My first foray into computers ended disastrously with a Timex Sinclair computer. It connected to a black & white TV (it didn't display color) and used audiocassettes for storage. It's interface was neanderthal and ASCII driven.
Next came the Commodore 64 with its amber display (an orangish color), which displayed graphics after inputting the code in Basic. Anyone remember Basic? I could spend hours pouring over my data entry (one mistake and the graphic would not render) just to see the monitor display a pumpkin or whatever. It saved data on 5.25" floppy disk, which I found in the garage some months back!
In 1984, while at work, my friend JC was so enthused about this thing called Macintosh. I'd never heard about it and was intrigued. He brought his 128K Macintosh (the original Mac pre-iMac) to work and he let me play with it during breaks and lunch at work. I was in love!
Boo and I worked together, so I eagerly showed Boo JC's glorious find and to my shock, Boo took me to Computerland (the equivalent of today's Circuit City only they sold computers) within a week's time to buy one. Well it was all over from then on...I couldn't get enough of my Macintosh and Boo had no inkling of how immersed in its culture and technology, in general, I'd be. This little guy changed my world forever and was the first truly usable, understandable and productive computer I'd ever owned.
Even back then Steve Jobs understood how to market, sell and dazzle customers with its packaging and inviting hook!
When you turned on the computer the screen would display Welcome to Macintosh with an icon of a smiling Macintosh dead centered in the nine inch monochrome screen. New computer users received an audiocassette tutorial explaining how to connect the Macintosh (i.e. keyboard, mouse, etc.) and the general layout of the new GUI (Graphical User Interface). For me, my first Apple Macintosh was revolutionary!
Boo, thank you for your love, support and understanding. My fascination with technology and computers has not run its course and it's looking like I've only just begun! ;-0
Now that's old school. :)
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