Re: [MBZ] ***SPAM*** RE: OT: Dichotomy
On Wed, June 3, 2020 7:02 pm, OK Don via Mercedes wrote: > Right! - 3.5" floppies were WAY cool. I still have a Panasonic laptop > that boots from a 3.5" floppy of the 720KB size. It hasn't wanted to boot up for the last ten years or so, but I have a Zenith Minisport HD with a 2 or 2.5" 20 Meg hard drive. Before that, I had a Minisport with the 2" floppy drive in it. That was interesting. I think I paid $30-40 for a ten pack of floppies. Bought it new for $400, sold it in perfect condition for $200 when I bought the one with a hard drive and an external 3.5" drive. IIRC the 2" floppies were 720kb, just like the low density 3.5" were. There were also 8" floppies. I have one and only one somewhere, I can't even remember what computer I was using that I had to store my homework on 8". Maybe it was the CDC Cyber 200. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] ***SPAM*** RE: OT: Dichotomy
Right! - 3.5" floppies were WAY cool. I still have a Panasonic laptop that boots from a 3.5" floppy of the 720KB size. My first use of a computer was a CP/M machine that a friend loaned me for few months while it was between his customers. I later got a VIC 20 with the tape drive. That lasted a little while, but then I bought an 8080 clone PC that had a CP/M daughter board for programing and running multi slide projector shows. It was a dual 5.25" floppy machine. I next traded a Mamyaflex C220 outfit for a Seagate ST225 (?) 20 MB hard drive that replaced one of the floppies. I had a buy a new BIOS chip to use it. DOS 1.2, IIRC. I moved up to am IBM luggable, still 8080, moved the AVL daughter board to it, and could now present and program on site multi-image shows. I was big time then - the only AVL programmer in the OKC area! Sorry, I don't remember the years - but it started sometime in the '80's. On Wed, Jun 3, 2020 at 4:21 PM Andrew Strasfogel via Mercedes < mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > And when the 3.25 floppy came out it was a miracle! > > On Wed, Jun 3, 2020 at 4:56 PM Kaleb Striplin via Mercedes < > mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > > > My first computer I used extensively and learned on was a 286 as well > back > > during the same time frame at work. I remember the 486 being a monster > and > > when they came out with Pentium processors it was unbelievable. > > > > Sent from my iPhone > > > > > On Jun 3, 2020, at 3:13 PM, Craig via Mercedes > > wrote: > > > > > > On Wed, 3 Jun 2020 16:03:23 -0400 Meade Dillon via Mercedes > > > wrote: > > > > > >> I declare Craig the winner. > > > > > > Winner? > > > > > > > > > Craig > > > > > > > > >>> On Wed, Jun 3, 2020 at 3:16 PM Craig via Mercedes > > >>> wrote: > > >>> > > >>> My first use of a computer was in 1967 at Caltech. We used modified > > >>> IBM Selectric typewriters scattered across campus and connected to > the > > >>> mainframe in the computation building. We programmed in a simple > > >>> adaptation of Fortran called Citran, which was easy and quick to > learn > > >>> and easy to use (now why can't all computer languages be like that!). > > >>> The mainframe really drove those typewriters! It was interesting to > > >>> watch the ball jump all around to do the output typing. > > >>> Unfortunately, the Selectric's mechanicals were not up to the > > >>> constant pounding and the uptime was somewhat low. > > >>> > > >>> That was followed up in 1968 at Hughes Aircraft in Culver City, > > >>> California, by my use of a teletype connected to a mainframe in > > >>> downtown Los Angeles to write BASIC programs. (In my student house at > > >>> Caltech, I used a teletype driven by the contacts of a sensitive > > >>> relay which was powered by the rectified audio of my shortwave > > >>> receiver to read the news headlines broadcast around the world). > > >>> > > >>> My first owned computer was in about 1993, an IBM 80286 I used to > > >>> connect from my house to the mainframe in U.T. Austin's Applied > > >>> Research Laboratory to continue my work from home. > > > > > > ___ > > > http://www.okiebenz.com > > > > > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > > > > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > > > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > > > > > > > > ___ > > http://www.okiebenz.com > > > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > > > > ___ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > -- OK Don "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." Mark Twain “Basic research is what I’m doing when I don’t know what I am doing.” Wernher Von Braun 2013 F150, 18 mpg 2017 Subaru Legacy, 30 mpg 1957 C182A, 12 mpg - but at 150 mph! ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] ***SPAM*** RE: OT: Dichotomy
