The Beginning At Last

Back in the day…

—

by

Kevin
in ,
Daily writing prompt
Write about your first computer.
View all responses

2/1/25: Since this one amuses me, I am merely going to add a bit more gorilla magic and call it a day. 😄 Have a great day, folks!

Back in the day when we had to trek 30 miles one way to school, in the snow, with no snowshoes, this was our computer:

Of course, in time, technology advanced and we ended up with this:

Soon, computers became more and more common. They were more prevalent in schools, and large companies quickly embraced this new, wonderful advancement in efficiency.

Employees were also thrilled:

The advent of the tablet and the smartphone brought their own unique challenges and learning curves, but most adapted swiftly and swimmingly:

And now, with the dawn of AI, VR and AR, we are slowly but surely reaching a new comfort level and becoming one with our computer overlords:

Okay, okay…Maybe I’ve watched one too many time-traveling, dystopian sci-fi epics.

Or, as they call them elsewhere in the multiverse…Sneak previews. 😉

Have a good one, folks!

Comments

61 responses to “Back in the day…”

  1. annabelltoo Avatar
    annabelltoo

    My first computer was a TI-3600 I used at school. The damn thing was HUGE! It took up an entire bankers desk.

    I learned how to type on old Selectrixs.
    Funny how that seemed scientific but antique then.

    I love watching the thing save my artwork and articles with the push of a button and when need be, I could type in an email and look at where I sent it.

    Shazam! It went to Arizona! Now it went to New York City! Bip bap BOP! It went to my soldier friend in Iraq!!!!!!!! Save a friend, save a pole + his car.

    Hmmm if they don’t com with a Lucky Charm or a toy, fuck it. You can grow up, grow balls and man up.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. LIVEGOOD AFILIADO ALBINO Avatar
    LIVEGOOD AFILIADO ALBINO

    https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554932692607&mibextid=ZbWKwL

    Like

    Reply
  3. aasthawrites Avatar
    aasthawrites

    I used to have the first game in physical therapy. As always your images💥… Why are you not a graphic designer again. If you get a chance apply for the post😀

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      It’s never a career that’s stumbled across my path lol

      Thanks very much! Glad you like them. 🙏

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  4. Skepticalvalentino Avatar
    Skepticalvalentino

    Hahah, the images made me laugh. Very relatable.
    I was born in 1990, so I have experienced a time with and without computers.
    I am not a total noob, but a lot of things confuse me too.
    I am often like the angry gorilla. Very easily frustrated with technology 😄

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      I hear you. I may have been known to throw a phone or two back in it’s day 🙄😄

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  5. Avatar
    Anonymous

    I can’t wait for AI to take over and enslave us all. Golly, what a great utopia that will be!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Skepticalvalentino Avatar
      Skepticalvalentino

      As an illustrator, I agree with you and I am not a fan of AI either, because we all have mouths to feed.
      HOWEVER, Kevin has never denied to use AI and in fact has opened up to use AI in previous posts/comments.

      He is simply trying (and succeeding) in entertaining people and engaging them to be creative.
      Plus,there is a market for AI art and he is doing a wonderful job based on other “artists” who have claimed it is their own work.

      I am not sure why people think AI is worse than posting an image from Google or such source…. In all honesty, “AI” has been around for a looong time, just not with the same name and this fancy…

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Believe me, if I had half the artistic talent that you do, I would be utilizing that instead. 😄
        I have no qualms with stating that AI is doing the heavy lifting for me. The nice thing for someone like me with minimal drawing/painting skill is that AI allows me to create an image based on my interests and what I see in my head.
        I can understand why some would bristle at it as well. As someone who dabbles in guitar, I get a bit territorial and weird about AI making music.
        But, like me with the pictures, if someone has limited/no musical talent, they might see AI as a blessing which allows them to create the sounds they hear in their heads.

        Like

      2. Skepticalvalentino Avatar
        Skepticalvalentino

        I just didn’t like the accusing tone of this anonymous person. Unless they show what they contribute to the world, any statement is pointless.

