Ducati Monster Forum

Kitchen Sink => No Moto Content => Topic started by: Monster Dave on April 27, 2010, 12:43:50 PM

Title: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Monster Dave on April 27, 2010, 12:43:50 PM
Things just seem so much simpler looking back:

(http://www.rustylime.com/media/image/10mb_hard_drive.jpg)

(http://i.fosfor.se/i06/060113_3.jpg)

(http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/4/2008/08/340x_oldcomputeradcosby.jpg)

(http://pzrservices.typepad.com/vintageadvertising/images/2007/07/31/tandy1000_ad2.jpg)
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Speedbag on April 27, 2010, 12:47:27 PM
Only $3398 for 10MB?!?!?!?
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Monster Dave on April 27, 2010, 12:54:51 PM
Quote from: Speedbag on April 27, 2010, 12:47:27 PM
Only $3398 for 10MB?!?!?!?

What a deal!!  [cheeky]
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: z0mb1e_DUC on April 27, 2010, 01:26:00 PM
remember when you figured out how you could use BOTH sides of a 5in floppy by cutting a notch on the other edge?
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: superjohn on April 27, 2010, 02:22:23 PM
I remember dialing into the local university's MUD with an acoustic coupled modem in my grade school computer lab. Good times.
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Schmitty on April 27, 2010, 02:27:27 PM
Haha, I had a Ti-994A.  It didn't come with Bill Cosby though  :(
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: lethe on April 27, 2010, 02:33:25 PM
I always had the oddball things, other kids had the Atari, I had this......

(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/giacco/4112.jpg)


These days I'm still stuck playing with floppies and DOS in that some of the older style control systems I deal with are still all "old school".
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: iDuc on April 27, 2010, 02:34:00 PM
Quote from: Speedbag on April 27, 2010, 12:47:27 PM
Only $3398 for 10MB?!?!?!?

That's $3398 in 1980 (or whatever year this was) dollars. It would be more than that now!

Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: WarrenJ on April 27, 2010, 02:37:01 PM
I remember in Engineering Methods, putting FORTRAN code on punch cards and running them through the VAX mainframe.
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: lethe on April 27, 2010, 02:39:49 PM
Quote from: WarrenJ on April 27, 2010, 02:37:01 PM
I remember in Engineering Methods, putting FORTRAN code on punch cards and running them through the VAX mainframe.
Cool, just like Batman.  [cheeky]
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: mraff on April 27, 2010, 02:46:18 PM
(http://classic-computers.org.nz/collection/appleIIe.jpg)

My 1st computer; lasted for 15 years
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: The Bearded Duc on April 27, 2010, 03:27:09 PM
Reminds me of the days I used to play Oregon Trail in elementary school!
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Grappa on April 27, 2010, 09:37:48 PM
Quote from: Schmitty on April 27, 2010, 02:27:27 PM
Haha, I had a Ti-994A.  It didn't come with Bill Cosby though  :(

I had that same computer too!  Also had a Tandy TRS-80.  Forget the hard drive, I remember having a tape recorder for backup.  My first Apple was the Apple IIC.  I loved that thing!  In grade school we used the Commodore PET computers.  My friend had a Commodore 64 and I wanted one soo badly.  I still remember the commercial for that, and the music they played.  Kinda makes me wonder about computers 10 years from now.  :o
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: DucMouse the Mighty on April 28, 2010, 05:11:01 AM
Quote from: duc750 on April 27, 2010, 03:27:09 PM
Reminds me of the days I used to play Oregon Trail in elementary school!

OMG!!! and Lemmings  ;D [laugh]
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Monster Dave on April 28, 2010, 05:38:51 AM
Quote from: Schmitty on April 27, 2010, 02:27:27 PM
Haha, I had a Ti-994A.  It didn't come with Bill Cosby though  :(


Awe man...that sucks!! I figured that someones' had to come with a Bill Cosby!!
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Stinky Wizzleteats on April 28, 2010, 07:48:59 AM
On a slightly different tangent... :P

(https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3509/4560394013_32911a02d5.jpg)

(https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/4561023260_0030e8cee6_o.jpg)

And my personal fave... [evil]

(https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3490/4560395179_6e9618b904_o.jpg)


[laugh] [laugh] [laugh]
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: SacDuc on April 28, 2010, 08:08:52 AM
Quote from: duc750 on April 27, 2010, 03:27:09 PM
Reminds me of the days I used to play Oregon Trail in elementary school!



