General Chat

Used a computer which was little more than a word processor when I worked in London 1981-83. It was massive and looked like something out of a really old sci-fi movie! lol Persuaded my boss in Cambridge to get one 2 years later but didn't have a family one until 1997 when I thought it might be useful for the children to do school projects on. Hubby wasn't convinced and I had a real battle on my hands. He's a total convert, our dining room is like a hub room and he's just treated himself to a Ferrari laptop because he likes the sound it makes when you turn it on! Boys and their toys eh? Daisy

We had a Spectrum too, Paul. David used it to brush up on his programming skills after he'd been on courses in the office. Jeff and I used it to play games mostly, but we also had some excellent educational programs for him. One in particular, Castle Spellerous, was a really good spelling teacher based on the Gothic fantasy games like Dungeons & Dragons. There were also maths ones in similar format. I used to love Slippery Sid, Frogger and Rygar on the Lynx we got for Jeff - I even got to the end of Rygar once. Just the once, as I wasn't very good at it! LOL I find PC games now too fast and too complicated - either that or I'm just past it! My in-laws were dead set against Jeff being allowed to play all these computer games, but I'm glad we ignored their advice, as it gave him a head start that's been very valuable and helped him in his career, which relies on computers a great deal. CB >|<

Dad bought the family a computer when I was 10 (13 years ago) and I grew up using them at school. He bought me the laptop for work and it's now my best friend :0)

actually I'd forgotten about my spectrum ! my first computer was a sinclair spectrum with a rubber keyboard, I bought it because I wanted to 'learn about computers' but just ended up playing games on it. For a couple of years till I got bored of it. Then, about 2 years later, I got a job in IT, and could barely remember what a computer was at that stage lol.

I first used a computer back in about 1985, an Amstrad CPC464 with one of those green screen monitors. Still got a bit of a soft spot for the simplistic nature of the games you could play with it - Fruit Machine, Galactic Plague (space invaders type thing). Put in the tape and 3-5 mins later your game had loaded!

I started using computers in the office in the 1970s and was given my own office one to use for word processing. It was fantastic, after 15 years of having to rub out typing errors or retype pages if something was wrong or the originator changed their minds. I took to WP very quickly and have never looked back. I've never actually bought a computer, as we've always been able to have them from our workplaces. My husband has worked in IT for over 20 years, so he's always had one to bring home to use when he has to work from here, and since laptops have been available, they've given him one of those. Since we've lived here, all three of us have had our own PCs, and during the past year our son bought himself a brand new one, on which he also works from home at times. My birthday present this year was a brand-new PC bought for me by my husband, and my son bought me the all-in-one printer to go with it, plus new speakers for Christmas. We've currently got 3 PCs and one laptop on the go, and I wouldn't be without mine. I use it for correspondence (email and printed), producing minutes of meetings and Neighbourhood Watch notices, astrology, producing artwork, copying photographs, playing music and games. I just wish I could get it to do the housework and the ironing! CB >|<

I work in IT, so it was pretty much a 'no brainer'. That said, the main reason I bought a PC for homne was for Sharon to use, as I use my work laptop most of the time.

The children always had them but i had no idea how to even switch them on. My brother inlaw bought himself a new one and gave me his old one which was only a year old. put it in the dining room for grandchildren to use when they came. when dusting it i switched it on by mistake, and couldn't turn it off. i thought how stupid is that, so i went an enrolled with Learn Direct in our town, it was free , and was able to use the puter myself within a couple of weeks, my kids were shocked as i hadn't told them i had been having lessons. I am so glad i did. Shirley Ann.

Bought one for the kids to do there course work on, just got addicted myself when helping them begin

It belonged to my husband From September I am at home, where I was always outside working, and I started playing wth the computer - and its gone from there....

Hi Bryan I bought ours in June last year because my daughter was going to high school in September and I wanted internet access in the house. It's also come in useful for my college work and a lot of other things including GR lol. Juliexx

My first one was a Sinclair ZX81 !

Morning Bryan, Got mine 18months, thinking more space in the flat so i could sort out my music, stumbled on GR and got nowhere :-)), now i can't stop looking for dead people :-))). Micheal.

I have Parkinsons and being 56 is quite young to get it my writting is so bad even i can't understand it, one day i came home from work and Dell had delivered pc husband had brought me, now i'm never off it,so i got a Lap top before xmas for a bit more comfort,i can sit on the sofa and join in now,,,,,,,,,,,,

We had a Commodore 64. Then I got a PC when we got one at work. A 386SX Been updating ever since. 3 hard disks, 3 motherboards, 2 power supplies, 1 case, 2 sound cards, a cd player, but it was stiil the same PC, then the monitor packed up. Last Januaury I bought a new one. David

thanks to everyone,for your replies,off to bed now. nite nite....bryan.

Bryan daughter got her old one all up-graded and everything for me and hubby as part of a pressy last xmas;; hubby never been near it well he does look over my shoulder now and then;; but me addicted and drive daughter and tips board mad;; Babs

ron,i read somewhere,that the best people to know,are those that can re-build computers...will put you on next years xmas card list :o) bryan.

bob,don't start me off on 'only fools and horses' as i will be here all night. my ex had a spectrum 64,with a rubber keyboard,i then bought her a commodore,and her personallity changed over night...within three months she took out a loan,and bought an expensive computer,with a laser printer. a year later she started her own company,and the rest is history. bryan.

Bob LMHO Nah fank god it's cushty this ones kosher :-))) Pat x