My history with computers!

Originally posted on Facebook in July 2011, with supplemental edits at the bottom.

This is my history of how I evolved with computers.

1991-1995; The Print Shop on my first ship (USS Cape Cod) had a PC, which I learned on just by playing on it. I learned CorelDraw v.2, some MS products and Minesweeper.

September 1995; Bought first computer at the NEX after I reported to Pearl Harbor, HI. This computer was a Compaq Presario that was one of those models where the model and CPU were in the same casing. It came with a lot of software and games. Some of which I wish I could get back even now. This PC also came installed with Windows 3.2, methinks, with an offer to upgrade free to Windows 95. Which I did.

This computer had a very small hard drive. Seems like it was on a closeout sale and I got it for about $1300. Near the same time I bought CorelDraw v.6 and found I couldn't load it onto this PC because the hard drive was too small. CorelDraw came on three CD's, seems like, and I figured out that one CD could hold more data than the hard drive of this computer. I could run CorelDraw, but only off of the disks.

As for Internet access, I used mostly AOL back then. I spent lots of time in chat rooms, especially early on. This is indirectly how I met most my friends I hung out with in Hawaii.

Printing bigger files turned into a hassle. If it was a big file, it wouldn't print. I had to break my graphic up into sections, and run the paper back thru the printer once or twice. No memory.

I tried to upgrade and install a bigger hard drive a time or two myself and screwed it up. I had to take it into a shop to have it fixed, seems like twice. (stupid tax)

I had this computer my entire time in Hawaii and sold it to my friend Denise when I transferred in August 1998, in combination with my TV and entertainment center.

October 1999; After a transfer to the east coast, and a deployment, I settled into an apartment and bought my next computer. Another Compaq. It had a CD player (not burner) and floppy drive. I don't remember the hard drive exactly except maybe it was a 2 Gig. Not sure. The thing I remember the most about this computer were the speakers that came with it. They were better then any speakers I acquired even in later computers. Seems like I screwed up stuff a lot and reformatted the hard drive several times.

Also seems like I had this one shipped with me back to the west coast in 2003, then gave it to my niece Katy.

I also gave her my CorelCraw v.6 because by then I had v.10. (Compliments USS BHR)

September 2003; (approx). My 3rd computer. Another Compaq. (Seems like I set the old one up to be sure it worked after I moved in my new apartment, then packed it to give to Katy in order to get the new one.)

Had this one about 4 years. It worked great, had a CD burner and nothing was wrong with it.  I just wanted to upgrade to a newer, faster system with a DVD player. I also bought a flat screen monitor with this one.

I ended up disposing of this computer 4 years later by giving it to a friend. (Cyndee)

March 2007; I wanted another upgrade. Kept the same monitor, but wanted a DVD burner and newer, faster stuff. This one I ordered through HP directly and had it custom made. I had a DVD burner, with an additional DVD drive put in, and a floppy drive. That turned out to be a mistake, because I put a floppy disk in it which crashed my brand new computer. It had to be shipped back to the manufacturer and repaired. Was under warranty, so it was free. Turned out to be a BIOS problem.

This PC ran Windows Vista.

September 2009; Bought my first PC laptop.

Also set up wi-fi. Got a wireless network up and running successfully on a wireless N router, and also got both my TiVo boxes on broadband with wireless G adapters. No more need for a telephone line after this.

This PC ran Vista. Came with a free offer to upgrade to Windows 7. This was nothing but disastrous as this PC would consistently crash when I tried to install new software. Tech support told me the drivers weren't up to date, or something to that effect. I ended up just keeping it with Vista, and quit messing with it so much after I got a Mac (below). It currently runs fine.

March 2010; Bought my first MAC laptop. What an evolution this was.

Courtney had talked me into Macs after I told him how much trouble I had with PC's. Especially the PC laptop.

"I use a Mac because I have work to get done" he says.

May 2011; Completed a class in networking. Bought a print server and got wireless printing up and running after a couple of hours with tech support. File sharing enabled also.

July 2011; The end of the desktop era.

With the wireless network and printing working so well, the desktop PC does nothing but collect dust. Decided to dispose of the desktop computer and computer desk. Attempted to restore factory settings on desktop in order to put it on Craigs List and sell it, and it came up with "code purple", configuration error.