YOU HAVE DIED OF DYSENTERY.
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Speedbag on April 28, 2010, 09:26:45 AM
Quote from: Duck Fat on April 28, 2010, 07:48:59 AM

And my personal fave... [evil]

(https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3490/4560395179_6e9618b904_o.jpg)


Best ad tag line ever!  [laugh]  [thumbsup]
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: The Bearded Duc on April 28, 2010, 09:36:47 AM
Quote from: SacDuc on April 28, 2010, 08:08:52 AM


YOU HAVE DIED OF DYSENTERY.


[laugh] [laugh] [laugh]
I hated that message more than any of the others!
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: duc_poultry on April 28, 2010, 10:47:42 AM
Quote from: duc750 on April 27, 2010, 03:27:09 PM
Reminds me of the days I used to play Oregon Trail in elementary school!

and arguing over the computer with the colored screen....
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: The Architect on April 28, 2010, 04:31:02 PM
Quote from: lethe on April 27, 2010, 02:33:25 PM
I always had the oddball things, other kids had the Atari, I had this......

(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/giacco/4112.jpg)


These days I'm still stuck playing with floppies and DOS in that some of the older style control systems I deal with are still all "old school".

OMG!  I thought we were the only ones that owned that!
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Speeddog on April 28, 2010, 04:42:52 PM
Quote from: WarrenJ on April 27, 2010, 02:37:01 PM
I remember in Engineering Methods, putting FORTRAN code on punch cards and running them through the VAX mainframe.

Those were indeed the days.  8)
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: ducrider45 on April 29, 2010, 12:43:07 PM
Quote from: mraff on April 27, 2010, 02:46:18 PM
(http://classic-computers.org.nz/collection/appleIIe.jpg)

My 1st computer; lasted for 15 years
I still have mine and it still works. I have a few programs and games. I take it out and set it up about once a year.  ;D
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: lethe on April 29, 2010, 03:36:50 PM
Quote from: The Architect on April 28, 2010, 04:31:02 PM
OMG!  I thought we were the only ones that owned that!
[laugh]
My favorite game for it was some dungeons and dragons game, I'd always try to get down to the deepest level possible without having to kick the dragon kings ass and thereby beat the game too soon.
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: MendoDave on April 29, 2010, 05:37:38 PM
Quote from: ducrider45 on April 29, 2010, 12:43:07 PM
I still have mine and it still works. I have a few programs and games. I take it out and set it up about once a year.  ;D

We had a few of those in High School. It was really my first hands on introduction to computers. I used to get frustrated with the "Syntax error" messages though. In Jr. High the school had one TRS80 in a special room and only some of the kids got to use it. (Mostly to play games) I well remember doing a report for Community college on one of these.

(http://www.mac-history.de/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/544px-macintosh.jpg)

I thought it was the bomb!
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Bick on April 29, 2010, 05:47:56 PM
I remember when my dad went big time at the office, and got his first computer:
(http://oldcomputers.net/pics/victor-9000-left.jpg)

In high school, we were cutting edge:
(http://drwetzel.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/appleiic.jpg)
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: somegirl on April 29, 2010, 07:26:30 PM
I learned to program on a Heathkit H89 (http://oldcomputers.net/heathkit-h89.html) at home.

(http://oldcomputers.net/pics/h89-left.jpg)

At school I used a PDP-11.

(http://www.cs.uakron.edu/~margush/465/01_images/richie-n-thompson-pdp-11.jpg)

Did someone mention Fortran?  I started out with WATFIV.

yes, I'm a total geek.
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Duck-Stew on April 29, 2010, 07:56:44 PM
I had the Commodore tri-fecta...

