January 10, 201610 yr By the way, peripherals were very pricey as well ... My first floppy drive, which only held 320KB on a double-sided floppy, cost ~ $500 for the drive. Blank floppies were close to $10 each. My first printer was an 8-pin dot-matrix unit that I built from a kit and cost over $600 My first really nice printer was a NEC Spinwriter that cost $4,000 etc. And remember -- those are all in late 70's dollars => in today's dollars those numbers would be about 4.5 times as much !!
January 11, 201610 yr Gary you must be an amazing trust fund man spending that kind of $$ on hardware continually all those years ago.... I hope that was paid by your employer. Or is you last name Dupont, Gates, Johnson, Hilton, ....ooor TRUMP!!? Are you by any chance running for president!!
January 11, 201610 yr Gary you must be an amazing trust fund man spending that kind of $$ on hardware continually all those years ago.... I hope that was paid by your employer. Or is you last name Dupont, Gates, Johnson, Hilton, ....ooor TRUMP!!? Are you by any chance running for president!! Nope ... I was just a dedicated hobbyist who spent FAR more than I should have on my hobby [and had a very understanding young wife ] I absolutely could NOT afford what I was buying -- I just bought it. I worked a 2nd job in the evenings to make enough $$ to fund my hobby, and did a bit of computer-related consulting on the weekends that also helped. I did SAVE for what I wanted -- I didn't buy anything until I had the $$ in my "hobby account" ... but I was clearly spending a lot more than I should have been at the time. Now that I CAN afford to buy a LOT more "stuff" I'm much more conservative and don't spring for state-of-the-art stuff nearly as much. That "understanding young wife" isn't quite so young anymore ('nor am I) ... but my expensive hobby didn't run her off ... we're now at 42 years and counting
January 11, 201610 yr we're now at 42 years and counting Yet more proof he's no politician. He's stayed faithful to his wife....
January 11, 201610 yr My first PC was one of these I built in Dec 1974: http://www.oldcomputers.net/altair-8800.html I started with 4KB of static RAM for $300, but later added a 64KB card that cost about $1000 It had a cassette interface that let you store data on cassette tapes -- a significant pain. In all, I spent ~ $2500 or so on that machine (probably $12,000 or so in today's dollars). I had MANY other systems throughout the 70's ... IMSAI, Digital Group, NorthStar, a Heathkit H11 (a small PDP-11 microcomputer), CompuPro, etc. It was a VERY expensive hobby, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, and did a good bit of consulting on the side that helped pay for it. Probably spent ~ $25,000 or so in that decade. Today's gear seems virtually free compared to what it used to cost Wow! You are really taking me back. My first computer was a home built 8008. This was my second: http://www.oldcomputers.net/imsai8080.html with a 65MB Maxtor hard drive running MP/M. Still have it and it's working fine. Dims the lights in the neighborhood when I turn it on.
January 11, 201610 yr My first PC was one of these I built in Dec 1974: http://www.oldcomputers.net/altair-8800.html I started with 4KB of static RAM for $300, but later added a 64KB card that cost about $1000 It had a cassette interface that let you store data on cassette tapes -- a significant pain. In all, I spent ~ $2500 or so on that machine (probably $12,000 or so in today's dollars). I had MANY other systems throughout the 70's ... IMSAI, Digital Group, NorthStar, a Heathkit H11 (a small PDP-11 microcomputer), CompuPro, etc. It was a VERY expensive hobby, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, and did a good bit of consulting on the side that helped pay for it. Probably spent ~ $25,000 or so in that decade. Today's gear seems virtually free compared to what it used to cost Wow! You are really taking me back. My first computer was a home built 8008. This was my second: http://www.oldcomputers.net/imsai8080.html with a 65MB Maxtor hard drive running MP/M. Still have it and it's working fine. Dims the lights in the neighborhood when I turn it on. I wasn't even born then.... My parents had only been married a year....
January 12, 201610 yr I fudged a bit, as this crowd wouldn't likely consider it a "computer" ... but my first computer was actually a Heathkit EC-1 analog computer I built ~ 1961 when I was 13. But my first digital computer was indeed the Altair. I also had an IMSAI -- that was my 2nd digital computer. Then I had a Digital Group setup -- with 4 PhiDecks and an 8" floppy drive [Cosmetically, the Digital Group equipment was very nice ... but electronically it left a lot to be desired]. After that I had a North Star Horizon, then a CompuPro setup with a LOT of add-in boards (I really went overboard with that system ... but it was a VERY nice setup). I also bought a Heathkit H-11 (basically a small PDP-11). It was definitely an expensive hobby in those days -- but it was also a lot of fun. I wish I had kept a few of those systems -- but I was in the military and moving a LOT, so it wasn't practical to move a bunch of extra stuff. I still remember the "THUNK" of the heads loading on an early 5.25" 160KB floppy drive as it was spinning up
January 12, 201610 yr I fudged a bit, as this crowd wouldn't likely consider it a "computer" ... but my first computer was actually a Heathkit EC-1 analog computer I built ~ 1961 when I was 13. But my first digital computer was indeed the Altair. I also had an IMSAI -- that was my 2nd digital computer. Then I had a Digital Group setup -- with 4 PhiDecks and an 8" floppy drive [Cosmetically, the Digital Group equipment was very nice ... but electronically it left a lot to be desired]. After that I had a North Star Horizon, then a CompuPro setup with a LOT of add-in boards (I really went overboard with that system ... but it was a VERY nice setup). I also bought a Heathkit H-11 (basically a small PDP-11). It was definitely an expensive hobby in those days -- but it was also a lot of fun. I wish I had kept a few of those systems -- but I was in the military and moving a LOT, so it wasn't practical to move a bunch of extra stuff. I still remember the "THUNK" of the heads loading on an early 5.25" 160KB floppy drive as it was spinning up I also have three Siemens FD100 8 inch floppy drives built into an old oak desk that go clunk when the heads load. I hate to even try to add up the investments I've made over the years. Lots of money, but it was fun. I remember spending all night writing programs on paper before entering them into the computer. About 1975 I remember a small computer company called Microsoft selling a Basic interpreter (on paper tape) and Bill Gates whining in Popular Electronics about people pirating his Basic interpreter. It was hard for us to justify $75 in those days. I believe that Basic interpreter and later the 8080 assembler put Microsoft on the map.
