Re: First computers . . .

[tturner@ecn.ab.ca ()]

dev.null@personal.information.com wrote:
: While reading about the bad-old-days of computing I came across the statement
: that, "it is well known in the computer science field that programmers tend to
: think of the first machine they ever used as being one of the most interest-
: ing."  And I am curious, how many of you started out on an Apple II?

: The Apple II was probably the third computer I used, but I am most fond of it
: because it is the one machine that I spent a lot of time learning how to
: program.  (The first two were more like toys, the C=64 and VIC-20.)
<snip>

--> I read something similar and, having talked to Atari and C=64
    users; find that this seems to be generally true.

    Started with an A2E (still have it) and feel that it's a really
    interesting machine. I have no `history' with any others; so
    it's not surprising (to me) that I feel the A2E is much more
    interesting than the other platforms around at that time.

    However, I point-out here, that your opinion of the C=64 may
    be misconstrued due to your usage, rather than it `actually'
    being a 'toy' , such as can be argued in the case of the Vic-20.

    I found, later on, that some of the best `ham-radio' software
    and packet-radio `modeming' was done on the C=64 and that they
    were experiencing much higher speeds than the bulk of other
    system/users. The info was very plainly quite sophisticated
    and nothing on the A2 line at that time was even close, if,
    indeed, it was even covered. This is not to trumpet the C=64;
    as I said, I started with an A2E and never really warmed-up
    to any other platform. However; your comment that the C=64
    was a toy, is likely not based in a knowledge-base that is
    sufficient to make such a judgement call.

    NOTE to ALL: I'm _NOT_ trying to start a platform war. They
    are useless and unproductive. But there's nothing wrong with
    acknowledging strengths and weaknesses of the various platforms
    we were exposed to as we entered the fascinating world of
    personal computers `way back when'. I still love the A2 best.

--
E.A.G.L.E Librarian A3 BBS:403/481-3133  email:tturner@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca