My first work PC

[BigJoe]

IBM 3270PC in 1983/84. It was a PC with 2 5.25 disks and, I think, a 10M hard drive. It could be used as a 3270 mainframe monitor, hence the name. I worked for a branch of GTE at the time and I was the first person that had a PC on my desk. I was in charge of evaluating PCs for company-wide use. Exciting times for an uber-geek! Anyone else go back that far?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Ibm_px_xt_color.jpg/275px-Ibm_px_xt_color.jpg

Of course at home I had a variety of Ataris (800, 1400 etc.) earlier than that. In fact I still have some of them in a closet somewhere.:yesnod:

[Datawiz]

I got my first PC in 1986; 286 12-MHz, with 512KB of Ram and a 20 MB HDD.

[onedef92]

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm93/nacamomi/alojoweb/2001hal9000animatedprev.gif

"That's incorrect............................Steve."

[NeedSpeed]

I had one of these bad boys

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/TRS-80_Color_Computer_2-64K.jpg

[Grey Ghost]

I was working for a large manufacturing company around '84. They decided to implement a PC network with bar-coding capabilities. I think the software was Shopscan. I got my first home computer a year or so later. The Apple II GS. I also got a 2400 baud modem and membership to Compuserve. Then came Searchlight BBS's and such. The long distance phone charges killed much online time. I started in computer operations around 1988 on a IBM mainframe. Later on IBM 8100, SYS-38, and finally the AS-400. I think around 1990, I started installing 286s with EGA monitors, and a Connectronix emulation card (5150/3270?) for the SYS-38. It went full time around then...accounting, engineering, etc...all wanted their people to have a PC. Standard load - Word Perfect, Quattro Pro, Lotus 123 or Symphony, Dbase III, etc...with a Epson or Okidata dot matrix printer. Then they wanted them all connected....Lantastic thinnet for awhile, Novell (loved it) couldn't route IPX, then full blown MS for the standard load and network OS. Then email...Linux box with Sendmail. We were local to the telco CO and had T1s to the other locations with ISDN backup. Salesforce automation required all offices across the country to be connected to HQ. Toss in internet connectivity around '95.

I was in the trenches from the early days onward :yesnod:

[Fastguy]

My first "work" computer was a latop I bought in 1998 with a 233 processor. First home computer was the mighty Timex Sinclair.


http://oldcomputers.net/ts1000.html

[Bingo Fuel]

Started working with computers in '78.
This was before there was anything known as IT. It was part of Finance & Comptrollers department.

First machines I ever got my hands on were used for the Telecom's modernization of Directory Assistance. It was called DASC and replaced the physical phone books that the operators used.

The first computer game I played was presented to us after taking a Central Office, Loop Maintenance Operations System (LMOS) class.
It was a grid-based, text only game called 'Hunt the Wumpus'.

Here's a pic of the Univac 90/30 I used to run.
http://tkfiles.storage.msn.com/x1pfNMsCKS6_zyBsAOnLh0Qo9f4MUsOYeD9h6-C5IL2JdHgvRbgiij0KA_YfphAZnhhhHj-cCwrZxKchHSIdG5kZR6xnH1m4uT4w4JH_UGRt1Yk90CxenuABg
To boot it, you set the toggle switches and dials (holding two toggles down while simutaneously holding a third one up - then release in reverse order).

I also used these IBM data entry machines, very similar to a Teletype like we had in the Central Offices, at a Remote Job Entry (RJE/RJP) location to
communicate with the IBM mainframes using MVS/JES3. We had 8 of them - each were tied to a separate mainframe logical partition.
http://www.multicians.org/mulimg/ibm-1050.jpg

My first real home computer, was a Compaq Portable.
I rarely ate or slept. Just couldn't get enough of this stuff.
Besides DOS and a word processor, it had a rudimentary WWI biplane flying game (on floppy).
The plane's 'engine' and 'guns' sound effects were both simulated by a
ticking noise that came from it's single speaker.
It weighed 30lbs. Had a 8088 4.77 MHz cpu and 128K of RAM

http://oldcomputers.net/pics/compaqI.JPG
http://oldcomputers.net/pics/compaqIcase.JPG

[NeedSpeed]

I got my first PC in 1986; 286 12-MHz, with 512KB of Ram and a 20 MB HDD.

My first actual PC was similar, it was a Compuadd 286 16MHz, same ram/HD. Though my dad got me a 1MB full length ISA memory board and a Hayes 2400 baud modem from his work.

I was pimpin'.

Can you say BBS porn? :leaving:

[Datawiz]

My first actual PC was similar, it was a Compuadd 286 16MHz, same ram/HD. Though my dad got me a 1MB full length ISA memory board and a Hayes 2400 baud modem from his work.

I was pimpin'.

Can you say BBS porn? :leaving:

Porn at 2400 baud!! Smokin!

[NeedSpeed]

Porn at 2400 baud!! Smokin!

I'd start a pic download and find out what I got in the morning :lol:

[DukeAllen]

My first computer at home was a Commodore Vic-20, I even had the tape drive. My first PC was also a Commodore, 286 12mhz 640k 40meg HD and dual 5 1/4 floppies. Still have both packed away.

I also had a cartridge for the Atari 2600 that turned it into a computer with a whopping 1/2k memory! :wow:

As far as work...I used to fix pcs on the side, but never had any computer at all in any official job I ever had :lol:

[snide]

I still have my first IBM PC in my basement. It came with 1 floppy drive and a 10mb hard drive. It was modded with a 386 chip on a card, along with 1mb of RAM, and a 60mb hard drive. I also have my first portable, a Compaq Portable III. It came with a 20mb hard drive, and I added another hard drive in the expansion chassis. Both machines have ARCnet cards. Connect via coax cable, this was my development environment for a few years.

