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The-Sphinx

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Just been reading through the 'apple V microsoft 2 questions' postings and it took me back a while. Around 1994 -ish in fact. I bought my own 1.2gb computer 16RAM and it was considered a 'top' machine back then!

But worse of all was word. Can't remember what it was called at the time, but you had a blue screen and all your typ was in white. To underline something you had one opetion. Presss and hold F8 and type away. If you wanted it in bold as well then you pressed down F7. But what made it so damned anoying was you couldn't see what you had done until you printed it off, or unless you could read DOS anyway.
How I hated DOS! I went to college, leant a lot about it (for my business I owned back then) and just as I mastered it......BINGO! Windows arrived!!

And how the internet grew. You could type in the name like 'Holiday' and actually go for a weeks holiday, and by then if, and I use the word 'IF' very lightly, your computer might of found something. Not that it would be any good because instead of typing 'Holiday' you actually typed in 'Haliday.'

And we moan about today's computers. 🙂😀🙂😀

P
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c:\dos
c:\dos\run
run\dos\run

B
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Originally posted by Phlabibit
c:\dos
c:\dos\run
run\dos\run
He he.

B
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Originally posted by TheSphinx
Around 1994 -ish in fact. I bought my own 1.2gb computer 16RAM and it was considered a 'top' machine back then!

But worse of all was word. Can't remember what it was called at the time, but you had a blue screen and all your typ was in white...
You must have used ancient software in '94!

T
The-Sphinx

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Originally posted by Phlabibit
c:\dos
c:\dos\run
run\dos\run
Exactly! There was no kind od -half way with DOS> You either did it the DOS way or the DOS way.

For anyone who came into computers when Windows were introduced, it cut the time of writing a letter by about 20 minutes. I remember when I was ripping up the flooring and laying new cables and adding electrical sockets in a newly built converted barn that was never there in the first place. (Just how do these builders get permission I'll never understand.)
Anyhow this young woman in her early twentys was actually crying because she couldn't het her machine do what she wanted to do.
After 10 minutes of being on the floor I stood up and done this letter for her while she dictated it. Not only was I now the hero of the office but was brought in cakes, chocolate all sorts of things if I would help them out when they got stuck. Job took me 2 days quicker than I had budgeted for, but one look at the weather (snowing) and I decided to carry on creeping about the floor until the end off the week. LOL

😏😏😏😏😏😏🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂😏😏😏😏😏😵😵😵😵

T
The-Sphinx

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Originally posted by Bowmann
You must have used ancient software in '94!
Yes mate it must of been thinking about it, because Windows 95 came out in, er, umm, 1995!

Be hoest with me. Do you think if you were given a pre- 1995 computer, could you write a presentable letter first time? I know I certainly could - I struggle with XP. 😀

l

Milton Keynes, UK

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Originally posted by TheSphinx
Yes mate it must of been thinking about it, because Windows 95 came out in, er, umm, 1995!

Be hoest with me. Do you think if you were given a pre- 1995 computer, could you write a presentable letter first time? I know I certainly could - I struggle with XP. 😀
First learned DOS around 1986 on my dad's Apricot. If I recall correctly, it only had a 4MB hard drive and was considered very high spec back then!

I still use DOS (although it is emulated on any windows operating systems beyond 95) because I can do a lot of file manipuation much quicker.

The emulated DOS has improved a bit since then. For example, pressing Tab to complete directory names to simulate Unix and Linux operating systems.

mw

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Remember when you had to install DOS & Windows separately?
Or if you liked Windows but couldn't afford it, you could use the lame DOSshell that cam with DOS 4 & 5.
Part of the fun of owning a PC in the 80s & 90s was that they were so bloody awkward.

My first "personal computer" was an Intertec Superbrain that ran CPM, the forerunner of DOS.
It had 64K of RAM, a 16 bit processor, a couple of 5.25" floppy drives and no hard drive at all.
Oh, and it weighed more than I did!

C
Oro!

Fear The Cow

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Commodore 64

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Not Aleister

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I actually used Windows 3.1 without a mouse for a few months, because my dad only gave me enough money to buy a new 2MB hard drive and a stiffy drive - there wasn't enough money to buy a mouse.

Ah well, it's wasn't so bad - now I can still navigate around windows without using a mouse - it's usually much quicker.

Ragnorak
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Originally posted by Crowley
I actually used Windows 3.1 without a mouse for a few months, because my dad only gave me enough money to buy a new 2MB hard drive and a stiffy drive - there wasn't enough money to buy a mouse.

Ah well, it's wasn't so bad - now I can still navigate around windows without using a mouse - it's usually much quicker.
I had to develop for and support Windows 3.1 up to 2002.

Oh boy, was that fun?

D

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Not Aleister

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Originally posted by Ragnorak
I had to develop for and support Windows 3.1 up to 2002.

Oh boy, was that fun?

D
Bloody hell.

I hate clients and users who are of the 'If it ain't broken, don't fix it' mindset.

A buddy of mine works for an enterprise management software company. He's involved in database maintenance, design and reporting.
One of their clients still uses DOS for their national POS system. Now he's got the fun job of data conversion and integrity checking data moved onto new hard and software.

Poor sod.

h

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Ah...

Remember all the fun of tweaking config.sys and autoexec.bat so you could run your mouse and your sound card on a measly 2mb RAM and still have enough conventional memory to play the damn game that you just carted over to your house on enough disks to fill a wheel barrow, and disk 35 was corrupt so you had to do it twice... remember...?

Did anyone use Norton Commander? That was l33t before l33t.

C
Oro!

Fear The Cow

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Originally posted by hopscotch
Ah...

Remember all the fun of tweaking config.sys and autoexec.bat so you could run your mouse and your sound card on a measly 2mb RAM and still have enough conventional memory to play the damn game that you just carted over to your house on enough disks to fill a wheel barrow, and disk 35 was corrupt so you had to do it twice... remember...?

Did anyone use Norton Commander? That was l33t before l33t.
I miss the times of Kings quest 1, space quest 1 and Leisure suit larry 1. When the guy walking on the screen would leave a little pixel trail, those were cool graphics.

C
Not Aleister

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Originally posted by hopscotch
Ah...

Remember all the fun of tweaking config.sys and autoexec.bat so you could run your mouse and your sound card on a measly 2mb RAM and still have enough conventional memory to play the damn game that you just carted over to your house on enough disks to fill a wheel barrow, and disk 35 was corrupt so you had to do it twice... remember...?

Did anyone use Norton Commander? That was l33t before l33t.
Wha!?

Friggin HIMEM.EXE? and loading stuff into upper memory?

Hell, I can't remember all the commands anymore, but my boot files were perfectly structured to churn out that extra 50k base memory.

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