2 posts tagged “computers”

What gift from a parent do you remember the most? 
Submitted by jorge456.  

Thats easy. My first computer, the Atari 800XL. On its own, it rocked hard with its 8 bit processor and 64k memory. The tape drive was slow, but worth the wait. You could even use regular cassette tapes to record on to (I used a

Mini Pops tape my grandparents gave me). I lusted hard for the floppy drive, but it cost nearly as much as the computer if I recall. Nevertheless, countless months of Joust and DigDug were to be had, along with the games you used to type in out of magazines, library books, etc. Hoever the best and most played had to be The Temple of Apshai. This game came out shortly after my introduction to D & D, solidifying my nerddom for eternity.

PC World has listed a top 10 list of Worst PC's of All Time. Normally, there's lists upon lists on the net and various media to safely ignore. What surprised me was how much I desired back in their day. The standouts:

                                                                                  1. Commdore Vic 20 (PC World rank #7)

     Why was this made from awesome? It was really the first PC my friends owned, and that made it the first cool piece of electronics next to a scientific calculator I had access to. The games sucked compared with an Atari 2600, but there were a few like Jupiter Lander that we could play for hours.

                                                                                  2. Coleco ADAM (PC World rank #3

    The ADAM came out just prior to the Christmas I received my first computer, (Atari 800ST !). At that time, we had two consoles in the house, the aforementioned Atari 2600 and a Colecovision console. Though the Atari saw more love, the ADAM held much promise as a gaming machine. It was compatible with Colecovision cartridges and had impressive specs and capabilities on its own. Sadly, it came with serious technical glitches and malfunctions. Despite this, many enthusiasts remain loyal with yearly conventions honoring this fallen warrior.

                                                                                  3. Mattel Barbie PC (PC World rank #2)

    Laugh. Now express yourself behind the annominity of the internet. Then, look deep before posting about my sexuality or queries regarding my playtime with members of the opposite sex. Why the Barbie PC? I had hopes for it, not for myself but for many of my friends young children (mostly girls) who either hadn't been exposed to computing or were disinterested in it. They sure loved Barbies however. It could have been a fantastic introduction to computing. (OK, admit it, it would've been bitchin' to frag mobs in Quake on a pink box!)