Both Roland and I can well remember our lives before computers and cell phones. Actually, If we think back far enough we can even remember a time before television, but that is going way back, even for us.
Our true introduction to the world of technology came about in 1996. I remember sitting in a little restaurant just off Portage Avenue on a bleak January day sharing lunch with my good friend, BRD. It was winter, it was cold and I was bored. I remember talking with BRD about how I needed something to do to help fill the long winter hours. Not being crafty by nature, I was looking for a hobby but couldn’t come up with any ideas that left me feeling enthused.
Personal desktop computers were just starting to pop up in homes and I found myself intrigued at what I heard they could do. There was even talk of being able to find out about almost anything by simply doing a search on this thing called the World Wide Web. Quite frankly I was sick to death of watching TV and I remember saying to BRD as we finished up lunch, “Maybe I should get myself a computer.”
The thought kept resurfacing as I drove the short distance home, “a computer.. hmmm.. I wonder”.
Much to my surprise, when I mentioned the idea to Roland he got quite excited. “Want to take a drive to Future Shop and have a look?” he quickly offered.
“OK,” I responded, “but we are just going to look. I don’t want to buy anything.”
Famous last words.
A couple of hours later we walked out of the store, on a stormy winter’s night, caring three big boxes (tower, monitor, printer) feeling exhilarated and more than a little panicked. We knew NOTHING about computers. My God.. what had we done!
The two of us were up until 3:00 am that morning attempting to first, put everything together and then second, figure out just what to do with it. Really.. we hadn’t a clue.
Looking back on it now, I marvel that we got it up and running at all. As it was, we crashed the entire system the next day and out of necessity learned very quickly how to wipe the hard-drive clean and how to reinstall Windows 95.. flipping through the instruction book with the left hand while attempting to use this mouse thingie with the right. Talk about stress. The tension was palpable. A few choice words were tossed about that day but we were lucky and somehow managed to get the d*&# thing up and running again.
Then the indubitable fun began. Both Roland and I were quickly mesmerized by the new world that opened up to us via our dial-up connection and 15 inch monitor. Just to appropriately set the time frame, our first web browser was a program called Mosaic. A far cry from IE and the FireFox browsers of today, but at the time what it could do just seemed unfathomable. We were hooked.
Roland and I are entering 2007, still very enthused, with two new technical gadgets. The first one is a wireless bluetooth ear piece. This is Roland’s new toy and he is thrilled with it. It is simply an ear piece that he wears that acts as an extension for his cell phone. Roland is a much more avid cellphone user than I and with his new bluetooth he is able to phone and have his hands free while driving, snowmobiling or while at work.
The other day he came to pick me up at work, wearing his bluetooth as well as his very cool dark sunglasses. I told him he reminded me of a slightly smaller version of Arnold Schwarzenegger in one of those futuristic movies. I think he liked that. :-).
My new miracle toy (and I can hardly type this.. I am still so excited) is a video iPod. I have had this device for less than a week but I have already downloaded on to it all of my music, my photos and even my home movies. Just think.. I will now be able to bore people to tears where ever I go. :-).
This iPod is one sweet thing. I can even download and watch real movies and audio-books, if I so please. I kind of doubt that I will use it to watch movies. My eyes could not tolerate staring at the little screen for that length of time but I do like the idea of being able to listen to audio-books. They might come in handy to help pass the time while waiting with Mom at her frequent and lengthy doctor’s appointments.
It is hard to believe that 11 years have now passed since that oh so stressful night when we put together our first computer. Both Roland and I continue to be blown away by all the new technical advances and both or us are still so thrilled to be able to take part in this era.
I ponder about the children that are growing up in the midst of all of this. I guess much of the current technology will simply be taken for granted as part of their everyday lives. But I do hope that someday they too are able to discover something that just knocks their socks off.
Nyssa has never experienced the joy (said with much sarcasm) of typing a term paper on a manual typewriter or even an electric one. She has never had to transcribe notes and type them on a template to be run off by a machine with that blue to purple print as we did for lecture service in medical school. All she has known is the cut and paste and edit of word processing. I can’t imagine how much more sleep I could have gotten in high school if the computer had been around.
I still haven’t grabbed hold of the iPod business yet… perhaps someday!
I had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the world of technology. Someone even gave me a compuer and it sat there for a few years. Now look at me!
I saw the blue tooth…someone I know got one for Christmas. He told me they are safer than holding a cellphone to your head as well. I like the sound of your present. Does it play music like an IPOD or just store it? Is the sound quality good?