[Mirroredshades]

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n30/Shaharazad_76/ogre_nerds.jpg

[MidLifeinMI]

Started off with a Commodore 64 with a cassette tape drive ("Load, 8, 1"). I hit the big time when I got the 5-1/4 floppy drive, then REALLY hit the big time when I figured out how to use a hole punch to make the floppies two-sided. I had a subscription to Compute! and Compute! Gazette, and spent HOURS typing BASIC programs in to play rudimentary games. Nope, don't have this one any more...

[Bingo Fuel]

My first computer at home was a Commodore Vic-20, I even had the tape drive. ... :lol:

:seasix: :cert:

That's what got me interested in programming.
Using the examples, I made a bouncing ball. :lol:

[Black95]

My first computer was a Commodore VIC-20 with a 300 baud modem in 1982. I used a plug in cartridge program called the Quick Brown Fox as a word processor to create tests and worksheets and saved all my work on a cassette tape drive. I used it to communicate with other science teachers across the country and download programs and files from the science bulletin boards of the National Science Teachers Association. Back then what would eventually become the Internet was all completely text based. I was in heaven when I moved up to a Commodore 64 with a 5.25" disc drive and a 1200 baud modem and sheer ectacy when I got my first IBM PS-25 with a 20 meg hard drive.
:dance:

[BigJoe]

If you want to go WAY back. I actually started working with computers in 1967. IBM 360-20 with a whopping 4K memory (Yeah K) and an MFCM card reader/punch. My first job was running a IBM 1401, card sorter and collator. For years I was an assembler/RPG2 programmer. When we first got disk drives 2 of our staff left because they couldn't figure out where to insert the punch cards. Really.

[JRD77VET]

I got my first PC in 1986; 286 12-MHz, with 512KB of Ram and a 20 MB HDD.

We had a computer program on a 386 that we still used on a late 1970s CNC lathe that was in use until about 3 years ago. That way we could get the programs in the lathe with a 3-1/2" floppy instead of a 1" wide paper punched tape. :yesnod:


The OKUMA vertical milling machine ( 1984 vintage, still in use )can have the master files reloaded off a laptop or 8-1/2" floppies :yesnod:

Yes, big ass floppies :rofl:

[Datawiz]

We had a computer program on a 386 that we still used on a late 1970s CNC lathe that was in use until about 3 years ago. That way we could get the programs in the lathe with a 3-1/2" floppy instead of a 1" wide paper punched tape. :yesnod:


The OKUMA vertical milling machine ( 1984 vintage, still in use )can have the master files reloaded off a laptop or 8-1/2" floppies :yesnod:

Yes, big ass floppies :rofl:

I remember those big assed floppies. :yesnod: Before my time, but not by much.

[JRD77VET]

I remember those big assed floppies. :yesnod: Before my time, but not by much.

If I remember to take my camera into work, I'll get a picture of the floppy drive. I'll put a dollar bill on it for size :lol:

[99 pewtercoupe]

My first full time job after graduating from high school in 1973 was as a computer "operator" on some 360 and 370 series at the national data center for Kinney Shoes (anyone remember them?). After a year of that I new that I wanted to go to college so I could do better than that job

[Grey Ghost]

I heard about the 360 and card readers. When I started, we had a already outdated IBM 8100.

Who was the mfg. of those big attached line printers for the green bar reports? They had enough punch/hit for a 7-part carbon invoice form. You could almost :D read the last copy.

[BigJoe]

I heard about the 360 and card readers. When I started, we had a already outdated IBM 8100.

Who was the mfg. of those big attached line printers for the green bar reports? They had enough punch/hit for a 7-part carbon invoice form. You could almost :D read the last copy.

IBM chain printers. I worked with one like this. Called a chain printer because the type was on a long chain that constantly moved past the print heads. Fast too.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&docid=sIeNPz-eBl4FeM&tbnid=UlpK2npqzNCvOM:&ved=0CAUQjBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.columbia.edu%2Fcu%2Fcomputinghistory%2F1401%2Fprinter.jpg&ei=n-zVUs3dGYOT2gWU54CwAg&psig=AFQjCNHTd5mFG2CvYmYdGW38Feoj-0D56w&ust=1389837855521085

[99 pewtercoupe]

We had a room that there must have been 40-50 women sitting there punching cards two shifts a day. There was a constant flow of boxes full of cards coming over. Biggest PITA about the job was working a rotating shift...two weeks and then rotate, we ran three shifts so you were always tired.
http://i42.tinypic.com/awyjpe.jpg

[jda67gta]

First program I ever wrote was on punch cards. Your worst fear was getting them out of order.

[99 pewtercoupe]

First program I ever wrote was on punch cards. Your worst fear was getting them out of order.

The anguished cry of an "Intro to COBOL" student who just dropped their card stack :sadangel:

[JRD77VET]

First program I ever wrote was on punch cards. Your worst fear was getting them out of order.

My stepdad Don worked for Compac in the early 80s ( designing computers ). I went up to MA to visit and spent about three hours typing in code into one of the state of the art computers he had at home. I spent another few hours trying to get it to run but no luck.

Don came home and I asked him to take a look at what I did. I showed him what I did, and where it hung up.

Literally 30 seconds later, he had it running :yesnod: I was beyond amazed.