        But as I said before, you could make a career out of this. This type of art would work well for fantasy / sci-fi book covers.
        But graphic design is an important part of such, e.g. where to put the title, which font to use , dimensions and so on.
        Adobe Illustrator (ironically also called AI 🤭) is a popular, but quite expensive software.
        I personally use Procreate, which is a perfectly fine app and much cheaper 🙂 I think it also also allows you to import downloaded fonts. Or else, Phonto is one I use quite often as well 😄

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        I’ve been thinking about trying to leverage this into something more, thank you for the encouragement and the tips, Andrea!
        I have an odd feeling my attempt at comedy/satire fell a bit short in today’s post. Not with you, but overall. Oh, well. Better luck next time I guess 😄

        Like

      4. Skepticalvalentino Avatar
        Skepticalvalentino

        I honestly think many Gen Z people don’t quite realize what life without a computer or internet is. So I don’t think they can relate to this prompt 😅

        That probably is the readon

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        You’re probably right. We only really know what we were raised with. I’m sure at one time or another, the idea of every home not having a tv was foreign to me as well.
        “What do you mean you had to listen to the radio all day?” 😄

        Like

  6. Brian, Snarebox Avatar
    Brian, Snarebox

    The Terminator’s vision of AI is slightly more realistic than the plebian notion that AI would “enslave” humanity. It would be more sensible to wipe us out. But in reality, a super intelligent AI (which will likely never exist simply because we’ll run out of resources before we invent something that impressive) probably just wouldn’t care about us the way we don’t care about ants. It’d swat us if we got in its way but for the most part we’d be left to wipe ourselves out.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Morning, Brian! Yes, I think you’re onto something there. We are far more likely to do our own selves in long before any outside force could. Humanity doesn’t need much help when it comes to shooting ourselves in the foot.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  7. Melissa Avatar
    Melissa

    LOL! I am just waiting for our robot overlords to take over and enslave us, what could go wrong? haha

    Back on topic, I don’t even remember what my first computer was!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      I don’t either, honestly. 😄

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  8. Javi Arellano Avatar
    Javi Arellano

    😆😆😆😆Enjoy your computery day, my friend!!😜

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      I did not know this post would be prophetic. I ended up printing out about 100 spreadsheets last night! 😜😄

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Javi Arellano Avatar
        Javi Arellano

        🤣🤣🤣its not the guest time it came perfectly to me too. Yesterday one, far less. But I decided to leave it for 2 weeks from now, you will find out why🤪😜😆

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Javi Arellano Avatar
        Javi Arellano

        It’s not the *BEST time!!! Keyboard did not “guess” it properly 😅🤣

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        😄😄

        Like

      4. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Ah, a mystery! 🤔🤔🤔😄

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Javi Arellano Avatar
        Javi Arellano

        🤣🤣🤣WP listen us and read our minds🤪

        Liked by 1 person

      6. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        If they are reading mine, then it is light reading! 😄

        Liked by 1 person

      7. Javi Arellano Avatar
        Javi Arellano

        😆😆😆

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Laura Avatar
    Laura

    Haha!! The AI vibes, and then I just sent you my story 🤣 😆
    That image specifically where the AI bot is sitting on the couch is 💯 WOW 🤩 looks like it could be from a video game 🎮

    Anyways I don’t have anything romantic to say about the computer post except I enjoyed it 😍 like all your posts 😉 😘 haha!! 😆

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      The human AI in this case. 🙄

      That fucker is going to have a tough road to tread if he keeps acting like, well…himself 😄

      That pic is an old one, but it came out pretty ok, I guess. Thank you 😘

      Like

      Reply
  10. Christine Avatar
    Christine

    😆 yelling at the phone😆 I was the first one to get a smartphone. Hubby resisted.
    Then he got one and followed me around like a puppy 🐶 😩 wanting me to fix the stupid thing 🙄

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Every time I go to see my mom she is asking me something about hers. Up until a year or so ago, she had a flip phone. Now, a family visit turns into a freaking tutorial! 😄

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Christine Avatar
        Christine

        YES!!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        😄😄

        Liked by 1 person

  11. Liz Avatar
    Liz

    I enjoyed this post. The images made me chuckle.

    My first computer was the Commodore 64. When had it, I was behind other people who had it before me with money being tight for my mum.

