The History of Personal Computing

Episode 55 – First Computers

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Commodore 64 Ad

For the new year, David and Jeff have decided to look back on the earlier times of computer retail by relating their experiences in getting their first computers.

Links mentioned in this episode:

  • SCSI2SD – SD to SCSI adapter for retro computing
  • Human Computers: The Women of NASA
  • Today in Apple history: Apple II gets its ‘killer app’http://www.historyofpersonalcomputing.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/HofPC-55.mp3

    • Jeff’s first computer:

    • Commodore VIC-20
      • Bought at Computers Unlimited, York, PA in October 1981 for $325.
      • Tandy Color Computer and Atari 400 were considered

        • David’s first computer:

        • Commodore 64 for his birthday in 1986
          • Google search for “commodore 64 toys r us” Images for commodore 64 toys r us
          • http://www.commodore.ca/gallery/adverts_other/c64_toysrus_1990.jpg
          • http://www.battlegrip.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/toysrus.png

            • Jeff’s second computer:

            • Commodore 64
              • Bought at Fort Hood, TX AAFES store in Spring 1985 for $150-$200.
              • Got a Commodore Datasette and put a 1541 disk drive on lay-a-way.

                • David’s second computer:

                • Apple Lisa (Mac XL) from Sun Remarketing in December, 1989
                  • Bob Cook from Sun Remarketing interview

                    • Jeff’s third computer:

                    • Commodore 128
                      • Bought with 1571 disk drive at the Incirlik Air Force base in Incirlik, Turkey for about $500 for the pair.
                      • Set it up immediately in the motel room during my stay at the base.
                      • Had to sell my Commodore 64 because who needed TWO computers!
                        • ...more
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                        The History of Personal ComputingBy David Greelish and Jeff Salzman