My First Computer

After having another birthday (32nd to be precise) and I sit here at an amazing Late 2013 27" Apple iMac, I got to thinking about the computer that started my life path into the world of computers. Where do I begin? How about we start with the first computer that was all mine! It didn’t belong to my parents, my school, or a friend; just me. Since first using computers, I always had a deep desire for my very own machine. I was amazed at what could be done using a computer, even in the very beginning. This was not the only reason I wanted my own, however; I also wanted to go inside and look around, and learn how and why computers worked at all.

So what was my first personal computer??

It was a Compaq Presario 4784! Wow! Let’s talk specs for a minute.

Specs (from the best of my recollection)

• Processor: 200MHz Intel Pentium w/MMX Coprocessor
• Memory: 64MB SDRAM
• Hard Drive: 10GB Fireball Quantum IDE Hard Drive
• 52x CD Drive
• Video Card: S3 Virge 3D 2MB PCI Video Card
• 56k Modem
• 3.5" Floppy Drive
• Zip Drive
• Windows 98
• Compaq USB Web Cam (Actually did Video Calls using Dial up!)

It’s hard to believe how far we have come in every respect, and even more amazing to think about how far we will go into the future, given the same short amount of time. I look forward to sitting shotgun throughout the wild ride we have ahead of us.

What was the first computer you had? How did it shape your life?