Why did you first buy a computer?

Question

My sister, who I hadn't seen for over 20 years came to stay with me from Aussie for christmas 2001. It was fantastic to get together after all those years and meet her children at last.
While she was here she suggested we invest in a pc to keep in touch with all of them. It used to take weeks to recieve her mail. So out came the trusty credit card, and she did her best to teach me to email. Thank goodness the credit card was soon paid off! lol
Anyway, we now mail almost daily and I am watching her girls web pages as they grow into young ladies.
So my question is. How long have you had a computer and what prompted you to buy it in the first place?
Thanks for your replies, well if I get some! lol
Sylvia x

Answer 1

When I first started taking care of my parents, my brother (the only one who lives close) suggested that I get a computer, in order to keep in touch with the rest of the family easily and quickly. I thought it was a great idea, but since I had just quit my job to take care of my parents, I wasn't going to be investing $2000 in a computer (which is about average of what they cost in 1995).

But since my brother had his own systems at home for his work, plus he had two sons and two daughters that had computers as well for school etc, he said he should be able to put together a whole system from the extra parts he had at home. And this is what he did. Of course, the thing was a dinosaur...a huge monitor with a 19 inch screen that weighed a ton, and a tower that QUALIFIED for the name! But it worked, and I could put internet access on it.

So from 1995 to 2005 that cobbled together computer served us faithfully. Helping us to keep in touch with family and friends. My Mum got to exchange more gossip with her sister in Saskatchewan (over 1000 miles away) in one week than they had in the previous 2 years. My Dad, although he never touched the computer himself, would ask me to look up this and that for him, and copy it out on the printer (in COLOUR yet!).

Shortly after my father's death in October 2005, we started having trouble with the computer. It would shut off on it's own--sometimes rebooting, sometimes not. It got temperamental as well, working for some people, and giving others grief. Then in July of 2006, I was sitting down at the old work horse, trying to get some work done on my household budgets, when I smelled smoke and saw a small cloud of it rise from the tower. Well, of course I immediately turned off the power to the computer, and unplugged everything from the house electrical supply. And moved the tower out farther into the middle of the floor, away from the desk and other furniture. There were no more signs of fire, but the smell of burning rubber was strong for hours afterwards.

I tried to get my sister-in-law or my brother to come and look at it. They kept on putting it off, complaining of prior commitments. Finally, a month later, my youngest daughter had had enough of waiting to get back onto the internet, and dragged her ex-husband out to the computer shops (with his credit card) to buy a new system. (Which I paid back in full within two months.)

They did a great job. I now have a monitor that weighs only a few pounds and is only a couple of inches thick. My "tower" doesn't qualify for the name, and includes all kinds of extras that were missing on the old work horse. And best of all, we now have so much space on the C drive that, even with four separate identities set up on the computer, so we can all have our own home page set-ups, there is still 85% of free space left!

Now I have friends that span the world. And I get to keep in touch with them all I want. The only thing I find detrimental about these things, is the addictiveness of being on sites like YA that "encourage" you to spend more and more time participating, with the attendant neglect of usual household chores as the flip side.

Great question, as always Sylvia. Keep it up!!

Answer 2

That's a great story...it highlights some of the best reasons to invest in this technology.
We've had one since 1993 (just an old laptop at the time) and have had internet since 1997. Our first computers were mostly in place so hubby could take home work. Eventually these machines also made it easier to keep in touch with family and friends...but only through e-mail at the time. I really resisted them and couldn't see what the internet could possibly hold that would keep my interest.I got "hooked" though by the amount of information available at my fingertips.
I do "chat" a little bit but a lot of my on line time is spent reading,cruising around on youtube and playing games. I especially love word racer.

