Hi,
'
Mr Wizard' was one of my early favorite TV shows, along with
Davy Crockett and of course '
The Mickey Mouse Club' back in the fifties. A lot of interests were seeded by some of these early shows.
'
Can't we just be friends? (Microsoft guys and Linux/Unix guys)' thread got me to thinking again about how misinformed a lot of users are with GNU/Linux and the evolution of the personal computer industry in general.
First of all I'll admit that I'm old as dirt. I've been working in or with electronics since the first transistor was made available to the public (I dissected my first transistor radio that was a very expensive Xmas present, was I ever in BIG trouble).
My interests in Electrical/Electronics got me into a lot of trouble with my parents and my home life. That would include dismantling mechanical/electrical/electronic devices then reassemble with sometimes having a working device at times while other times the device was sometimes improved. Other times I would have to sometimes start over else into a well supplied parts junk box.
Enough of my personal history.
My point is that a lot users are misinformed when it comes to history and the evolution of their favorite OS or for that matter the hardware.
This
timeline got me to thinking and reminiscing about my experiences. I spent a lot of time in my cellar working on hardware/software throughout my adult life. Writing code to work or interface with home-brew hardware gave me a lot of experience along with patience to produce a working device. Some of these devices were developed to be used professionally within a University LAB or Industry. Personal LABS are much better than a University LAB because of isolation and the comfort within along with availability of access. The big what if 'If I had GNU/Linux back in say 1978?' or 'If I had GNU/Linux instead of UNIX back in the 80s' or How about even as far back as the first Intel 8086?'.
My point is that; How many actually experiment in their Personal Space today? How do you commit or mix with your personal life? What price do you pay? What have you gained? What's been your contribution to your niche?
Quote:
excerpt from timeline 1991;
April
* Computer Associates introduces the ACCPAC Simply Accounting integrated small business accounting software for Windows. [1049.142]
* Aldus releases the Aldus PageMaker 4.0 desktop publishing software for Windows. Price is US$795. [1049.132]
* In Finland, Linus Torvalds begins developing a variant of the UNIX operating system. (It will emerge as Linux.) [1035.161] [1106.28] [1184.74] [1451.12] [1615.50] [1648.50] (1990 [1628.25]) (1993 [791.38])
* Asymetrix releases ToolBook for Windows v1.5, an object-oriented visual development package. Price is US$395. [1049.129]
* Microsoft releases Microsoft Excel 3.0 for the Macintosh. [706.42]
* US District Court judge Terry Hatler reinstates Ashton-Tate's dBase copyrights, reversing his December 1990 decision. [26] [548.345] [679.51]
* Twenty-one companies create the Advanced Computing Environment (ACE) initiative, to establish a new standard for advanced desktop computers, based on RISC processing. Members include Compaq Computer, Microsoft, and Digital Equipment. [113] [172.74] [174.14] [820.14] [1080.195] [1149.404] [1299.428]
* In the lawsuit of Apple Computer versus Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard, Apple broadens its suit to include Windows 3.0. [346.195]
* Apple Computer demonstrates to IBM an IBM PS/2 Model 70 running Apple's "Pink" object-oriented operating system, appearing to be Apple's System 7.0 operating system. [618.308] [1721.29] [1880.20]
|
Back in 91, some of my work entailed LAB experiments that utilized the PC to acquire data and manage LAB experiments for both research along with Student experiments within a LAB setting. UNIX license even for a University were limited by hardware availability. We had AT&T 3B systems but the interfacing was not the easiest. At least compared to the Industry standard PC, the device was a lot easier to work with on a PC then even on a 3B1 or even a PDP. With the birth of the Linux kernel in 91, a soon to arrive Slackware would start a love affair with hardware interfacing for me.
What are some of your GNU/Linux experiences starting back in 92? Look at this
Linux Timeline. Then look at the '
Chronology of Personal Computers' timeline. How do you fit in and what do you see or understand how things are presented today? Do you see where some people can be misinformed? Or even mix information to evolve to misinformation?
Just curious?
