Growing up I was lucky enough to work with many different computers. In elementary school there was a computer lab with 15 computers and we were able to play Oregon Trail and various typing programs. The first work I ever typed on a computer was supposed to be "as." Unfortunately I was not very smooth with the keys at the time and I added an extra "s" to the word and as my 1st grade report card tells, I did not have the use of the computers for the next three weeks.
That trail and error with computers seems to have been the overall feeling with how I have lived with them for the last 20 years. Moving away from the early computers where the keyboard was attached right to the modem, and you you had to put in you big floppy disks. We then moved into the 3 1/2 inch disk, various new graphics. All the time, I was never lucky enough to work with a Mac. This was mostly due to the fact that my Aunt worked for Microsoft, and my father was/is an I.T. man for a retirement company. My early use with computers was very limited to the P.C. as those were their operating systems. As I got into and through high school we were still on the P.C., where the towers were on the floor next to the desk. By this time we were using many of the removable/transportable hard drives. It was a transformation that we moving to the more and more mobile computers. As I entered into college I did get my first laptop which was a Toshiba. A very simple machine for a simple minded person. It worked for the most part, and when it would malfunction, I would send it to my father to fix. Although it was mobile, it did not stay that way for long. The battery was shot after about 9 months and I could not afford to buy a new one. Thus I was stuck working within reach of an outlet/power source. Finally, after graduation I earned a job in Glendale where the school runs all Macs. It was a change for me, but I now am a proud owner of my own MacBook. Even after all of my years with the various P.C.s I would not leave my Mac. It is my new favorite and I plan to stay loyal until I find something I feel is better.
In coming from both the P.C. and now the Mac I have been lucky enough to run both types of operating systems. I have also seen the idea of mobility of storage and computers transform as the years pasted as well. I have seen both the positive and negative of the operating systems and I have learned many of the short cuts and system "cheats" from my my father and Aunt. They are to this day very loyal to their P.C.s, yet with no real connection to them it was easy for me to switch to the Mac. My father always told me if you want a computer to turn on and get to work, get a Mac. If you want a computer you can make do what you want, how you want, when you want, get a P.C.
To sum it all up, I guess the realization that no matter how in-depth you want to get into your computer, what programs you like, or even the overall general look of your computer there a lot of choices out there. Be careful though for as each day goes by we get new technology, and with that technology our operating systems change. Do some time and look into it. I have only been around for 25 short years but have seen changes from the "Green screen" typing to a computer that can fit into a manilla envelop!
Sounds like we have a lot of the same computer history! I grew up with computers in my house because of my dad as well!! It is fun to look back and see how computers have evolved within our lifetime. My family has always been a PC family as well, but my sister just switched to Mac. I would have to say I am a little jealous of her! I have heard once you go MAC you never go back. Maybe I will have to give it a try soon!
ReplyDeleteAh..., the loyal Mac type person. I was sold on an iBook in about 2004 when a friend came over to my house and connected to the Internet effortlessly via an unsecured WiFi in the apartment below ours. There weren't any or many Windows notebooks with built in WiFi at the time so I bought an iBook G4. I too have been a happy OS X user. The latest Windows I am really familiar with is Win 2000.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a Mac fanatic however. When I started work at my current school, I soon set up all the student computers using Ubuntu Linux. I am quite happy with Linux as well. There is a little bit of a learning curve if you want to get everything and more working. However, most recent releases of various Linux flavors are set up to run out-of the box. I'm working on this post right now booted off a live USB stick (no install) of Peppermint-Ice Linux. If you or anyone else needs help choosing or working with Linux in the coming week, give me a shout.
So, I like Linux and I like OS X. I was just about to get a 27" iCore7 iMac but ..., a different need for those funds arose. So..., I've decided to get a cheaper Lenovo 23" multi-touch All-In-One, iCore7. I guess it's time for me to see what Windows is all about again. I'm sure I will either dual boot with a Linux installation or work with a Virtual Machine. I won't leave my Linux now. If I got the iMac, I would do the same thing.
Your computer experience sounds similar to mine in some respects. I too remember some of the "primitive" machines that used to exist. Your last paragraph caught my attention the most however. I am also a huge believer that it is very important to stay up to date with changes. It is unbelievable how fast technology moves and when I talk to people who are not familiar with a lot of these devices I always tell them that the only way to learn is to experiment. Part of the value of teaching with technology is to help students become more flexible and adaptable with technology usage because it is becoming a "must-have" skill to make it in todays world.
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