After talking to HP tech support, they wanted $99 to fix it. I refused. After no success in "Googling" the error message to try to repair it, I put the entire mess up on Craigs List for free to anyone who wanted a "project".

I was rid of this desktop the next day.

I think I have owned three printers in this entire time. The first one ended up going to Katy, the second one I don't remember how I got rid of it and the current one I still have and it works well. I bought it at Costco in December 2003. HP printer, scanner, copier type thing.

I have also had my share of computer desks to go with each computer. The first two were that particle board shit and pain in the ass kits that I had to build, but something always broke on them. I ended up giving them away to friends when a move came up. Then I bought a real wood desk in 2004 (for $500 methinks), thinking I would never buy another computer desk again. That almost ended up to be true. I sold it on Craigs List (for $100) when I moved into my condo last summer (2010), because this particular computer desk was huge and took up the side of a room. I got a smaller corner desk (Craigs List) for the time being, knowing it was temporary, because I knew it was a matter of time before I did away with my desktop system.

Currently; Running wireless network with two laptops (PC and Mac) and two TiVo systems, also wireless printing. Very efficient system. Takes up very little space. Liz uses the PC laptop, I use the Mac.

No more pesky computer desks.

Edit; May 28, 2012:

Running 3 laptops. 2 Macs, 1 PC. Liz bought a Mac in 2011. Older computer with Lion OS.

Liz also has an old Dell laptop from her mother, but it is so old, it cannot see my wifi system.

Nintendo Wii also connected on wifi system, along with two TiVo systems.

(Edit; August 13, 2014, Note; we finally gave up on this old Dell laptop and donated it. August 2014)

Edit; June 4, 2013:

Also have Vizio 47" Smart TV (bought November 2012). It has two USB's in the back so I can plug in flash drives. This TV is also connected to wifi, and I can access You Tube vidoe's, Hulu, Amazon Prime and much more via the Internet. 

Supplemental, October 9, 2013:

My HP printer I had for 10 years finally died last month. We got another one from Marvin that he didn't use, a Canon printer (made in around 2006) that works pretty good, but it isn't new. Got it on the wifi network, but having problems getting Liz's Mac to see it. After much trouble shooting in Apple forums, we concluded that Liz's operating system (Lion) doesn't like the print server with the Canon printer. One of those "old technology, new technology" problems. My Mac, that runs Snow Leopard (older than Lion), prints just fine. I can get Liz's computer to print, but only through file sharing from my computer. It works OK, but my computer has to be on.  When this printer dies, I'll get a new "wifi ready" printer, and we won't have any of these problems.
(All fixed. See February 6, 2015. It wasn't her Mac or OS that was the problem, it was the print server)

Supplemental, August 13, 2014:
On August 7, I was trying to reformat the Windows Vista / PC laptop and it crashed. It had been running slow forever, even when I did use it. It was the worst computer I ever had. I decided to give it away as a "project" on Craigs List.
Since I am an "IT student" and want to keep up with technology, I bought a new Dell / Windows 8 laptop at the NEX on August 8... "just for the hell of it". I have a PC AND a Mac. Got the new PC set up and running fine, but I still like my Mac MUCH better. Everything is just harder on a PC. Still. Windows 8 is different, but easy to navigate around and learn.
Liz still has a (used) Mac, so now we have 2 Mac laptops and 1 PC laptop in the house.

Supplemental; 6 February 2015
Marvin's old Canon printer is a good printer, but a lousy network printer. The "Trendnet" print server never worked well with it. Only my Mac would print directly (wireless) to the printer, and the others used my Mac as a "server". After messing with Trendnet upgrades from their website, I made it to where nothing would print, except from my Mac. The decision was made to just get a nice new E-print ready printer. I got a HP OfficePro 6830 and it's great! Set up was easy, and everything prints to it, even the phones. The Canon printer is now a non-network (backup) printer, connected directly to Liz's Mac.
After messing with the non-communication problems for the last couple of years, I have concluded that the print server seemed to be the cause of all the problems. No more. 

Supplemental; 20 January 2020
We have a 2016 laptop Macbook Pro, a 2014 Dell PC laptop, an iPad, a Dell desktop (inherited),  two Canon printers, my iPhone and Liz's android phone. We also cut cable around 2015/16 and stream everything via the router on two Apple TV's. All the Apple products are interconnected and seamless. The printers are wireless.  Our computer, TV setup has never been more efficient!