4 ms·

I'm always amazed by how much computer technology existed before the late 70's and early 80's personal computer market exploded.

marincounty 11y ago
In college, I didn't tell anyone I had an Atari St someting? I wrote all my papers/homework on it, but felt like I was cheating? All the other students were typing away, or paying a service to type their papers. This was the 80's. I tried to get my girlfriend into it at the time, but she wanted no part of it. I think my presentation of the computer was the problem? I saw that she didn't see the value in word processing, so I drew a slightly erotic cartoon with paint/illustrator? She looked down at me and said, "If you want the real thing, put that computer away?" I put my homemade cover on it, and had a great night! I remember her telling me in bed, "I don't think computers will ever take off?" I actually agreed with her. I never thought they would be so commonplace. I was still trying to impress her, so I didn't tell her everything I wrote since high school was on this Atari. Anyways, she was a great girlfriend, and I miss her. She is now head of technology at some company. Ingrid, you were the best! I wish I was a better boyfriend. I never experienced the relationship I had with you--with anyone else. I tried, but never found that chemistry. Anyway, I once had a English teacher accuse me of plagiarism. I wrote a research paper on The Amygdala; the efficy of Psychosurgery on Violent Individuals. He said he needed to ask his wife what an Amygdala was, and 'She's a Psychologist?'. 'And the type on this paper looks weird?' He kept tuning over the pages and looking for typewritten impressions? I was beyond an introvert, and had no self-esteem at the time. I remember just listening to him, and my only response was, I wrote this. My references are in the library? I walked out of his office, and felt; I don't trust this older generation of people? To appease this English teacher, I dumbed down all my papers. The irony was I am, and was a horrid writer. The only words of wisdom in that little English department I overheard while sweltering in Mr. Taylor's class was in Mr. Robinson's class. His class was next door. He told his class to never use clichés in your writing! He then quipped "even in verbal conversation?". I always thought that was great advise. He also stressed funneling thoughts, and paragraphs. I sometimes wonder why I wrote that Engish paper on that subject. I remember, at the time, I had some weird thoughts, and thought someting was wrong with my brain? I look back and had so much acne--everywhere? I noticed, as my acne cleared up, so did my weird thoughts.(I bring this up because no one told us what to expect in the latter stages of puberty. I honestly fell the natural testosterone made me feel like I was going crazy? As I got older, the violent thoughts went away. I always wondered if it was just hormones that make me feel like such a wako in college? Anyway, my Atari St was a dirty secret back in the 80's, but I loved it. I don't recall that dot matrix ribbon ever needing replacing? Could any of you imagine--never buying any extra ink cartridges in four years of college? I don't miss college, and really didn't learn much. I miss Ingrid, and my classmates though. I do miss the simplicity of computing back then. I don't miss needing to go to the library though. I do miss seeing people out in public with nothing in their hands. I miss that most? No--still miss the college girlfriend; the grass was not greener in my little life. Sorry, about rambling on!

marincounty 11y ago

In college, I didn't tell anyone I had an Atari St someting? I wrote all my papers/homework on it, but felt like I was cheating? All the other students were typing away, or paying a service to type their papers. This was the 80's. I tried to get my girlfriend into it at the time, but she wanted no part of it. I think my presentation of the computer was the problem? I saw that she didn't see the value in word processing, so I drew a slightly erotic cartoon with paint/illustrator? She looked down at me and said, "If you want the real thing, put that computer away?" I put my homemade cover on it, and had a great night! I remember her telling me in bed, "I don't think computers will ever take off?" I actually agreed with her. I never thought they would be so commonplace. I was still trying to impress her, so I didn't tell her everything I wrote since high school was on this Atari. Anyways, she was a great girlfriend, and I miss her. She is now head of technology at some company. Ingrid, you were the best! I wish I was a better boyfriend. I never experienced the relationship I had with you--with anyone else. I tried, but never found that chemistry. Anyway, I once had a English teacher accuse me of plagiarism. I wrote a research paper on The Amygdala; the efficy of Psychosurgery on Violent Individuals. He said he needed to ask his wife what an Amygdala was, and 'She's a Psychologist?'. 'And the type on this paper looks weird?' He kept tuning over the pages and looking for typewritten impressions? I was beyond an introvert, and had no self-esteem at the time. I remember just listening to him, and my only response was, I wrote this. My references are in the library? I walked out of his office, and felt; I don't trust this older generation of people? To appease this English teacher, I dumbed down all my papers. The irony was I am, and was a horrid writer. The only words of wisdom in that little English department I overheard while sweltering in Mr. Taylor's class was in Mr. Robinson's class. His class was next door. He told his class to never use clichés in your writing! He then quipped "even in verbal conversation?". I always thought that was great advise. He also stressed funneling thoughts, and paragraphs. I sometimes wonder why I wrote that Engish paper on that subject. I remember, at the time, I had some weird thoughts, and thought someting was wrong with my brain? I look back and had so much acne--everywhere? I noticed, as my acne cleared up, so did my weird thoughts.(I bring this up because no one told us what to expect in the latter stages of puberty. I honestly fell the natural testosterone made me feel like I was going crazy? As I got older, the violent thoughts went away. I always wondered if it was just hormones that make me feel like such a wako in college? Anyway, my Atari St was a dirty secret back in the 80's, but I loved it. I don't recall that dot matrix ribbon ever needing replacing? Could any of you imagine--never buying any extra ink cartridges in four years of college? I don't miss college, and really didn't learn much. I miss Ingrid, and my classmates though. I do miss the simplicity of computing back then. I don't miss needing to go to the library though. I do miss seeing people out in public with nothing in their hands. I miss that most? No--still miss the college girlfriend; the grass was not greener in my little life. Sorry, about rambling on!