Okay, We see all the old Computers how about first time online

[jponder]

I liked reading about all the old computers, so how about the first time you go online, what type of computer/modem?



I had a commodore 64 not storage so I had to type in the program by hand to run the 300 Baud vic modem evertime I wanted to use it. I used to call the SLU mainframe and play Star Trek. It was cool at 300 baud, heck alot of people can type faster than 300 baud. Compuserve was just getting started then and I dont think I ever got the modem to succesfully log into compuserve. this was probably 1983 or 4

 

[Texas Diesel]

I had one of those things that the keyboard was the PC, cassette player for memory and a TV set. Used to log on the BBS, cant remember ever actually doing anything except 'connecting'. Remember the modem initilaizing strings? I wrote a batch file to initialize it (!) everyone wanted to know how I did that :-laf The modem could only pulse dial (rotary phone). We used to run a program to operate the modem, Xmodem? Qmodem? What was it called? Procomm? I wish I had an old screenshot to look at. That old 'computer' and serial 1200 baud modem caused me to get a B in Digital Devices / Programming. One night at 11PM my lab partner called and said he couldnt write a program due the next day (major course requirement-exam) and asked how I wrote mine. So to be nice I told him to set his computer to answer, (first FTP?) and I called him and sent him my program to look at. The dumb***t copied it directly and just changed the wording in the explanation fields. We both failed the exam for plagerism (Instructor: The program was fine but you both submitted the same). To his credit he admitted what happened but to no avail. That took me from a 3. 99 to 3. 67 in that class. Whats the point to all this? I dont know, just reliving one of my first FTP (!?) experiences, this was before the BBS days. Ray if you are still out there, I'm still mad

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

First time online would have been in 1979 on a 110 baud modem dialing into a BBS. In 1980 I upgraded to a 300 baud modem and could hardly believe the speed ! From 1981 to 1986 I ran several different BBS's out of my bedroom - first on a VIC-20 and then on a C-64 (I wrote the programs for both of those - they were the first available BBS programs for those machines worldwide) and then later on a TRS-80 model 4p. I've been on the internet since 1988 - I had a Xenix system that was a local backbone for usenet message boards and email.

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Originally posted by jponder

the 300 Baud vic modem

WOW I forgot about the good ol vic LOL!!

 

[jponder]

Originally posted by Steve St. Laurent

First time online would have been in 1979 on a 110 baud modem dialing into a BBS. In 1980 I upgraded to a 300 baud modem and could hardly believe the speed ! From 1981 to 1986 I ran several different BBS's out of my bedroom - first on a VIC-20 and then on a C-64 (I wrote the programs for both of those - they were the first available BBS programs for those machines worldwide) and then later on a TRS-80 model 4p. I've been on the internet since 1988 - I had a Xenix system that was a local backbone for usenet message boards and email.

Man I cant compete with 110 baud! Was there ever a slower modem than 110? I used to love watching that 300 baud vic modem type across the screen like a real fast secretary. It so slow it was cool when you played star trek because it gave you the photon torpedo track , so slow that you could tell if it was off and try to use body english!

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I still have a set of 5-1/4" floppies with Prodigy loaded on them.



Matt

 

[wlowe]

My first computer was an Apple Macintosh. No hard drive just a floppy, 28k of Rom, 128k of Ram, 9 inch screen, 300 baud modem. Paid $3,000 for the computer and printer in the early 1980's. Took hours to download programs from the BBS's.

 

[KBennett]

I had a Commodore 64 but never had a modem for it.



My first computer to computer connection was using a 19. 2Kbaud modem to share a file via HyperTerminal.



I am spoiled now with a cable modem at home and a T1 at the office.

 

[loncray]

My first computer was an Atari, but it only ran one game. My first REAL PC was hooked up to Prodigy - at the time it was the biggest game in town.