Answer 3

We bought a Sinclair ZX81 in 1981 after I got a bonus at work that summer.
We progressed up to a Commodore then my husband decided to build his own PC.
I got a job in computers (software mainly) as I seemed to have a knack for them in 1985 and we have been amongst the first to try new things (although I had an email address LONG before anyone else I knew had one - so not entirely worth while!)
Husband moved to work in computers (hardware side) in 1991 - so we had all the angles covered then!
We now have a Win PC each at home, I have a laptop and there are 2 (or 3 when they're all working!) Linux boxes on the network for investigating stuff for work.
We have more kit and more potential at home than in the last few companies I have worked at!

Answer 4

We originally got a computer to help with our children's schoolwork. Now I couldn't be without it as I use the Internet daily. I check my emails and send some myself. Pay my bills and do any other sort of banking. I also buy things on-line now.

It's also a great place to write letters for snail-mail.

I get quite agitated when something goes wrong and for whatever reason the computer plays up. I alwys have a sigh of relief when it's OK again.

One drawback - it is very addictive and can be a time waster but who cares about that. I'm not out spending money, am I?

Answer 5

I purchased my first PC in 1997 (just updated this year - my son insisted), so that I could work at home one day a week. I had one from my place of employment but it was sooo old.

I also enjoyed e-mailing and searching the Internet, as well as having word processor to write letters and do business. I just love my computer. Still have the old monitor but hope to get one of those flat screens real soon.

Answer 6

When I was teaching casino card dealers, the casino came out with free computer lessons for all management level employees. I didn't see the need. It was required, and the price was right.
And then my husband did not know what to get me for an anniversary, so he got me a pc. (about 5 pcs ago, now.) I used it to type up new tests, to type up a new training manual, print out instructions on different casino games.
Then I discovered the games, the email, and some favorite sites. Now, I couldn't go back and live without one.

Answer 7

We bought our first computer when my other half was studying for his real estate salesman ticket and I was typing up all his assignments on an old typewriter we picked up in a second hand store. I was quite out of practice as I hadnt typed properly since doing a commercial course in High School so was rather rusty and was going through bottles of liquid paper, bottles I say, cartons! So it was cheaper to buy a computer and use spell check that continue on with the liquid paper, now Im hooked.
By the way I am in Australia so I'll say Hi to your sister for you!

Answer 8

Well, you've caught me out. I am not a machine person. I can break or mangle just about any piece of modern equipment you put me to, so the thought of working a computer wasn't high on my to do list.

However, my youngest son works in computers [isn't it always the way?] and kept insisting that not only I learn to use one, but actually house the d**n thing! So he put one together and, voila!, I joined the 21st century.

We won't discuss how long it took for me to even, I seriously hesitate to use the word 'master', figure out the most basic of commands. I will admit to being intimidated. But resolute!

---To J.C. and others ...I think I speak for many of us when I say you don't have to be a senior citizen to contribute to this category. As long as respect is shown for everyone, I think we all welcome the diversity of ages and opinions.

Answer 9

Primarily for business purposes many years ago. Needed word and XL to work on clients web pages. So learned how to do e-mail, followed by surfing the web, getting involved with other musicians and here I am. Now I am lost without my PC. With outsourcing I do not even have to meet my clients in the flesh... ever. Suits me fine.

Answer 10

I am a widower,live on my own and get fed up with myself. In January this year my sons said " Dad why don't you get a computer? It will give you something to do and you like interesting things" So I did. They came with me to PC world and we bought this gear. They showed me a bit,then I got broadband so I could get on the net. Then I found Yahoo answers and I have hours on here since,, My grand kids also use the messenger to keep in touch regularly.. Wouldn't be without it now.. Have made a few good friends I chat to regularly as well.

Answer 11

I bought my first computer, which was a Sinclair ZX81, in 1983. I bought it because I was curious to see what it did, & it was affordable. I have a notebook computer now, which is running PCLINUXOS. My wife persuaded me to get the notebook because she thought my old desktop PC was taking up too much room. I've had about 20 other computers in between owning the ZX81 & the one I have now.

PS

After writing this answer I've noticed this is in the senior citizens category. As I'm 40 I might not qualify to answer this question.