[markkisil]

Truly? There was never a time before computers for you? Of course, this will happen more and more as generations are born and old ones die off. What a strange world it has become. People will discover life while in front of a computer. To me, something seems missing, but who knows, maybe not. When I was a kid we used to 'play' 'outside'.

[xtrupoke]

It's a myth, don't buy into it.

[Misiotoagodia]

Only my very early life was computerless. Sometimes I try to imagine how life worked before cell phones. It is very hard to do.

[treawittelf]

The change that has stuck me most in the access to information. I remember when going on a trip, pouring over maps. Now, Mapquest or some such hands you the info. If something pops up in conversation, rather than arguing about it, you turn to Google and get a reasaonably reliable answer in seconds.

And supermarket checkouts. Years ago, I worked in a supermarket, finding the prices that were stuck onto the product and entering that amount into a cash register. Now, a quick scan and you're done.

I may not play outside as much as I did when I was a kid ("Bang, bang, bang, you're dead!" "I am not!"), but I have conquered the world innumerable times with Civilization and right now, the economic, religious and political empire of my family in Merchant Prince II is doing very well. I control the Doge and 8 senators. While it looks as if my family won't win the Papal election, the new Pope probably won't have a long reign...because I intend to assassinate him.

[TeksPaisimi]

Computers were around when I was born, but I remember a time when computers weren't so effective. As a child I had to do research by looking up the subject in our 30 volume set of the Encylopedia Britannica. I remember learning how email worked and practiced by sending worthless messages back and forth between my friends in junior high and having to empty our inboxes a lot because there was so little memory. I know there was a time before cell phones because I didn't get one until my second year of college, but I could never go back to those days. Today I can't imagine going a day without my cell phone or not checking my email.

[wMceqj7F]

I have used my own computers almost every day for the last 18 years. It started with a C64. My favority computer was a Mac powerbook 100 that I used from 1991-1996, which was my first Civ platform. I played Civ on that laptop anytime, anywhere: at work lunchbreaks, in cars, in airports, while visiting friends, in bed, while eating at my kitchen table and while taking a dump.

[rojettafoxx]

Oh...life before Computers? Indeed. It is not personal life that has been impacted as much as my business life!

When I got my first job in the lending business we had no computer (we had an older lady named Martha who was our "bookkeeper"), no fax machine, and rotary dial telephones. Dealers we financed for would call in applications and we would have to write down all the information to complete an application as they dictated it. Then our "credit processor" would call the credit bureau and they would dictate a report.

Now, my brokers submit their loans on line and I have to get nline to see what they sent in and to see the results from my underwriters...all of which just takes a few hours.

The revolution that computers and elerctronic communication created in business is beyond amazing. I simplky could not function today without my cell phone, blackberry, and pocket PC. Not to mention my IO pen that downloads all my notes I have written that day and converts them to text. In my wildest dreams, I never imagined all that just 20 some odd years ago.

[Rufio]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
I remember GePap insisting that modern computers hadn't revolutionized anything, they only provided incremental benefits in many fields... Pretty huge increments in mine.

[Dreaming]

How old are people here, really? All the time, I've thought there were lots of grownups here, but here I am, 21 years old and still can remember well how it was when I was a child and had to do other things than using a computer we first got when I was 11. I played outside. A lot. I played Nintendo. I used my bicycle. I watched TV(not much of that anymore!). I went to town to buy some ice cream and a Smurf CD or whatever was the fad at the time. I had a pretty good life actually. But I loved computers even then. My parents found out it was time to buy ourselves a computer when some friends of my parents' came to visit with their children, and I radiant with joy said "Oh yes! Then I can show them my computer magazines!".

[ggandibazz]

How do you re-enact 8-tracks?

[Evsltkzl]

I remember the big excitement in the dorm my freshman year in college when one of the engineering students called us all to the lounge to show off his new toy -- a scientific calculator. It could calculate trig functions, and had -- oooh!! -- a square root key. It cost a couple hundred bucks.

That was autumn of 1971. I took my first programming class the next year. I fondly remember carrying around my shoebox full of punch cards. Wonder if I still have my slide rule around here somewhere..

Ah, good times, good times...

[UncoonsKala]

Oh God.

[Ornamiviant]

I do remember life without computers, since i bought my first computer when i was 8/9.
Before that i went outside to play with others, something which i mostly abandoned afterwards.
But there was no internet back then. My first computer was an amstrad cpc6128, and everything about it was personal. With the internet things have changed even more, since now there is the illusion that one is actually having social interaction online, which for the most part is not true.

[XzBZB2UV]

I got a C64 when I was 6 years old and have had a computer ever since. Well before we had cable TV. Looooong before I gave in and got a cell phone.

-Arrian

[margoaroyo]

Similar to Arrian, had a C64 and spectrum fairly early as a kid although I did prefer football for the most part until I got my SNES at which point it was 50/50.
I had a pc and was playing things like age of empires for 5hours on a weekend before I gave in and got a mobile when I was around 17 (2000) lol

[Indian Butt Magic]

Originally posted by Lorizael
My eldest brother has informed me that our Tandy was our first computer, which means that for the first five years of my life, I was computerless. I have no memory of this, however. How is it possible not to have any memory of your first five years? My first memory is from when I was in my late 2. I have lots of memories from around 3-4 and onwards.

[pirinosa]

Unbelievable.

[wowwieholmes]

I got my first Computer (C-64 as with many of the others in this thread ) at 12.
In contrast to the PC I got many years later (after my Amiga 500) I used the computers before mostly for playing games.

I can also remember the times before I got Internet, Communications at this time was done either by *gasp* direct contact, phone or by writing letters with strange writing instruments called biros or pens.

[lXvtm0ox]

Originally posted by Nikolai
My first memory is from when I was in my late 2. I have lots of memories from around 3-4 and onwards. me too!

[anaisdannyxys]

hoooray!