And when the 3.25 floppy came out it was a miracle! On Wed, Jun 3, 2020 at 4:56 PM Kaleb Striplin via Mercedes < mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > My first computer I used extensively and learned on was a 286 as well back > during the same time frame at work. I remember the 486 being a monster and > when they came out with Pentium processors it was unbelievable. > > Sent from my iPhone > > > On Jun 3, 2020, at 3:13 PM, Craig via Mercedes > wrote: > > > > On Wed, 3 Jun 2020 16:03:23 -0400 Meade Dillon via Mercedes > > wrote: > > > >> I declare Craig the winner. > > > > Winner? > > > > > > Craig > > > > > >>> On Wed, Jun 3, 2020 at 3:16 PM Craig via Mercedes > >>> wrote: > >>> > >>> My first use of a computer was in 1967 at Caltech. We used modified > >>> IBM Selectric typewriters scattered across campus and connected to the > >>> mainframe in the computation building. We programmed in a simple > >>> adaptation of Fortran called Citran, which was easy and quick to learn > >>> and easy to use (now why can't all computer languages be like that!). > >>> The mainframe really drove those typewriters! It was interesting to > >>> watch the ball jump all around to do the output typing. > >>> Unfortunately, the Selectric's mechanicals were not up to the > >>> constant pounding and the uptime was somewhat low. > >>> > >>> That was followed up in 1968 at Hughes Aircraft in Culver City, > >>> California, by my use of a teletype connected to a mainframe in > >>> downtown Los Angeles to write BASIC programs. (In my student house at > >>> Caltech, I used a teletype driven by the contacts of a sensitive > >>> relay which was powered by the rectified audio of my shortwave > >>> receiver to read the news headlines broadcast around the world). > >>> > >>> My first owned computer was in about 1993, an IBM 80286 I used to > >>> connect from my house to the mainframe in U.T. Austin's Applied > >>> Research Laboratory to continue my work from home. > > > > ___ > > http://www.okiebenz.com > > > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > > > > ___ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] ***SPAM*** RE: OT: Dichotomy
My first computer I used extensively and learned on was a 286 as well back during the same time frame at work. I remember the 486 being a monster and when they came out with Pentium processors it was unbelievable. Sent from my iPhone > On Jun 3, 2020, at 3:13 PM, Craig via Mercedes wrote: > > On Wed, 3 Jun 2020 16:03:23 -0400 Meade Dillon via Mercedes > wrote: > >> I declare Craig the winner. > > Winner? > > > Craig > > >>> On Wed, Jun 3, 2020 at 3:16 PM Craig via Mercedes >>> wrote: >>> >>> My first use of a computer was in 1967 at Caltech. We used modified >>> IBM Selectric typewriters scattered across campus and connected to the >>> mainframe in the computation building. We programmed in a simple >>> adaptation of Fortran called Citran, which was easy and quick to learn >>> and easy to use (now why can't all computer languages be like that!). >>> The mainframe really drove those typewriters! It was interesting to >>> watch the ball jump all around to do the output typing. >>> Unfortunately, the Selectric's mechanicals were not up to the >>> constant pounding and the uptime was somewhat low. >>> >>> That was followed up in 1968 at Hughes Aircraft in Culver City, >>> California, by my use of a teletype connected to a mainframe in >>> downtown Los Angeles to write BASIC programs. (In my student house at >>> Caltech, I used a teletype driven by the contacts of a sensitive >>> relay which was powered by the rectified audio of my shortwave >>> receiver to read the news headlines broadcast around the world). >>> >>> My first owned computer was in about 1993, an IBM 80286 I used to >>> connect from my house to the mainframe in U.T. Austin's Applied >>> Research Laboratory to continue my work from home. > > ___ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] ***SPAM*** RE: OT: Dichotomy
On Wed, 3 Jun 2020 16:03:23 -0400 Meade Dillon via Mercedes wrote: > I declare Craig the winner. Winner? Craig > On Wed, Jun 3, 2020 at 3:16 PM Craig via Mercedes > wrote: > > > My first use of a computer was in 1967 at Caltech. We used modified > > IBM Selectric typewriters scattered across campus and connected to the > > mainframe in the computation building. We programmed in a simple > > adaptation of Fortran called Citran, which was easy and quick to learn > > and easy to use (now why can't all computer languages be like that!). > > The mainframe really drove those typewriters! It was interesting to > > watch the ball jump all around to do the output typing. > > Unfortunately, the Selectric's mechanicals were not up to the > > constant pounding and the uptime was somewhat low. > > > > That was followed up in 1968 at Hughes Aircraft in Culver City, > > California, by my use of a teletype connected to a mainframe in > > downtown Los Angeles to write BASIC programs. (In my student house at > > Caltech, I used a teletype driven by the contacts of a sensitive > > relay which was powered by the rectified audio of my shortwave > > receiver to read the news headlines broadcast around the world). > > > > My first owned computer was in about 1993, an IBM 80286 I used to > > connect from my house to the mainframe in U.T. Austin's Applied > > Research Laboratory to continue my work from home. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] ***SPAM*** RE: OT: Dichotomy
