Apple IIC. My parents bought it for me at Macy's of all places.

 

I discovered this site in my first fumbling attempts to explore the Internet on an Apple IIC! My experience here prompted me to ditch the Apple and upgrade to a Gateway 2000.

[+ poolboy48220]

Computer class in 10th or 11th grade in the mid-70s. We wrote programs in Fortran, and ran them down to the Board of Education office where the card reader was to submit them and wait for our fan-fold continuous-feed output. I worked on my first PC, an Intertec Superbrain running CP/M, at a co-op job through college that turned into my first real job.

[Rudynate]

Computer class in 10th or 11th grade in the mid-70s. We wrote programs in Fortran, and ran them down to the Board of Education office where the card reader was to submit them and wait for our fan-fold continuous-feed output. I worked on my first PC, an Intertec Superbrain running CP/M, at a co-op job through college that turned into my first real job.

 

CP/M - the other OS.

[Tonyko]

Radio Shack, first home computer, NO hard drive data was saved (ready for this) ON YOUR CASETTE TAPE RECORDER! And the casette played back the data on the dark screen in green print. OH and every line you wrote had to have a # before it! LONG time Mac head now, wish I'd saved my first Apple, a tiny tower with the tiny screen BUILT IN at the top of the tower. A collectable now. (IDK know why so many ppl (non work related, I mean for personal use) hate Macs (aside from the quadrouple cost vs a pc laptop :-) but gees SO easy even a dummy like me has never had to call for help all these years. No virus's no right n left clicks etc etc. (I DO wish they were closert on cost to PCs thou, my friends can buy THREE for what I pay for ONE macbook pro.

[BigK]

First computer I used in High School in the mid 70's. Can't remember the brand. Typed in some simple programming and don't remember any of it. A company I worked summer for in 1978, 1979 & 1980 had a Nixdorf and I remember reading a proposal to purchase an IBM 370.

 

First PC was an Apple II+ later replaced with an Apple IIe. Made a big advancement with the purchase of a Zebec 10 megabyte external hard drive. I finally threw away the Apples about 10 years ago.