My Computing Memories
One of the more popular posts in the history of this blog, believe it or not, was on video games. It was a top ten list of my favorite video games. The list stirred up many memories for people and I had a lot of fun reading comments on that post. In that same spirit I want to offer the following memories from my computing history:
I remember connecting dots on some computer program on our computer in the late 80’s. Would that have been an Apple II dad?
I remember playing Lode Runner, Ghost Busters, and Gorillas all on Papa’s computer. I remember Ghost Busters being on a large floppy disk (literally floppy!) and Gorillas being run from QBasic I believe. Papa also loved to write basic programming in QBasic for us, especially having a counting race between me and the computer (I always lost).
I remember watching dad showing me this thing called the internet for the first time. I believe he went through CompuServe, and then tried to download a game to play. Do you remember that dad? Was it CompuServe?
I remember the first CD-ROM we put on my dad’s laptop (which was probably 4 times as thick as the computer I’m using right now). The program was Microsoft Dinosaurs. We were amazed at the ability to watch video on the computer! One other thing on this, we had to put the CD in a special case and then insert that into the computer. Does anyone remember what that case was called?
I remember Microsoft Bob and even though it was directed at someone like me I was thoroughly confused as to how this thing was helpful, but that dog was cute.
I remember getting AOL (I think during a Christmas ‘96) and creating my first screen name. In fact, I still use that screen name as a junk-mail account and for instant messaging. And it was the first time I had to think of a password and I still sometimes use that original password!
Who knows what my children will be saying some time from now. It is hard to imagine that my kids are likely never to hear the symphony of a dial-up modem connecting to the internet or of a computer attempting to read a floppy disk. I have many more memories, and perhaps some of your comments will spur some others. I look forward to reading some of yours!
bry
3 comments:
I remember playing Dungeons and Dragons w/ my dad on the big black floppies. No pictures, just words. :)
The only names that comes to mind right now is Commander Keen and Doom. I enjoyed playing others on that old computer, but I can't remember their names off hand.
I remember going "online" to the lovely music of our first dial-up modem and playing games on Prodigy. I also remember getting in trouble for the amount of time I stayed online playing those games. ;)
Our first email account was CompuServe! We had maybe a 12 digit number as the address @CompuServe.com. Ugly. That was 1992 I think.
The first computer that you played on was an original Mac. At the age of three you grabbed the mouse and were able to move it and push the button. I was amazed that this came naturally. Yes, CompuServe is what we used. It seems so long ago. When I brought home the Toshiba "luggable" was when we first saw video and audio. Jason used that computer for many years. Just a note - all of the computers that we have had in our home were from work. I never bought a computer until I bought Mom's computer two years ago.
Dad
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