VIC20
C64

--and--

C128

Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: badgalbetty on April 29, 2010, 08:30:34 PM
I had a 1938 Royal Enfield 350........thank God those days are long gone!
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Speedbag on April 30, 2010, 03:14:30 AM
Quote from: Duck-Stew on April 29, 2010, 07:56:44 PM

VIC20


I had that one.  [thumbsup]

Kinda wish it was still around....
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Speeddog on April 30, 2010, 05:15:19 AM
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Calculating_by_slide_rule.gif)
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: NorDog on April 30, 2010, 05:18:32 AM
Quote from: Speedbag on April 27, 2010, 12:47:27 PM
Only $3398 for 10MB?!?!?!?

I think my toaster has more than that.
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: MendoDave on April 30, 2010, 06:15:40 AM
Quote from: Speeddog on April 30, 2010, 05:15:19 AM
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Calculating_by_slide_rule.gif)

I might  have been alive back then but I my earliest memories of people calculating had them using this.

(http://www.hpmuseum.org/91.jpg)

One of these things cost some bucks and was a pretty nice machine.

(http://www.hpmuseum.org/65.jpg)

(http://www.hpmuseum.org/65pacs.jpg)

These hand helds also cost some bucks. You could run a different programs on them by using these magnetic program strips.
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: somegirl on April 30, 2010, 11:01:54 AM
I used to know how to take square roots with one of these. ;D

(http://www.vhinkle.com/china/abacus2.jpg)
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Rameses on April 30, 2010, 11:27:08 AM
Quote from: somegirl on April 29, 2010, 07:26:30 PM

(http://www.cs.uakron.edu/~margush/465/01_images/richie-n-thompson-pdp-11.jpg)





Is that a vending machine in the background?


:P



Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Monster Dave on April 30, 2010, 12:08:18 PM
LOL-  oh life used to be so simple...

(http://comiccoverage.typepad.com/comic_coverage/images/2008/04/09/m16_marauder.jpg)

[laugh]

(http://www.cultofmac.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/aforapple.jpg)

Here's the first game system that we had:

(http://www.computercloset.org/Colecovision_System.jpg)
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: NorDog on April 30, 2010, 12:47:18 PM
(http://chasness.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/colossus-and-forbin.jpg)
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: djrashonal on April 30, 2010, 05:52:58 PM
Quote from: Monster Dave on April 30, 2010, 12:08:18 PM
Here's the first game system that we had:

(http://www.computercloset.org/Colecovision_System.jpg)


We had that! Everybody else had snes and I was playin Colecovision, it was some bullshit
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: badgalbetty on April 30, 2010, 06:35:26 PM
we did not have electricity or inside plumbing, however the cave did have a " lifetime roof" . Bit of a snot sharing it with a couple of bears and those 3 families from some place called France............neanderthals! [laugh]
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Duck-Stew on May 03, 2010, 06:49:50 PM
Quote from: badgalbetty on April 30, 2010, 06:35:26 PM
we did not have electricity or inside plumbing, however the cave did have a " lifetime roof" . Bit of a snot sharing it with a couple of bears and those 3 families from some place called France............neanderthals! [laugh]

......AAAAANNNNDDD WE LIKED IT!
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: orangelion03 on May 05, 2010, 04:53:02 AM
We used to DREAM about living in a corridor!

I still have my slide rules!  I think I took the very last slide rule class ever held at my junior college in 1975.  Even though I could already use one (dad had taught me...he still uses his!!!), the class was required!  Probably the only A I ever got at that school...
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Monsterlover on May 05, 2010, 05:01:56 AM
Anyone remember the Intellivision?

http://www.intellivisionlives.com/ (http://www.intellivisionlives.com/)
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: MendoDave on May 05, 2010, 05:27:44 AM
Quote from: Monsterlover on May 05, 2010, 05:01:56 AM
Anyone remember the Intellivision?

http://www.intellivisionlives.com/ (http://www.intellivisionlives.com/)

I have IZ_ memory of those. I had one of these instead.

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Atari2600a.JPG/300px-Atari2600a.JPG)
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Monster Dave on May 14, 2010, 07:03:24 AM
(http://s3files.core77.com/blog/images/0ModernMower2.jpg)


Ah...the simple life.


Hey, check it out - the first e-book:

(http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/4/2010/05/500x_4542193666_ebba133095_o.jpg)

Radio Shack used to be on top of the tech world!!


And check this one out:

This Commodore VIC-20 is running software from a cassette tape, has only 5 KB of RAM, and a processor that runs at 1 MHz....and it Tweets!!

(http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/4/2010/02/500x_tweetver.jpg)
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Monster Dave on July 09, 2010, 10:28:00 AM
Oh snap! Now this is awesome!!  [cheeky]

Retro Commercial - Radio Shack Cell Phones - 1990 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=694TX2lQ7Uo&feature=player_embedded#normal)
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: TJR178 on July 09, 2010, 10:34:58 AM
Quote from: WarrenJ on April 27, 2010, 02:37:01 PM
I remember in Engineering Methods, putting FORTRAN code on punch cards and running them through the VAX mainframe.

I work for one of the world's largest companies and I still use programs tied to VAX.  Granted, its emulated, but still  :P

Oh, and I had an Apple IIGS back in the day.  Paid close to $3k for that paper weight!
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: zarn02 on July 12, 2010, 12:07:09 AM
I'm only 26, so maybe I came from a backwards-ass school district without the money for new gizmos, but... [laugh]

I have fond memories of Apple IIe machines, and Lode Runner (and a shit tonne of educational games. I got to dick around after school since my mom was a teacher.)

And those big clunky calculators look oddly familiar. Turns out rural Kansas in the early 90's has some old tech still hanging 'round.
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Mojo S2R on July 12, 2010, 03:26:03 AM
I first learned to program in High School on the Tandy TRS-80, Commodore PET, and then a little bit on the IBM PCjr.

(http://home.insightbb.com/~kguenther6/TRS80-III.jpg)
(http://classof1985.org/classblog/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/commodore_pet_2001-321.jpg)
(http://dl.maximumpc.com/galleries/25oldpcs/IBM_PC_jr_01_full.jpg)

My first personal computer was a Commodore 64.  I later purchased a newer model 64 and a used SX64.  I still have them all in my garage with tons of software.

(http://media.createdigitalmedia.net/cdmu/images/storiespre2k6/Commodore_64_Box.jpg)
(http://antonellogiordano.it/files/2009/10/sx64.jpg)
(http://www.ericscheske.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/commodore.jpg)

I always wanted an Amiga 4000 with IBM and Apple emulator cards but then Commodore had to go under.
One thing I never miss about those old computers was that they were instantly on and ready to go when turned on.  No waiting for the OS to boot, dlls to load, virus scanning to complete, etc., etc.
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: yamifixer on July 12, 2010, 06:56:24 AM
I have an Amiga 1000 with an IBM emulator sidecar In my attic. It has an external 9600 bod modem. No idea why i still have it.

But now that i think of it it NEVER gave me a blue screen of death.
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Blackout on July 12, 2010, 07:16:27 AM
Quote from: Mojo S2R on July 12, 2010, 03:26:03 AM
(http://home.insightbb.com/~kguenther6/TRS80-III.jpg)
(http://classof1985.org/classblog/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/commodore_pet_2001-321.jpg)

(http://www.ericscheske.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/commodore.jpg)



The computer at my local Ducati dealer is very similar to these [laugh]
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: NorDog on July 12, 2010, 08:26:06 AM
(http://www.lessignets.com/signetsdiane/calendrier/images/aout/14/Candlestick-pay-telephone16.jpg)

Some of us are older than others.   ;)
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: djrashonal on July 12, 2010, 12:32:21 PM
i just got a super nintendo emulator running on my ipad and using my iphone as the controller, enjoy your fancy telephone NorDog, or should I say Alexander Graham Bell!
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: the_Journeyman on July 12, 2010, 05:42:16 PM
I had this Texas Instruments keyboard with a cartridge slot that was my first "computer" that I played games on.  Anybody know what that thing was?

JM
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Mojo S2R on July 12, 2010, 06:55:21 PM
TI-99?

(http://www.sietiborgoantico.it/Vecchi_Computers/TEXSAS/ti-994a.jpg)
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: NorDog on July 12, 2010, 07:41:39 PM
(http://www.watchismo.net/PulsarHamilton.jpg)
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: the_Journeyman on July 14, 2010, 05:23:57 AM
Quote from: Mojo S2R on July 12, 2010, 06:55:21 PM
TI-99?

