A personal history of computing
   by Josh Rubin
   http://tincansandstring.net/computer_history.txt

1969
I become proficient at typing.

1972
I write a program for an IBM 1620.

1973
I use a slide rule.

1974
My typing skills are useless because Teletype machines
only go 10 characters per second. I get a grant of $100
to use an expensive mainframe, but a trojan-horse program
steals my password, and somebody drains my account. I hate computers,
but I get interested in computer security.

1975
I use a Brunsviga mechanical calculator.
My father visits me at college and defeats the chess playing program MacHack,
but we are thrown out of the computer room for using too much computer time.

1976
Apple computers are ridiculous.
I buy an HP programmable calculator for $200.

1977
Dave Cutler's RSX-11M operating system works well on Digital Equipment
Corporation PDP-11s.

1981
The IBM PC is ridiculous.

1982
At work, I test an Interlan Ethernet card with serial number 000002.

1983
Dave Cutler's VMS operating system works well on the Digital Equipment
Corporation VAX. It's just like his earlier RSX-11M.

1984
The IBM AT is ridiculous.

1987
I buy a PC, but DOS is ridiculous. I use it to learn C.

1988
Microsoft hires Dave Cutler to design Windows NT, and the result is just like VMS.

   "RSX was a separate path at DEC and the progenitor more
    than anything of VMS that went to NT via Dave Cutler."

    Gordon Bell
    Vice President, Research and Development
    Digital Equipment Corporation.

about 1992
I use Bix, a bulletin board system run by Byte Magazine.

1993
They make me use an IBM PC at work for reading email.

1996
I decide to skip Windows 95.

1999
Windows 98 is ok for reading email.

2002
Windows XP works well.

2005
I get an account on a web server.

2006
A private LAN links my apartment with Kath's apartment.

2007
I prepare to switch to Linux because Microsoft is about to stop
selling Windows XP. Two used computers, an LCD monitor, and a copy
of Linux cost me nothing. Two used 200GB disks cost $70.
A gigabit switch and 2 NICs cost $75.

2008
I decide to skip Microsoft Vista.
I learn how to make ethernet cables.

2009
I decide to skip Windows 7.

T-Mobile's Sidekick system, run under contract by Microsoft, loses the
data of hundreds of thousands of customers. This "cloud computing" fad
is ridiculous.

Kathy buys a Macbook.

I buy an all-in-one network printer. We think it might be able to wash
dishes too, if we could find the right slot.