Re: [Amc-list] List Old Timers - Computers

["Swygert, Francis G MSgt 436 CES/CECM" <Francis.Swygert3@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Just for fun, it would be nice to scan an archive CD and collect names
from the first year. I'm not sure if I was on in 1996 or not, may have
been as late as 98 before I found it. I was still using a "hot rodded"
Tandy Color Computer 3 for e-mail on Delphi (similar to Compuserve) when
the Internet started to be opened up. I used that thing to get on-line
from late 1990, after returning from a two year tour in Okinawa, and
getting hooked on the BBS system some of the GIs ran on the island. It
was to expensive to hook up with Compuserve except occasionally, but one
of the guys did take donations so he could hook up with a Fido-Net node
a couple times a week. He only got certain subjects, not the whole
thing, but it was something! I bet few recall Fido-Net as fondly as our
own Tom Jennings. How many on here know that he was the originator of
Fido? Well, you all do now! I'd scan my archives disc, but have more
pressing matters at the moment (read on!!).

I don't recall reading the list on the CoCo -- but may have. I had
limited internet access from Delphi. I had a succession of PC types (XT,
AT, 386, 486, etc.) over a few years -- the CoCo saw use beside them
until around 99, when I finally sold my two custom machines to someone
still playing with them. Figured that was better than letting them sit
in storage (though I do still have two "virgin" older models in
storage). Sort of like that Rambler sitting in the field that the old
guy who can barely walk is "gonna fix up one day". Why let it rust away
when you know you're not likely too? If the CoCo had been capable of
Internet graphics I'd have kept using it. A lot better than the
succession of PCs! But at least mine got some more "miles" on them
before being put out to pasture -- someone enjoyed what I no longer had
time for. To bad more people don't think that way about those old cars
sitting in a field... I guess they're hoping they'll seed and grow
more...

I think my PC has reached the point now that I'm not concerned with ever
upgrading until something breaks. It's way faster than I really need --
found that out in Afghanistan. Took my older PII 366 laptop since I was
concerned about dust ruining my faster/better/more expensive one. It was
plenty fast, though a bit sluggish when multi-tasking. Gamers are
driving PC capabilities more than just about anything else these days!
Of course the next big drive is going to be Vista. 

If you thought Windows was a resource hog before, wait until you see
what you need to take full advantage of all the added "features" - which
are pretty much just useless eye-candy that really does nothing for you
but hog processor/memory/storage resource -- you needed a newer faster
computer anyway, right? Well, if you want a 3-D desktop you just might!


Okay, so what's this got to do with the list and AMCs? Well, 75-80% of
my personal computer use is AMC related. Most of my e-mail is, nearly
all my web browsing is looking for information, and then there's
checking this list and AMC-Forums to answer questions, which I do
regularly. And let's not forget AMC Magazine! If I just quite publishing
and just quietly messed with my own car and left everyone else to
themselves, I'd have so much free time I'd need to find another hobby!! 

That and my main computer died this morning. Luckily, I backed up my
most important files last week, though I may have lost a lot I'd liked
to have kept. Like the work started on the next issue of AMC -- just a
shell with an upcoming shows article/list, and a folder with a bunch of
info for articles I haven't fully started yet, but enough to cover about
30% of the time required to put one together. Luckily I do have a backup
machine -- two actually -- my trusty old PII 366 Lappy and my old
machine, an Athlon 1200+. I'm hoping my motherboard is bad -- it
wouldn't even give a startup screen this morning. Then I can stick the
HD in a USB case and recover the files. But I didn't hear the HD
clicking or anything either. Could be the HD controller on the
motherboard, which is kind of what I'm hoping, but won't know until this
afternoon. The first thing I'm going to do is pull the HD and stick it
in that USB case I bought just for such emergencies! Then I'll know...
Of course with my luck, the HD controller on the MB went and took the HD
with it, or vice-versa!! 

------------
Date: Monday, February 12, 2007 04:45 PM
From: andrew hay <adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

" From: Matt Haas <mhaas@xxxxxxx>
"
"
" I've been on the list since late 1996. Who else is still around from
then?

not sure exactly when i joined, but it was around then.  someone who
has the archive cd could search for my first post...	;^>
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