[Ham-Computers] RE: windows stuff

[Hsu, Aaron (NBC Universal)]

Now you've done it, Duane...you've peaked my nostalgia!

IIRC, the C64 had a 1MHz 8-bit 6510 processor (a MOS customized version of
the 6502 used in Apple II's) and 64K of RAM (52K or 38K available, depending
on user mode).  I had more fun with that thing than just about all the other
systems I've had since.  But, then again, that was the hey-day  of home
computing!

But that C64 wasn't my first computer...did I ever mention that my first PC
was a TI-99/4A?  Let's see, 3.3MHz 16-bit processor, 16K RAM, 16K Video
RAM...mmmmm, those were the days.  I learned  BASIC on that thing...every
day after school, I would get home, crack open the latest issue of 99'er
magazine, and enter the various programs in print.  I eventually started
exploring how all the lines of code worked and built my BASIC proficiency.
Later, I saved enough money to buy the Extended BASIC cartridge which opened
me up to the graphics capabilities of the system.  In my Jr year in High
School, I officially learned Pascal and "structured BASIC" on the school's
Tandy TRS-80's and the brand new IBM PC's.  I loved Pascal so much that I
yearned for the p-System adapter for the TI-99/4A.  But, alas, the required
p-card, expansion box, RAM expansion, and floppy drive were too expensive at
the time ($1500), so I had to settle with what I had.  However, I still
spent many a sleepless night writing BASIC programs and playing games like
the Adventure series, Tunnels of Doom, Parsec, and others.  I still have
that 99/4A in a closet somewhere.  Last time I plugged it in (several years
ago), it still worked.  I'm leading a "Computers" patch for some Jr. High
kids in a few weeks...I was planning on digging out my old Atari 2600, NES,
the 99/4A, C64, and an NEC TurboGrafix-16 as a show-and-tell of the history
of computers and video games.  Hmmm, although the Atari 2600 is "officially"
a video gaming console, it's "technically" a computer, so could it really be
my first computer???  I'll have to ponder that one for a while...

73,

  - Aaron Hsu, NN6O


-----Original Message-----
Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2005 5:15 PM
Subject: Re: [Ham-Computers] RE: windows stuff


Holy Ham Hocks! Aaron you are older than I thought you were! You did not
tell these children out there in ether nut land, (sorry, that should be
ether net land), that most of the computers including the Commodore came
with 16K, some
even less!	
 

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