[XCSSA] Old computers

[xcssa@xcssa.org]

>My first computing experience was on the TRS-80 Model-I.  Only 4kB of RAM 
>bout
>our school could afford a DUAL floppy drive!  Of course if you powered off
>the system with a disc in the drive the flux collapse from the biased R/W
>reads would "zap" you floppy and cause corruption -- causing you to lose 
>the
>blocky space invaders game that you just spent four hours typing in by hand
>and debugging.
>
>Tweeks

This called for a new thread. :)

I remember a cousin having an Atari with the flat keypad for a keyboard. I 
also seem to remember detachable game knobs and a faux wood finish. That's 
been about two decades ago. Sheesh!

The first computer I messed with was a TI 99/4A with the TI Basic and the 
tons of game and extension modules you'd have to shove hard into the top 
slot. I managed to get several expansion boxes (can't remember the correct 
term) that plugged into the side. At the height of its use, I had an RS-232 
box with a homemade cable plugged into a Terminal Node Controller, a 
Heathkit HK-232. This setup let me "rag chew" with other hams with the 
computer over HF and VHF. It wasn't a sexy setup and the TI would end up 
locking up right in the middle of a conversation more often than not. And 
the floppy drive bigger than some current computers...yeah, it was noisy and 
the floppies didn't always want to eject. I crimped some of those suckers 
beyond use more than once.

Ah, those were the days...;)
Tom King