    Things have obviously come on sunce then. But I like my childhood how it was technology free compared to now where children are used to having this in their hands and not knowing there are better things outdoors, away from it. Just to take a break and a breather than at a screen.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      I honestly don’t even recall what my first comp was. Nothing outrageous, I know that LOL

      I remember when we were making pixelated pictures in class and thinking that was the absolute limit. My, how times change! 😲

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Liz Avatar
        Liz

        Yes. Times have changed since those early computers. 😊

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Very much so yes!

        Liked by 1 person

  12. Violet Lentz Avatar
    Violet Lentz

    I graduated in 1979, so needless to say we were lucky to have a calculator- that we weren’t allowed to use on tests! Oh, how far we have come- and how far we have fallen, all by the introduction of this blessed/ cursed tool. Excellent post.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Ah, yes…

      “You’re not going to have a calculator with you everywhere you go!”

      Well, actually…😄

      It is indeed a mixed blessing. But, I am sure people said that about the telephone and such at some point too. It’s all relative in a way. All we can do is the best we can at the end of the day.

      Thank you!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  13. Ernie 'Dawg' Avatar
    Ernie ‘Dawg’

    Dam, scared me this morning with all the future whatchamacallits lol. The first one was awkward to use so what has really changed? We were lost in DOS and now I’m lost in AI.& VR. Enjoy the day as much as we enjoy this post brother!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Oh, man. I remember beating my head against the wall trying to make a simple pixelated picture back in the day. Now, I am kinda known for my pictures. Define irony LOL!

      But at the end of it all, you’re right. Nothing’s changed. The learning curve is still alive and well!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Ernie 'Dawg' Avatar
        Ernie ‘Dawg’

        We all strive to make a picture half as defined as yours brother. You rock the scene with pure delight.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Thank you, my man! I truly appreciate that! I try my best! 😊😊

        Liked by 1 person

  14. Serens Bear Blog Avatar
    Serens Bear Blog

    Technology has advanced so much in my life time, yet, ANY printer I buy has a meltdown whenever I try and print a basic document. Paper jam, out of ink when it’s not, is this something we can fix with AI because if so I’m all for it.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
    1. Laura Avatar
      Laura

      I swear that this is universal for all printers 😆 glad I’m not alone (but I’m sorry for your printing troubles, too!) 🤣

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
      1. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        See my protip in the other comment 😄😄

        Like

    2. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      The simplest fix for a broken printer? Walk away, hijack someone else’s and let some other poor slob deal with it. Works like a charm! 😄😄

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  15. Stephanie Avatar
    Stephanie

    Really fun to read. I feel the ‘roaring at the phone’ image with all my heart. lol

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      I’ve been known to use mine as a baseball at times! 😜😄

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Stephanie Avatar
        Stephanie

        Heheh

        Like

  16. Fandango Avatar
    Fandango

    This was a great post showing the evolution of personal computing through the ages and where it could lead to (i.e., the dreaded “Singularity”). The Singularity is hypothetical future point where artificial intelligence surpasses human intelligence, leading to uncontrollable and irreversible technological growth. This could result in profound and unpredictable changes to society.

    An excellent post, witty, and with spot-on illustrations.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Thank you, Fandango!

      I injected a bit of humor, but indeed, we really must learn to check our appetites at some point, lest we be our own undoing.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  17. Susan Taylor Avatar
    Susan Taylor

    Oh dear, Kevin! This is so good. We too walked 30 miles one way but it was all uphill, both to and from school.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      That’s one heck of a hill! 😄

      Thank you, Susan! 🙏🙏

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  18. KC Avatar
    KC

    Lol… I love the caveman/computer pic. Sums up a lot!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      It’s a pretty accurate representation of how I feel sometimes! 😄

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. KC Avatar
        KC

        😄

        Liked by 1 person

  19. phindacure Avatar
    phindacure

    A good old 486 SX 33 Packard Bell. It opened up an entire world to me, though I confess to feeling like the images more often than not!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      I don’t even remember what my first one was. Just that is was big and clunky! 😄😄

      Like

      Reply
  20. Sharon Avatar
    Sharon

    huh….only 30 miles? Luxury..and with snow shoes? What I would have given for them!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      I’ll sell them to you for 5 bucks and a bottle of Tabasco. 💲💲💲

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Sharon Avatar
        Sharon

        lol!

        Liked by 1 person

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