When and where did you first learn to use computers?

Question

I was self-taught back in the Commodore 64 days. Still don't know how the heck I actually did anything.

Answer 1

Wang at work in 1979. Got about a 10 minute crash course and told---go. Wow were those the days--about as user friendly as a mad boar. Not only that but the inventory computers were in a room with no heat--a heater by your feet and that was it, once I fired the computer up and flying ants came out of the keyboard and started lunching on me. Had to watch or your breath would freeze over on the monitor.

Answer 2

First computer was a "Timex Sinclair" which I had to hook up too a Tv to use as a monitor and type code into it too play games or do word games.
Next I stepped up to a Commodore 64 and good hooked, then got a job where I had too work on a 'network system' which ran throughtout the office building.
Bought my first laptop almost 5 years ago and can't live without my computersfor emailm IM and just the Y!a for fun and some good friends that I have gotten.

Answer 3

I began using a mini-computer beast called a Logical computer that was anything but logical in about '81 or '82. The thing had disks on it that were bigger than dinner plates and in plastic cases a couple inches thick.

My boss at the time thought all the world's knowledge was on that machine. He dumped it in my office and told me to make it work. So, overnight I learned rudimentary BASIC software language and the next day wrote some elementary programs that eventually grew into an accounting system and an inventory system. There were no off the shelf software programs that I was aware of at the time for the Logical.

The Logical had a fatal flaw in its hardware that was a constant source of irritation since it just shut down for no apparent reason. The Logical company was never able to fix it and when we finally dumped the machine the flaw was still there. The cost of the machine was about $9,500 which was really big bucks at the time.

This mini-computer came in a wooden U-shaped desk that came apart into 3 pieces. I'd judge it weighed six or seven hundred pounds all together so we weren't very inclined to move it around much.

We made this beast work for a couple of years before buying a couple of Sanyo PCs. I still have the invoice for them. Two computers and two matrix printers (one with a wide carriage) cost $4,652.44 with tax. I later bought my own Sanyo so I could do some work at home. That was a mistake.

They came with WordStar, CalcStar and DataStar, and I was able to convert our BASIC programs from Logical BASIC to Sanyo BASIC. Each company had a slightly different version of BASIC. The Sanyos were pretty basic computers at the time but were a definite step up from the Logical computer.

I think the Logical company went out of business which is what they deserved. I often wondered how long that 700 pound mini-computer would burn if I set it on fire.

Answer 4

.Since about 1998. Mostly I am self taught on a lot of things but I have had a lot of computer courses at community college. Wasnt sure if I could still type or not until I had to start using computer for the family buisness but it came back like riding a bicycle.

Answer 5

I taught myself when i was 3 using a custom computer made by a friend of the family running Windows 98

and im 14 now

Answer 6

I remember back in I think 4th or 5th grade(around '83 or so), our school got this huge Apple computer lol. The principal brought each class one at a time into the library for us to "look at it" while he explained this or that, I think he let us touch one or two things on it as well lol. Through the rest of junior high and high school, we never had anything to do with computers-I don't even think there were any classes offered. Now a days, they have the kindergartners in computer lab lol.

Answer 7

I first learned at city hall, taking police and fire department calls, nothing like todays pcs. Iam taking a course right now at a junior college. I have 2 friends coming over this evening to show me afew things. So I hope what is going on right now is still on the menue tonight.

Answer 8

I am self taught too. My first computer was a Tandy 1000 I bought back in late 1991.

Answer 9

My SIL, one of those computer geek guys, built our first computer in 98. Showed me how to start it, use the mouse and told me that I couldn't break anything he couldn't fix. Took him up on that deal quite a few times. I currently use the computer like some people use a car. I can operate the gas pedal, brake and steering wheel but don't have a clue on how it works.

Answer 10

I first used a computer at work. But didn't use one at home until 4 years ago. I still have more to learn.