4 ms·

first prebuilt pc was a gw2k p120 when i was in middle school. also the first computer i installed linux on - slackware. we started on macs but they had gone

first prebuilt pc was a gw2k p120 when i was in middle school. also the first computer i installed linux on - slackware. we started on macs but they had gone downhill by then. this was way before the era of cheap multi function routers. it lasted me/my family 10 years (performing various server-ish functions including firewall/router, print server, file server, etc.) and taught me the skills i use every day to make a living. i believe it was still working just fine when we recycled it, it was just too power hungry compared to newer machines.

jon-wood 11y ago
That takes me back. I learnt Unix, networking, and software development setting up ever more complex (and in retrospect unnecessary) services for the family home network. At one point I was even selling web hosting to a few people off our home connection. That experience is led to me being where I am now, and I'm eternely grateful to my parents for supporting me in doing a bunch of stuff they really had no idea about.
ckozlowski 11y ago
>this was way before the era of cheap multi function routers. Indeed! One of the first things I did with mine was turn it into a sort of router. I was taking a Cisco class in high school where we were learning networking. Realized I could connect the two PCs in our house together to share the same dial-up connection, and so I walked out of school with some donated Cat5, crimpers, and a pair of 3Com NICs. Microsoft ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) did the rest. The only issue it created was that, in the process of explaining to my parents that my PC had to be turned on in order for theirs to reach the net, they continued to ask for years if my PC was on, long after we had a router. I still get a question occasionally like "my tablet isn't working, does your father's PC need to be on?" Heh. Good times. =)

jon-wood 11y ago

That takes me back. I learnt Unix, networking, and software development setting up ever more complex (and in retrospect unnecessary) services for the family home network. At one point I was even selling web hosting to a few people off our home connection. That experience is led to me being where I am now, and I'm eternely grateful to my parents for supporting me in doing a bunch of stuff they really had no idea about.

ckozlowski 11y ago

>this was way before the era of cheap multi function routers. Indeed! One of the first things I did with mine was turn it into a sort of router. I was taking a Cisco class in high school where we were learning networking. Realized I could connect the two PCs in our house together to share the same dial-up connection, and so I walked out of school with some donated Cat5, crimpers, and a pair of 3Com NICs. Microsoft ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) did the rest. The only issue it created was that, in the process of explaining to my parents that my PC had to be turned on in order for theirs to reach the net, they continued to ask for years if my PC was on, long after we had a router. I still get a question occasionally like "my tablet isn't working, does your father's PC need to be on?" Heh. Good times. =)