5 ms·
We just had fewer resources. We had to be more self-sufficient. Books were more important. I used to spend somewhere between $200 and $500 a year (maybe more!)
by simonblack 6y ago
We just had fewer resources. We had to be more self-sufficient. Books were more important. I used to spend somewhere between $200 and $500 a year (maybe more!) on reference and tutorial-style books.
CDROMs were the 'downloading' of the 80s and 90s.
- DamonHD 6y agoYep, lots of books and upfront reading, and sweaty-panic reading! I used to have a small collection of well-thumbed reference books that I take with me whatever was my current gig.
- davismwfl 6y agoI recently just gave away a bunch of my old reference books and binders with printed articles or clippings from magazines. Those followed me from job to job early on. To be accurate the internet existed but we didn’t have the web resources, it was quite different. We would also use BBS systems with forums as well as email to communicate with experts etc.
- simonblack 6y agoTo be accurate the internet existed but we didn’t have the web resources, 'Store and Forward' via UUCP was my norm around 1991. I remember how our little group of UUCP nodes was so excited when one of our members sent an email from Australia to the States. (And received a reply back!! In only 10 minutes!! WOW!!) I recently just gave away a bunch of my old reference books I have had many cleanups of my reference books and magazines from the 80s-90s era. From about 50 shelf-feet to about 3 shelf-feet. On the other hand I have also re-bought some of those discarded reference books. And several other books are getting very tattered, but still used after 30-odd years.