January 12, 201610 yr My first was the CBM Vic-20. That datasette still haunts my dreams - 20 minute 2k program loads - hated those Load Fail? messages. I graduated to a CBM 64 - I wrote my first database system at 16. It ran for 12 years without a failure, running my dad's service business. It did billing, inventory, and partial accounting (weekly and profitability reporting). I have worked on IBM System 36, 38 and 43s. My favorite machine was the Digital VAX-VMS (The last VAX I worked on was a VAX-Alpha). What brought all THAT up was that one of my best memories as a kid was helping my dad build a Heathkit 4 function calculator. I sorted resistors, capacitors and one huge Integrated Circuit (one of the first I had ever seen) and other parts for a few hours and help populate the mainboard. My dad also built the heathkit fish finder but that thing was questionable. That concludes stumblin' down amnesia lane...before I hurt meself...
January 12, 201610 yr Starting to make my 48K Speccy look very advanced, and I never thought I'd say that....
January 12, 201610 yr ... I hate to even try to add up the investments I've made over the years. Lots of money, but it was fun. I remember spending all night writing programs on paper before entering them into the computer. Me too ... it would be really depressing to realistically add up everything I spent (but it was clearly a LOT). I too remember MANY very late nights writing code and meticulously entering them into the computer via toggle switches; paper tape; a teletype keyboard; and (finally) an actual keyboard during the decade between '75 and '85 or so.
January 12, 201610 yr ... I hate to even try to add up the investments I've made over the years. Lots of money, but it was fun. I remember spending all night writing programs on paper before entering them into the computer. Me too ... it would be really depressing to realistically add up everything I spent (but it was clearly a LOT). I too remember MANY very late nights writing code and meticulously entering them into the computer via toggle switches; paper tape; a teletype keyboard; and (finally) an actual keyboard during the decade between '75 and '85 or so. Want to see something more depressing? Tally up all the money you spent on dates or items for the wife, like all those useless knick knacks to decorate the house or the dozens of shoes and purses.
January 12, 201610 yr ... I hate to even try to add up the investments I've made over the years. Lots of money, but it was fun. I remember spending all night writing programs on paper before entering them into the computer. Me too ... it would be really depressing to realistically add up everything I spent (but it was clearly a LOT). I too remember MANY very late nights writing code and meticulously entering them into the computer via toggle switches; paper tape; a teletype keyboard; and (finally) an actual keyboard during the decade between '75 and '85 or so. Thank the heavens I skipped the toggle switches!!! Even hated keypunch programming!!!
January 12, 201610 yr ... I hate to even try to add up the investments I've made over the years. Lots of money, but it was fun. I remember spending all night writing programs on paper before entering them into the computer. Me too ... it would be really depressing to realistically add up everything I spent (but it was clearly a LOT). I too remember MANY very late nights writing code and meticulously entering them into the computer via toggle switches; paper tape; a teletype keyboard; and (finally) an actual keyboard during the decade between '75 and '85 or so. Want to see something more depressing? Tally up all the money you spent on dates or items for the wife, like all those useless knick knacks to decorate the house or the dozens of shoes and purses. You can't take it with you.. a coo and smile from your loved one is priceless !!!
January 12, 201610 yr ... I hate to even try to add up the investments I've made over the years. Lots of money, but it was fun. I remember spending all night writing programs on paper before entering them into the computer. Me too ... it would be really depressing to realistically add up everything I spent (but it was clearly a LOT). I too remember MANY very late nights writing code and meticulously entering them into the computer via toggle switches; paper tape; a teletype keyboard; and (finally) an actual keyboard during the decade between '75 and '85 or so. Thank the heavens I skipped the toggle switches!!! Even hated keypunch programming!!! Editing FORTRAN programs on punch cards was a blast. You never dropped a tray of them though. A real bitch to put the program back together if you did.
January 12, 201610 yr ... You can't take it with you.. a coo and smile from your loved one is priceless !!! Absolutely Agree !!
January 12, 201610 yr My first computer was an Abacus, it cost me 3800 heads of Allium Sativum in '82 and could only store a single instruction set at any time.
January 20, 201610 yr Author Re-posting this here from a post in a different thread: https://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=45082.msg433793#msg433793 I just realised I posted in the wrong thread and it was completely off topic. Clearly I'd had a wine or 3 that night. I love how this thread has gone I just had a "discussion" over my hobby and its apparent cost AFTER I had just bought another SSD for the Backup Server after a mechanical 2.5" failed: http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=45467.0 Well, I wanted a new case for my test server and we agreed it should wait until next month. Then 2 things happened at once: 1. It was mentioned that the desk in my study was looking a little "cluttered" and the desk tidy wasn't making things look "tidy" at all! 2. I saw the above post by mark and the discussions over hobbying and the days past (when I had to make do and mend). Well ...... *Light Bulb* Ready made case for my test server equipment. Can sit nicely on the side of an old case under my little IKEA desk which I have the Main Server and Backup Server sat on in the corner of the study! I just got a BIG smile and a wink Thank you guys!
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