I declare Craig the winner. - Max Charleston SC On Wed, Jun 3, 2020 at 3:16 PM Craig via Mercedes wrote: > My first use of a computer was in 1967 at Caltech. We used modified IBM > Selectric typewriters scattered across campus and connected to the > mainframe in the computation building. We programmed in a simple > adaptation of Fortran called Citran, which was easy and quick to learn > and easy to use (now why can't all computer languages be like that!). The > mainframe really drove those typewriters! It was interesting to watch the > ball jump all around to do the output typing. Unfortunately, the > Selectric's mechanicals were not up to the constant pounding and the > uptime was somewhat low. > > That was followed up in 1968 at Hughes Aircraft in Culver City, > California, by my use of a teletype connected to a mainframe in downtown > Los Angeles to write BASIC programs. (In my student house at Caltech, I > used a teletype driven by the contacts of a sensitive relay which was > powered by the rectified audio of my shortwave receiver to read the news > headlines broadcast around the world). > > My first owned computer was in about 1993, an IBM 80286 I used to > connect from my house to the mainframe in U.T. Austin's Applied Research > Laboratory to continue my work from home. > > > ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] ***SPAM*** RE: OT: Dichotomy
On Tue, 2 Jun 2020 12:46:21 -0700 Greg Fiorentino via Mercedes wrote: > I started with computers in '76 using a TTY keyboard to access gummint > computers. Later, running CPM, I was able to see the evolution using > some of the TTY codes for editing etc. For some reason I was never able > to get interested in the games. I was too hooked on the productivity > aspects of computers. My first use of a computer was in 1967 at Caltech. We used modified IBM Selectric typewriters scattered across campus and connected to the mainframe in the computation building. We programmed in a simple adaptation of Fortran called Citran, which was easy and quick to learn and easy to use (now why can't all computer languages be like that!). The mainframe really drove those typewriters! It was interesting to watch the ball jump all around to do the output typing. Unfortunately, the Selectric's mechanicals were not up to the constant pounding and the uptime was somewhat low. That was followed up in 1968 at Hughes Aircraft in Culver City, California, by my use of a teletype connected to a mainframe in downtown Los Angeles to write BASIC programs. (In my student house at Caltech, I used a teletype driven by the contacts of a sensitive relay which was powered by the rectified audio of my shortwave receiver to read the news headlines broadcast around the world). My first owned computer was in about 1993, an IBM 80286 I used to connect from my house to the mainframe in U.T. Austin's Applied Research Laboratory to continue my work from home. Craig ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] ***SPAM*** RE: OT: Dichotomy
You beat me by a,year. I was using an IBM 029 punch card machine to enter my data on a mainframe & get my data back on a data tape. Dwight Giles Jr. Wickford RI On Tue, Jun 2, 2020, 3:47 PM Greg Fiorentino via Mercedes < mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > I started with computers in '76 using a TTY keyboard to access gummint > computers. Later, running CPM, I was able to see the evolution using some > of the TTY codes for editing etc. For some reason I was never able to get > interested in the games. I was too hooked on the productivity aspects of > computers. > > Greg > > -Original Message- > From: Mercedes [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of Curt > Raymond via Mercedes > Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2020 12:33 PM > To: Mercedes Discussion List > Cc: Curt Raymond > Subject: [MBZ] OT: Dichotomy > > Last night I spent some time on the heatwave BBS with my old TI99/4A. Its > pretty crazy connecting a 43 year old computer to a BBS that (at least > purportedly) running on a similar vintage computer. I played a couple door > games, good fun. > Today I created 6 VMs in Microsoft Azure for my students to connect to. I > had to modify my security group to allow each student's IP address and > prevent bad-guys from messing with me. > I'm finding the dichotomy of the two pretty interesting. > Also I've been asking students about their first computer. Considering > most of my students are my age or older I find it interesting that I'm in > the minority in that we had computers in the 1980s, (we got the TI in '83) > most of my students started with computers in the late 1990s... > -Curt > ___ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > > ___ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