Ahh, an iPod. I gave one to my son this Christmas and he was thrilled–Apple even engraved it for free for me. That will be my next personal toy, I think. Like I need more toys.
You don’t have to apy to downlad books; just go to your local library and borrow books on CD.
Audiobooks while waiting at long appointments is a GREAT idea!
Didn’t know what that bluetooth headphone was and mostly still don’t. I hadn’t caught the whole video iPod development. At this rate I’ll soon be a luddite proper. New toys are always fun.
What a fun entry this was to read. I think a lot of us can relate to that first computer experience and the “now what?” feelings after having plunked down all that cash.
I remember when we got our first one — I wanted to go to a craft fair and there just happened to be a computer fair going on in the next building. As I didn’t drive yet, I bribed Carl with the old “you go there and I’ll go here and we’ll meet later”. He spent a fortune, I spent under $20 and there’s been no turning back.
He had an old Commodore 64 back in the early 80′s when I met him which was the very first computer I’d ever seen. It was one of the reasons I fell in love with him.
Your new toy is incredible, Colleen! And how sweet is that li’l mug smiling back from it? : )
When we got our first dial up connection, we were trying to decide what to search first. Kristen, our 7 year old suggested “dolls.” That was a mistake! It was through that first search that we were introduced to the darker side of the world wide web!
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Ah, memories! I remember that TRS-80 (also known as Trash-80) and the Apple II that had huge disk srives we had to bang against the desk occasionally. Then in ’88 I got hooked on Macs because you could call a service called Compuserve and get news! On your computer! Wowee!
Of course, it was a long distance call, so I didn’t do it often.
Have fun with your new toys!
Your iPod looks great! I just recently opened and started playing with an iPod Shuffle that I won a few months ago, and I’m hooked. A video iPod will definitely be on my Christmas list next year.
It is so amazing isn’t it?
I can relate.
What a great post! It sure made me think about where we were and where we are now.
We got the snow here also but it was much warmer today.
Hubby wants a blue tooth thingie too!
Your ipod looks awesome, have fun with it!
Have a wonderful day!
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the Cool Raggedy one
Great post that brings back memories of first introduction to computers and the WWW. Our son set us up on our first computer and I have been hooked ever since.
I was never a “crafty” person either and I took to the computer and internet like a duck to water.
Our first computer had a 5 MG hard drive. Wow! and it was expensive. I got a video iPod for Christmas too, but I don’t have it all downloaded yet. My rationale for getting it is that one of these days I might not be able to read, and I can listen to books.
Col, you are my mentor. I am afraid it is work for me to keep abreast of all the tech stuff. I dare not ignore it though….in weeks, a person can be left behind. You and Ro are the ones to follow. How I wish you could pop over…I would feed ya a muffin…and you could install and set up my IPOD. I have yet to attempt it….
It is incredible how fast the world moves. In 1993 I went to a dinner party where a professor in the computer dept. of the local university was telling us disbelievers about this thing called the Worldwide Web and how we would all be using it soon. We totally believed that he had been snorting something lethal. Two years later I was doing all my research on the Internet. I should apologize to him, I guess.
You and Roland were way ahead of me. I used my computer at work but really had no idea how fun it could be and all that could be accomplished via the internet until a few years ago when I bought my own notebook. My brother was a computer guy and on top of things and I just never thought I could do it. I remember the first night, last year, when I started my blog and angered myself to tears trying to figure it all out! Ah, but I love it now!
I got the video iPod for Christmas and I just think it is the coolest thing. Like you I will be boring my friends (who don’t read my blog already) with my photos and home movies! And flying, I know it will make flying much easier since I can watch my favorite shows!
I can remember when there were no computers–and I can remember being in the first generation of children to be introduced to them at school. But still I have grown up with them, and they come pretty naturally now . . . I wonder what life will be like for my children when they are my age, what amazing things they will take for granted.
I bought my first computer the same time you guys did. Yet somehow, I have fallen behind in my techno skills. You beat me by miles and it sounds so fun :) I’ll just learn through you guys. Enjoy the toys!
Some people wouldn’t have even tried getting a PC, and others would have given up if they’d had the same 1st-day experience you had. Yes, there are great rewards for the risk you took and your persistence.
We got our first computer, a Micron, in 1996 and I remember thinking, “Is this going to sound someday as antiquated as ‘We bought a DeSoto in 1956′?”