Computers

[Nanto2girls]

This thread is inspired by Gem saying her OH messed up the laptop,
and Daisy saying her OH not allowed to touch her computer.

I can remember many years ago, hubby saying i think we'll get a computer.
What do you want one of those for i said.
Needless to say we bought one.

Hubby had a pal at work that was computer savvy. If hubby needed to know anything,he would ask his pal.
He used to come home with scribbled notes,things his pal had explained to him.

When the internet came into being,there weren't many providers then.
We went with AOL. They had 2 plans. Plan 1, was to not use internet between 7.30pm and 9.30 pm.
For a couple of pounds extra,we could have internet 24hours, so we paid the extra.

When i first started using the computer, i used to ask hubby,how do i do this,that and the other.
Now i'm the computer whizz,and if hubby has a problem,he'll say will you sort out the computer, i've done something wrong.

Sometimes,i will use laptop,tablet or phone,but i do like the desktop the most.

Remember floppy discs.When we had a clear out,we still had some.We kept one just for a souvenir.

[Gemini]

We had AOL first as well, Nan2. remember that dialling tone?? If you only had one phone line no one could reach you by phone if someone was using the internet!
My OH had a business, so we had 2 lines anyway, so it wasn't a problem for us in that way.
Our first computer was a Mac, as they are best for the sort of work ex OH does. Eventually I had to learn a different system when I got my own computer.

Things have changed so much haven't they Nan2? Almost all of us carry our own little 'computer' around with us now, in the form of our mobile phone.

[Daisy]

Nanto - well done on getting yourself so computer literate. I'd rather use my desktop as well. I haven't got a laptop, just an iPad. I find it hard to type on a laptop, but OH has a separate keyboard and wireless mouse for his laptop. It's the first time he's ever had a brand new computer - he's always used my old ones. Nanto - I'd say he's heavily encouraged not to touch my computer, but to be honest, he's a bit nervous of it because it's a Mac not Windows.

Our first home computer was a BBC model B, back in the dark ages.

I started using computer in the late 60s, when things were very different indeed. Our programs were run through a university computer department and we had to ring them, via the GPO operator (couldn't even dial straight through) and take a gamble as to how fast the line was working to decide what speed to send at!! If you transmitted too fast it would crash! The joke was, this was cutting edge technology and I felt very privileged to be working with such exciting innovations!!!

[Nanto2girls]

Yes Gem, i can remember the dial up.

Daisy,can't imagine what computers were like in the 60's.

[WeeGranny]

I remember back in the 70's we shared a computer at school. It was on a trolley and got wheeled into whichever class had it for the day!! I worked in an Army school then and if I got stuck one of my Reception class knew how to sort the problem because his Dad had one! Nowadays schools have computer suites!

[Daisy]

Wee Granny - I remember in College when a company gave our Business Admin dept two fax machines for training purposes. They were nearly the size of telephone kiosks, and we thought they were amazing!!

Our DS1 was a monitor at middle school when they got a computer and he and another monitor used to take it to whichever class's turn it was, and set it up for the teacher! When you see schools' computer facilities now, it doesn't seem possible.

Nanto - computers in the 60s were mainframes, taking up a whole building and needed temperature and humidity controlled conditions. Printers were dot matrix! You were lucky if you got a program to run first time!

[Nana]

I know it wasn't funny for you Gem but I had to laugh about S doing what she did, cos OH does the same🤤😲😠

[Grauntie Mag]

I think our first computer was an Amstrad and we were with AOL for years. Not now though, and since I bought OH an iPad for his birthday he has improved his technique. He doesn’t stomp off swearing so much.
I remember my flat mate being a ‘computer programmer’ in the 60s The room was full of huge machines. How technology has raced on!

[Oma]

B used to build Computers from scratch but once we bought lap tops he stopped and they sort of went out of fashion , we would spent most weeks trawling around computer fairs buying bits to build them ,

Last week GS1 declared he wanted one for Christmas we were really surprised , so B said he would build him one , GS1 couldn't believe Grandad could do such a thing
I didn't think kids were into them these days what with I pad, i phone,s laptops ect but apparently they coming back into fashion ,
GS1 wants a one with all the coloured lights on the key pad and case a bit sci fi looking .

[Nana]

So GD B has got his work cut out for him Oma😉 What a clever bloke you have there...cook, woodworker, computer maker & longest running Ikea customer.

[Daisy]

Oma - well done to B on offering to build a computer for GS1. Our GS1 builds computers - he sources the components he wants and pays for them by selling components he doesn't want online. He's recently built himself a powerful gaming computer, using state of the arts graphics cards - and an old tower we gave him. He's really pleased with it, although I think he would rather build a computer than play on it. He built a 3-D printer from a kit, and their old playroom has become a very professional-looking workshop!

We used Netscape in the dial-up days then Orange, and I remember the first time I downloaded tickets online! It was for a free trip across Niagara Falls - we were going to Canada that year. It was absolutely amazing to be able to contact somewhere in Canada and then print out the tickets. Oh, but the frustration of trying to dial up all the time, and tying up the house phone for ages!

Grauntie - we had a roomful of Amstrads at college at one stage. And we had to load the software from floppy disks for every machine for every lesson. Just keeping track of all the floppies was a job in itself. But we were so proud of them - they were a big step up from the BBCs we had previously. After that I think we had Nimbus machines which were useless for business studies students because they were really designed for school use.

[Oma]

Daisy GS1 is after a top speck gaming computer too they are all the rage apparently also , funny how things come and go out of fashion in a circle .

[Daisy]

Oma - GS1 gave me chapter and verse on which the best specifications were. I'm afraid it went right over my head and he could have been speaking in a foreign langugage for all I understood! I suppose as computer game graphics get more sophisticated the computers have to be better to run them!