(http://www.sietiborgoantico.it/Vecchi_Computers/TEXSAS/ti-994a.jpg)

It was like that, but white and the cartridge stood upright when inserted ~

JM
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Mojo S2R on July 14, 2010, 06:57:16 PM
Apparently they are both the same TI-994A computers internally.  The silver/black was the first iteration and the beige came out later just before it came off the market.

(http://www.digibarn.com/collections/systems/ti99-4a-beige/TI99-4ABeige-box.jpg)
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Mojo S2R on July 14, 2010, 07:04:36 PM
Here's the TI-99/4 console with all of the Texas Instruments sidecars attached: Speech Synthesizer, Memory Expansion, RS-232 Serial Controller (with telephone modem), Video Controller, Disk Controller, Thermal Printer, and two floppy drives (attached to the Disk Controller).

(http://oldcomputers.net/pics/ti994-sidecars.jpg)
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Monsterlover on July 15, 2010, 02:49:54 AM
It's like 8' long!!

Funny how a smartphone will smoke that thing and they're so tiny in comparison
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Monster Dave on October 27, 2010, 07:24:34 AM
From a July 1946 issue of Popular Science:

(http://blog.modernmechanix.com/mags/qf/c/PopularScience/7-1946/rocket_brakes/xlg_rocket_brakes_0.jpg)

(http://blog.modernmechanix.com/mags/qf/c/PopularScience/7-1946/rocket_brakes/xlg_rocket_brakes_1.jpg)




Want!  [thumbsup]
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: derby on October 27, 2010, 08:15:43 AM
Quote from: Mojo S2R on July 14, 2010, 07:04:36 PM
Here's the TI-99/4 console with all of the Texas Instruments sidecars attached: Speech Synthesizer, Memory Expansion, RS-232 Serial Controller (with telephone modem), Video Controller, Disk Controller, Thermal Printer, and two floppy drives (attached to the Disk Controller).

(http://oldcomputers.net/pics/ti994-sidecars.jpg)

i had the modem and the thermal printer, but not the floppy drives (i wrote everything to "audio" cassette).
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: derby on October 27, 2010, 08:20:51 AM
i think i spent most of my time playing parsec...

Parsec TI 99 4/A (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCSQd0eJKQQ#normal)

these, too:

miner 2049er for ti-99/4a (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqKSK6jyBTU#normal)

ti994a ti invaders (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbdkm4_iMe8#normal)

ti994a hunt the wumpus (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVbSg1IK0dI#normal)

Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Le Pirate on October 27, 2010, 09:42:02 AM
we had one of these at home:

(http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/pc25/images/6705PH01.jpg)

My mom's company purchased it for us. She brought home tapes (not cassettes....big tape disk) that had the entire plant computer system backed up on it each night. I used to be a bad mofo' cause I'd bring my 2nd grade essays to school typed on word perfect instead of written on ruled paper  [laugh]



used to play some awesome helicopter game too...and qubert!
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: Monster Dave on October 27, 2010, 10:52:51 AM
(http://blog.modernmechanix.com/mags/qf/c/PopularScience/11-1979/xlg_telecomputing.jpg)

Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: ducpainter on October 27, 2010, 10:56:44 AM
I had Lode Runner for my Commodore 64.

That was in the early 80s IIRC.
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: JEFF_H on October 27, 2010, 12:31:53 PM
we had this
(http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/25/176130-o2_hard_super.jpg)
(baseball was good)

first home computer was this one
(http://www.pugo.org/media/collection/computer/commodore_amiga_1000.jpg)

10 PRINT "Jeff is cool";
20 GOTO 10
mad programming skills
Title: Re: Oh those were the days...
Post by: derby on October 27, 2010, 02:20:26 PM
Quote from: Le Pirate on October 27, 2010, 09:42:02 AM
we had one of these at home:

(http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/pc25/images/6705PH01.jpg)


my dad had one of these in our home office... i think i actually spent more time on it than he did.

Quote from: JEFF_H on October 27, 2010, 12:31:53 PM
we had this

my best friend sold two complete odyssey kits on ebay last year for a lot of money...