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My Computer System History
I thought it might be fun to talk about the different computers that I have owned over the years.
My eventual plan is to add detailed information and links for the classic systems in my list. All
systems are listed in cronological order of purchase, not age.
- Texas Instruments 99/4A Home Computer (1983 Grey Plastic Edition) (CS)
The TI was similar in functionality to other early home computers such as the Atari 600 XL, with built
in BASIC, optional cassette interface, and a catridge interface. Neat system, which was probably better then
the C= 64, but lost out due to higher production costs. Highlights: Okay, I admit, I mostly played
games on this system. Burger Time and Tunnels of Doom (TOD) were my favorites.
- Intel 486/DX 33
This was my first IBM-compatible PC, it came with MS-DOS 5.1 and Windows 3.1, a 2800 bps modem, and a ("huge")
120 Meg Maxtor hard disk. This system was dismantled in 1996 and used for parts in my newer system.
Highlights: MS-DOS Batch files (woohoo!), PRODIGY Service.
- Intel Pentium 100
This system, which was built on top of the various upgrades to my first IBM compatible PC (SB 16 sound card, CD-ROM, 500 meg hard disk,
Windows 95, 14.4 kbps modem), plus a 1 gig Quantum hard disk more ram (16 Meg!), and so forth. The modem was killed a little while later,
and it was replaced with an early USR 56k modem.
- Atari 600 XL
A nice system that's just a bit newer then the TI 99/4A. It included a (now misplaced) copy of
Pole Position, a book on BASIC programming, and of course the built in shell/BASIC interperator.
Not a bad garage sale find, although I suspect I paid too much.
- TIMEX/Sinclair Computer
I can't recall the model number off hand, but this little unit did not have a mechanical key keyboard,
but had a keypad like the ones used on microwave ovens. I have not located a AC adapter nor a
RF adapter for this machine, so it's operational status is unknown.
- Dell Dimension XPS R450 (Pentium II 450)
Finally bringing the end to the upgrades to my original system, I jumped to a Dell with 256 megs of ram, 16 gig hard disk (now 40),
Turtle Beach Montego sound card (now an SB Live!), and a 3Com NIC card. I received this system just a few weeks after the 450 MHz
processor came out.
Highlights: Finally things moved at a decent speed. :-)
- Apple Powerbook 140
This circa-1991 Apple Powerbook is still a pretty nifty machine. If it wasn't for my nice Inspiron
5000e, I might be inclined to purchase a battery for this great system. While it's specs seem meger
today, it's 40 Meg SCSI hard disk, 10" grayscale passive matrix display, 16-bit sound card,
and 68k processor still do quite well under System 7.0.1. The small hard disk holds a copy of
Microsoft Word, AfterDark, and a the driver for the QuickTake 100 digital camera which I could
never quite get to function. I found this system at a flea market in 2000 for just thirty bucks (some
estimates at the time still placed it's value around $200-$300)!
- Austin Color MultiMedia Notebook
I purchased this system in the hope of getting basic mobile computing for just two hundred bucks
(back in 2000). This system has a 10" color passive matrix display, 500 meg hard disk (easily
removable and replaceable with a spare I have), 486DX4/100 processor, and 20 megs of ram. Cool
system, but it needed a $140 battery to make it mobile.
- Dell Inspiron 5000e
This is my current beast. It sports a 14" Active Matrix display, 750 MHz Pentium III SpeedStep processor, 256 Megs of Ram (originally 128),
16 meg ATI Rage Mobility video card, and a (small) 10 gig hard disk.
Highlights: I'm mobile, and with four batteries power can be out for days without being a problem. <g> (I originally
had two batteries, but Dell gave me two extras for the "inconvenience" of having my batteries quickly replaced through a recall).
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