How computer literate are you?

I started on computers before Windows. So I was used to keeping folder structures in my head. Or we made batch files to change to recently made folders. We had to make floppy disc backups in case files got corrupted. We had HUGE 40 megabit hard drives so after a few files, we had to get em onto floppies and delete them from the hard drive to make more room.

I remember one company wanted the files put onto a large reel to reel tape for delivery.

I never took any programming classes but was able to teach myself to program CAD & Excel VBA.
 
OldFeller said:
I started on computers before Windows. So I was used to keeping folder structures in my head. Or we made batch files to change to recently made folders. We had to make floppy disc backups in case files got corrupted. We had HUGE 40 megabit hard drives so after a few files, we had to get em onto floppies and delete them from the hard drive to make more room.

I remember one company wanted the files put onto a large reel to reel tape for delivery.

I never took any programming classes but was able to teach myself to program CAD & Excel VBA.
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Floppy discs! I think I still have some of them in the back of the junk cupboard! :)
 
I have had computer since 1998 and learned over the years to print out the keyboard shortcuts and symbols and other items from the web page of whatever it is. I keep a folder on my desk with these printouts as the memory ain't what it used to be.
some fun with the mouse
Cursor stop moving.gif
 
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hollydolly said:
oh yes for sure, they've been discussing this more and more recently... they've already started charging for viewing parts of Youtube...
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I didn't know that. I know there are the advertisements which I let run for select channels, like the cat sanctuary, so they can make revenue.

I know there are paid movies.
 
Trish said:

Anyone remember Atari Pong (1972)?
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I had my first job in SEARS warehouse. At lunch we would go over to the store and play PONG on the demo setup for customers.

Also, the guy I used to play against really liked Cat Steven's Al Stewart's Year of The Cat at that time. Somehow we were able to listen to that while playing. I think the record was on a turntable nearby the gaming.


 
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Trish said:
I hope you reply "Me? I never touched it Guv'"!
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They know better
One time, after I deleted some (come to find out) very critical stuff, in an attemtp to clean things up, they had to wipe it clean after putting what remained on an independent hard drive

Then reinstalling the critical stuff and my files on my laptop

Took a couple days (they're a busy house)

That cost me $30

Since then, they've no charged me
Still, I hand 'em 10 bucks for lunch or something

They also loaded Open Office for free after the Word program I bought for $100 expired
Didn't know they expired when I bought it
 
Gary O' said:
They know better
One time, after I deleted some (come to find out) very critical stuff, in an attemtp to clean things up, they had to wipe it clean after putting what remained on an independent hard drive

Then reinstalling the critical stuff and my files on my laptop

Took a couple days (they're a busy house)

That cost me $30

Since then, they've no charged me
Still, I hand 'em 10 bucks for lunch or something

They also loaded Open Office for free after the Word program I bought for $100 expired
Didn't know they expired when I bought it
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I am sure the early Microsoft Office Suite came as a one-off payment but, later you had to renew it yearly. All my early computers came with free software and games which, doesn't seem to be the case now.
 
A favorite mistake from those early computers happened with the FORMAT command.

Without a drive specification, FORMAT would format the drive you were currently accessing.

Before using floppy drives they had to be formatted.

If the computer operator wasn't paying attention, she could format the computer's hard drive leaving the computer wiped out of all data and operating system.
 
hollydolly said:
now I've got this tune going around in my head...:LOL:

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That got a slagging in the press.
Just for the record, I hate the pc world big time. Then I hate phones more and tablets. Plus Google paying, for the past two weeks my wife has had malware in her tablet which was from a stand-alone search engine that connects her to porn and gambling sites, and she was not happy. I never touch her tablet, too much grief, and she is clueless, so called a guy out yesterday which cost me another shedload.

Plus I have five photo bucket accounts and they started charging, so that lot lost. BT Cloud another for some. And Microsoft want dosh as running out of space, they can do one.
 
OldFeller said:
A favorite mistake from those early computers happened with the FORMAT command.

Without a drive specification, FORMAT would format the drive you were currently accessing.

Before using floppy drives they had to be formatted.

If the computer operator wasn't paying attention, she could format the computer's hard drive leaving the computer wiped out of all data and operating system.
Click to expand...


I got away from Microsoft and Windows formats because I always wanted to investigate the system's hard drive.
.... bad news to mess with settings in the operating system ... I learned that.


Went to Mac computers ..... no more playing programmer..
 
I am pretty literate, as I use Word and Excel. I have never used the F keys as have not needed them.so far.I have a workbook for Excel to look up if I need to do anything special like Pivot Tables and IF statements.
 
Avon said:
That got a slagging in the press.
Just for the record, I hate the pc world big time. Then I hate phones more and tablets. Plus Google paying, for the past two weeks my wife has had malware in her tablet which was from a stand-alone search engine that connects her to porn and gambling sites, and she was not happy. I never touch her tablet, too much grief, and she is clueless, so called a guy out yesterday which cost me another shedload.

Plus I have five photo bucket accounts and they started charging, so that lot lost. BT Cloud another for some. And Microsoft want dosh as running out of space, they can do one.
Click to expand...
Yep me too...5 PB accounts with all my photos .. down the swanee.. Even after they conned me into paying they would only allow me access to a fraction of them, and even then they had PHOTOBUCKET stamped all over them... absolute disgrace..
 
I'm alot better than I was when I bought my HP Widows 7 a month before I retired in 2011
The only thing I knew then was how to 'surf the web
I've mentioned this before, our church graphic designer, Lenore{who was let go in 2020 due to budget cuts- terrible mistake} taught me the computer skills I have today
I hated Windows from the start, much happier with out them ,that's why I have my Chrome laptop
 
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