[bestwriter]

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cpc464.computer.750pix.jpg

computerslearning.jpg (76.38 KiB) Viewed 182 times

These days youngsters get to learn it in schools but we oldies had to fend for ourselves. After I gave up working I joined a place where they taught languages. Those languages are redundant now and so are the ways in which we accessed the computer after Windows made its presence

It started with windows 95. I did not attend any course to know how to work with Windows but a friend gave me a couple of lessons From then on it was trial and error method having destroyed a couple of hard discs - those days they had a memory of just half or one GB. I also bought those books - Windows for dummies'

Here I am now an expert if I might call myself so I have a blog, I create movies, good in uploading, downloading the works. My earnings online could run into thousand of dollars.

You are right. I still work on a desk top and am thoroughly satisfied.

Lete's hear your story.

[OldGuy]

My first computer was way back in 1980. You had to turn it on and type in your own program to run anything, and it could only handle one program at a time. The TV set was used as the monitor, and it only displayed a black screen with amber text. If the power went out, everything vanished and you had to start over. There was no hard drive at all.

I advanced to an XT clone,which had a "huge" 20K hard drive. It had its own monitor and you could run programs from a 5 1/2" floppy drive. Everything used DOS programming.

My next one had a 60K hard drive and I thought I'd never run out of space ... not true, but I learned as it expanded. Still ran DOS programs, one at a time.

I bought my next one with a lot of programs installed to use for business. That one cost a whopping $12,000, mostly due to the cost of the programming. Still DOS. Still one program at a time.

My first experience with Windows was a 3.0 version of Windows. I hated everything about it. I was used to DOS and had a very hard time making the conversion. There was a spreadsheet program in my older DOS systems that did functions Windows STILL does not do, and I missed those functions.

All total, I've gone through about 15 computers and have learned how to use them with dozens, if not hundreds, of programs. I got rid of my TV in 1995 when I began using the Internet and have never looked back.

[bestwriter]

My first computer was way back in 1980. You had to turn it on and type in your own program to run anything, and it could only handle one program at a time. The TV set was used as the monitor, and it only displayed a black screen with amber text. If the power went out, everything vanished and you had to start over. There was no hard drive at all.

I advanced to an XT clone,which had a "huge" 20K hard drive. It had its own monitor and you could run programs from a 5 1/2" floppy drive. Everything used DOS programming.




My next one had a 60K hard drive and I thought I'd never run out of space ... not true, but I learned as it expanded. Still ran DOS programs, one at a time.

I bought my next one with a lot of programs installed to use for business. That one cost a whopping $12,000, mostly due to the cost of the programming. Still DOS. Still one program at a time.

My first experience with Windows was a 3.0 version of Windows. I hated everything about it. I was used to DOS and had a very hard time making the conversion. There was a spreadsheet program in my older DOS systems that did functions Windows STILL does not do, and I missed those functions.

All total, I've gone through about 15 computers and have learned how to use them with dozens, if not hundreds, of programs. I got rid of my TV in 1995 when I began using the Internet and have never looked back.

I remember those floppy discs I still have some of them, DOS was what got us into programmes. I do not remember the number of computers and the peripherals that I have bought over a period of time.

Today I have what I might call an assembled HP set although I had bought one brand new a few years ago. I operate with Windows7. But I always liked Windows XP. The whole gamut of activity related to computers makes my day

[sprite1950]

I worked as a chef in an old people's home and one of the carers there said that she and her husband were selling their old computer for £30 as they had bought a new one. This was very cheap so I decided I would buy it. The carer and her husband came round to my house and set it up for me. I wasn't even sure how to switch it on at first but I soon learned. This would have been around 10-12 years ago and I have come a long way since then. I wouldn't want to be without my computer now and wonder what I used to do before I had one.

[bestwriter]

I worked as a chef in an old people's home and one of the carers there said that she and her husband were selling their old computer for £30 as they had bought a new one. This was very cheap so I decided I would buy it. The carer and her husband came round to my house and set it up for me. I wasn't even sure how to switch it on at first but I soon learned. This would have been around 10-12 years ago and I have come a long way since then. I wouldn't want to be without my computer now and wonder what I used to do before I had one.

It is so interesting how we oldies got in to technology and I am sure some of us have put the youngsters to shame!!

[Jaydon.thomas]

I got into the computer when I was still in the high school

-- 29 Jul 2018, 16:31 --

I got into the computer when I was still in the high school

[oldbuddy]

My first computer was an Apple II with a cassette drive and 8K memory and I taught myself how to program it by locking myself in a room for one weekend and finished a game called Cootie.

That encouraged me to invest in a business machine with a Z-80 chip running CP/M operating system and I wrote a program in Gbasic to sell cars with. I set up my own Corporation and sold it to car dealers all over the country for 20 years and my head programmer is still running the company today.

