Cyber Lobster
===========
My first computer was an 8 Bit
BBC Master
- I used it for WP and little
else initially. I thought of computers
as tools and very boring . . .
:-)
It was complicated to use
and the printer (a daisywheel)
could not do graphics and took 5 minutes
(I timed it) to do a page of text
:-)
It eventually had a 1086 processor co processor board
allowing it to run some PC software
(the pre cursor to the 8808, 8806, 286, 386, 486, Pentium etc)
Then I had an Amiga 2000
This could run PC software on its
excellent PC co processor as well as Amiga
software. While the PC had 4 colour and
16 colours - the Amiga was running
256 and 4096 colours AND had a
Window multi tasking environment
whilst PC users were still using DOS
(or DOZZZZ)
:-)
Then I had an Intel 386 clone and continued
with PC's from there. (I had been using 286's
for a while and was used to the PC 286, RM Nimbus
and so on)
By now I was assimilated as an MS/Intel Borg
I was using Gem,
Windows 1 (anyone use Windows 1 with Pagemaker?)
and was a Geek [sob]
I have taught Amiga classes on an Amiga Network
of Amiga 2000's (quite a rarity)
and a variety of computer classes including
DTP and Web Design (HTML) all on PC
Lately I have been using Linux and
learning to program in XBasic.
My current kit needs upgrading the only
half decent bit is the 17 inch TFT Monitor . . .
My programming skills are weak
but I like to dabble . . .
The first language I learnt
was Turbo Pascal
I have written programs in BBC Basic
(- based on Modula 2)
one in OPL (that was the extra Geek bit)
One in C (two week training course)
half a program in Java (too hard for my little brain)
DarkBasic (for writing games - very good and exciting)
and am now quite committed to my
second month of training in XB
========
I have used and taught a variety of software:
Excel, Word, Frontpage, Pagemaker and so on . . .
My favourite MS software is Excel
Though I have used Word the most
(I don't even have it on my system now)
My favourite Graphics program is Xara
(structured drawing)
and on Linux (also available for Windows)
I became quite attached to GIMP
I am trying to use more and more freeware
as these kind and generous coders should
be respected for their very varied work.
==========
http://www.pricelessware.org/
which has a variety of excellent REAL freeware
(not adware, crippleware, spyware)
==========
Some of the things I have learnt:
1. Standard equipment is cheaper and
interchangeable
2. Easier is better
3. If it does the job - it does the job (no more clues)
============
just a reminder . . .
There I was (and this is a true story most will be familiar with)
after some hours of regular coding
compiling my program . . .
When it locked and it seemed as if everything had frozen
It was OK (I thought) I had just saved my program
Weirdness.
When I loaded the program
it had reverted to a previously saved version of the same name
(probably locked in memory)
and all my updates (several hours it seemed)
were lost.
Now I remember reading this is a known bug . . . in XB
Or maybe playing about with file writing code
is to blame - who knows . . .
(it has happened a few times and is one
of the joys of programming . . . :-(
The solution is to save AND increment files
The good news (I thought it would take a couple of hours)
is it only took 10-15 mins to rewrite the code . . .
Could have been BAD.
Backup your files AND increment
- and put them on a floppy
and a CD
and have a backup hard drive
and a zip disk
and put them on the internet somewhere . . .
and . . .
DON'T LOSE YOUR WORK
What are your computer nightmare stories?
Spiritual XPeriences on PC's?
- perhaps later?
What have you been up to with
your machine?
Oh . . .
I forgot to mention cyber-sex
- perhaps later?
:-)
