A personal history of computing
   by Josh Rubin
   http://tincansandstring.net/computer_history.txt
   Updated 05/23/2018

about 1962
I have a chalkboard.

about 1965
I have a plastic Digicomp I mechanical computer. I follow the manual,
but I don't understand what it does or why it was given to me.

1969
I learn to type.

1970
I am fascinated by a clothes washer sized disk drive.

1972
I write a little program for an IBM 1620, on punched cards.

1973
I use a slide rule.

1974
My typing skills are useless because Teletype machines
only go a few characters per second.

1975
I use a Brunsviga mechanical calculator.

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

1977
I use RSX-11M on a Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-11.

I learn that the German Enigma cipher was broken during World War II.
Rivest, Shamir, and Adleman invent the RSA algorithm, angering NSA.

1981
The IBM PC is ridiculous.

1982
I test an early Ethernet card.

about 1982
A friend and I illegally install Unix on a work computer.

1983
I use VMS on a Digital Equipment Corporation VAX.

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, a major contributer to RSX-11 and VMS.

about 1989
I install djgpp on my PC, so I can use unix tools.
I buy an old Sinclair ZX80 at a computer show.

1991
Finnish student Linus Torvalds buys an 80386 computer and starts writing Linux.

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

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

about 1994
My hand-eye coordination is good but I can't use a mouse.
I port some unix utilities to VMS.

1996
I skip Windows 95.

1999
Windows 98 is ok for reading email.

2002
Windows XP works well.
I install Cygwin so I can run Linux programs.

2004
I get the domain name tincansandstring.net. It is hosted on Linux.

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.

  Linux				$0
  2 used Dell Optiplex GX110's	$0
  1 used LCD monitor		$0
  2 used 200GB disks		$70
  1 gigabit ethernet switch	$25
  2 gigabit NICs		$50

2008
I skip Microsoft Vista.
My Linksys router runs Linux.

2009
I skip Windows 7.
Kathy buys a Macbook, which runs the Unix-like Darwin OS.
I buy a Canon network printer.

2010
Kathy buys a used iMac. Lightning fries the ethernet port.

2011
Kathy buys a Cisco Flip video camera.

2012
I skip Windows 8, and get a Crashplan account.
Crashplan drops support for Apple OS X 10.4. (sigh)
The Mozilla Foundation drops support for Thunderbird on Apple OS X 10.4. (sigh)
The Apple Store won't help up us upgrade to a later version. (sigh)

2013
I install Linux on an "obsolete" Apple iBook G4.
I replace the print head on the Canon printer.
My Dell Optiplex dies. I buy a new one with Windows 7.
Kath buys a Macbook Pro, and then the old Macbook dies.

2014
On April 8 2014, Microsoft ends support for Windows XP.
May God have mercy on its soul.
The disk in my Optiplex dies. I replace the disk.

2015
I skip Windows 10.
Our Samsung "Smart TV" runs Linux.
My Apple iPhone 4S takes a swim in a hotel pool, and turns into a brick.

2016
I upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10, one month before it stops being free.
Kath gets a Windows 10 laptop.
I have a globally routable IPV6 address.

2017
My iPhone 4S won't charge. Apple won't help.
I buy an Android phone for much less than an iPhone. It runs Linux.
We replace our 8 year old Canon printer with a Brother printer.
I upgrade to Crashplan's "Small Business" plan.

2018
I inherit a Swann HD Sports video camera. I don't know how to use it.