[msmoneybags]

My first was an old Commodore 64, that was given to me, I wanted something to put my recipes on. And at that time I thought it was the coolest thing ever I used that for a year or so

I had really bad insomnia at that time, and so I watched alot shopping channels in the wee morning hours, and they had been showing computers for many months, and I bit the bullet and I bought an IBM computer from QVC (which is a home shopping channel)

I paid near 3000 dollars for it. It had windows 95 on it, and that computer lasted well past Windows 98, I think I had that computer for 10 years plus, before I started having problems with it, not being able to update easily anymore.

That thing was my best friend, I played games on it, and learned how to earn money online, that was back in the dial up days

[darkthorn]

I love for computers was born since the time I was in University. I remember when the first Pcs showed up, they did not have an hard disk and you had to use a 8-inch Floppy disk to start the operative system, and then another one for the few programs and basic games that existed by then. Later I got an Atari 1040 ST and that was amazing, the graphics were outstanding for that time and the games excellent, also the OS was much more like the the first Windows. Since everything was new I started learning computer languages, making websites, and I never stopped using a PC since then.

[bestwriter]

My first computer was an Apple II with a cassette drive and 8K memory and I taught myself how to program it by locking myself in a room for one weekend and finished a game called Cootie.

That encouraged me to invest in a business machine with a Z-80 chip running CP/M operating system and I wrote a program in Gbasic to sell cars with. I set up my own Corporation and sold it to car dealers all over the country for 20 years and my head programmer is still running the company today.

Wow!!! You are an achiever of sorts doing everything on your own and having your own business . Did you lose any hard discs in the process

-- 30 Jul 2018, 06:14 --

My first was an old Commodore 64, that was given to me, I wanted something to put my recipes on. And at that time I thought it was the coolest thing ever I used that for a year or so

I had really bad insomnia at that time, and so I watched alot shopping channels in the wee morning hours, and they had been showing computers for many months, and I bit the bullet and I bought an IBM computer from QVC (which is a home shopping channel)

I paid near 3000 dollars for it. It had windows 95 on it, and that computer lasted well past Windows 98, I think I had that computer for 10 years plus, before I started having problems with it, not being able to update easily anymore.

That thing was my best friend, I played games on it, and learned how to earn money online, that was back in the dial up days

But how did you know how to operate computers? One needs to know something about it although Windows made it easy for us. When I got introduced to computers it was the DOS system. Did you attend any classes?

[cinderella]

I had a computer (MS-DOS) subject in college but honestly, I did not learn anything from that subject. I learned operating one when I was working in an appliance center. My boss told me that he will give me a computer so he asked me if I know how to use one. I answered yes and bought a book. So when the computer comes in, I already know how to use it.

I started exploring until I learned about online earning. It was a long process because I got no one to teach me. But I am happy with the result.

[bestwriter]

I love for computers was born since the time I was in University. I remember when the first Pcs showed up, they did not have an hard disk and you had to use a 8-inch Floppy disk to start the operative system, and then another one for the few programs and basic games that existed by then. Later I got an Atari 1040 ST and that was amazing, the graphics were outstanding for that time and the games excellent, also the OS was much more like the the first Windows. Since everything was new I started learning computer languages, making websites, and I never stopped using a PC since then.

Nothing that you mention existed, this part of the world. When you say you make websites do you use them for any commercial purpose. Would be interesting to know what websites they are.

Thanks to Windows life did ease a great deal for computer lovers.

[msmoneybags]

@bestwriter no I never had classes everything I learned was self taught, trial and error

[bestwriter]

@bestwriter no I never had classes everything I learned was self taught, trial and error

In the process did any of your dark discs crash as it happened to me. In those days it was just half or one gb and so much of a loss and today we have hundreds of gbs and yes even lately one of mine crashed but the technician told me it was time for it to go.

[simplyfred]

I've only engaged in a computer during my college days that is around 1996. It was the time of floppy disk era.

[FeedMeMore]

I have started using computer when my dad bought me my first PC in 2004, My PC came with Windows XP installed and it was the best OS at that moment.
I still remember all the old games like GTA III/VC, Chicken Invaders, House of Dead, Red Alert, Frog Frenzy, Zoo tycoon and Counter strike, I miss them all but not that much.

[bestwriter]

I've only engaged in a computer during my college days that is around 1996. It was the time of floppy disk era.

I too got into computers more or less at the same time.

Were the classes in your college to learn computers and their languages?

[oldbuddy]

I get into computers by removing the screws from the back and sliding off the cover

[14r14]

I Started with windows 95 too, my grandpa bring to home one and teach some stuff like paint and some games he brings, since this i never get too much time alway from a computer

[bestwriter]

I get into computers by removing the screws from the back and sliding off the cover

Very funny. But from the image that I see of you - hopefully it is yours - you must have got into the computer that I have displayed an image of. Are you ancient?