A long long time ago, 1994 to be exact. I purchased my first computer. It was purchased from a fellow worker who built computers from scratch. If memory is correct, I spent $700 for this computer. We are so spoiled these days comparing this computer back in 1994. The most time spent was waiting for the computer to compute.

Windows 3.1 was the operating system. The transfer system was a floppy disc. The capacity was under 500 kilobits. This was before CD disc drives. New programs came on a collection of floppy discs, 2, 3, maybe 4 or 5. During those days everyone shared programs. Copyright license laws were useless. “Hey Joe, I got this new program want a copy?” It had 2 megabytes of RAM. Gigabyte memories were not even thought of. The hard drive was way below 1000 megabytes. No such thing as USB or thumb drives. Oh, how spoiled we have become.

You have a computer, so you need a printer to be complete. A printer is added. More memory is used for the printer. the computer becomes slower. Oh, I am getting into the computing thing, a flatbed scanner is needed. More memory is needed. The computer becomes slower. Somewhere in that era combination printers/scanners start showing up.

To be a computer guru you need a modem to get online. 32k modems were the thing and the big event was when the new revolutionary 64k modem came out. Phone line connection only, no Wi Fi at this time. you get online and wait, wait and wait some more. Oh, all this took more memory, and your computer became slower and slower.

If I remember correctly, I kept this computer until after Y2K. Most equipment did not have facilities to handle anything beyond 1999. I forget how this problem was solved. But I do remember it created a lot of panic. Since my first computer I have lost track of how many computers I have purchased in the last 30 years. I am sure it has been over ten. Most have been Dell or HP. A relative had an Acer and all they had was problems. I favor Dell over HP. Never had an Apple so I can’t say much about them. These days you have tablets, iPad, smartphones, smart tv’s and others I can’t think of now. I can speculate that someday the desktop or tower computers will be discontinued because of the declining sales for these items.

On my first computer back in 1994 there was a financial program called Quicken. I became accustomed to using it and still use it today. Naturally it has been updated and revised many times, but I still enjoy and rely on it. I have been through hard drive crashes, virus attacks, incompatible hardware, software and running out of memory. It has been a fun and enjoyable trip through the land of computers.