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When you first got access to the internet

Started by [chrisB], Jan 31, 2023, 12:02 PM

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[chrisB]

When you first got access to the internet, what was your first port of call?

Usually I went straight onto MSN or the old Yahoo chat rooms.

These days, I tend to load up Google News first and then check on my various sites. I'm curious as to what others here did.

Dave

One of the first things I did was to sign up to ICQ, as far as daily access is concerned, I went to my emails first, then went to play with my website
If you want play quizzes or games click below

Bigguy

ICQ....I remember that program. it's still going to I think. I was never an AOL user but it was huge back at the start as well. For me it has mostly been gaming. Back then though I guess it was ICQ, emails, downloading windows programs and working on computers.
"It's the American dream....cause ya have to be asleep to believe it." - George Carlin

Skhilled

#3
I remember ICQ and MSN, and AOL. I was online before them. LOL

There were no browsers, etc. You had to dial into someone PC where they had their site site up and you incurred long distance phone charges as if you were calling long distance. About maybe 2-3 years later I think AOL and a few others started coming out and provided internet services. From there the world wide web was born with browsers like Netscape, etc.

I used a datasette which was a cable connected to a cassette player (yes, the old long ones) for my first type of saving anything as hd's were not invented yet or not available for home use then. Floppies and drives were around but not in my area just yet.

Bigguy

I remember Netscape. Boy it sure took them a long time to die, lol.
"It's the American dream....cause ya have to be asleep to believe it." - George Carlin

Skhilled

I was pissed off when Netscape died. :( I thought it was the best browser ever...back then. LOL

Neša

Quote from: Skhilled on Feb 01, 2023, 07:18 PMI was pissed off when Netscape died. :( I thought it was the best browser ever...back then. LOL
Seamonkeys builds on from Netscape I think Firefox as well.

When we first got Internet we had 56k I think only for a year then we moved to cable. While we were on 56k I use to download demos from tucows and play them, I remember downloading age of empires 2 (30MB) it took me a few hours.
When I got a bit older I used ICQ mostly to talk to people I played Quake team fortress with then I moved to IRC.


Skhilled

Yup, I remember. ;)

I used to dl from tucows a lot! LOL I still have the original Quake versions as well as a lot of the other ID software games. You can still DL them from their site although they are no longer free. You can also get a lot of the old games as remakes from gog.com.

Dave

Quote from: Skhilled on Feb 02, 2023, 09:13 PMYou can also get a lot of the old games as remakes from gog.com.

Yes that's where I got a few of my games from there and I also use Steam, they've had quite a bit of money off of me in recent years  :(
If you want play quizzes or games click below

Skhilled

I still have Half-life and Counter Strike, and many others on my Steam account from long ago. LOL

Neša

Quote from: Skhilled on Feb 02, 2023, 09:13 PMYup, I remember. ;)

I used to dl from tucows a lot! LOL I still have the original Quake versions as well as a lot of the other ID software games. You can still DL them from their site although they are no longer free. You can also get a lot of the old games as remakes from gog.com.
I try to buy most of my games from GOG, I love that they are DRM free and I can download an offline copy.
I have the QUAKE Ultimate version from them I got it on sale for $2.


lesmond

I first accessed the internet using a Commodore Amiga 128, I think it was in the 90's all I could get was text, and chat "Bulletin Boards" if I remember right.

I used a Dialup modem I think it was 3.5k

The only person who got all his work done by Friday was Robinson Crusoe

Skhilled

I used a TI99/4A and later got the speech synthesizer which worked very well for that time. I LOVED the Munchman Game!!! LOL I later got a Commodore 64 and the went on to PC's.

LandyVlad

haha yeah tucows! memories.

While I can recall first of various computers etc I can't actually remember when I first got 'online' aka "internet"  But I do recall IRC being pretty heavily used. :)

slaps /user with a herring

But speaking of old days on the internet I just found (and threw out)and early instruction book for 'Dreamweaver'. I used to use that to get a bit fancier from self-coded html and after haviogn decided that MD frontpage was shite  :ys   
Please do not PM me with questions on astrophysics or theology.  You will get better and faster responses by asking homeless people in the street. Thank you.

lesmond

Quote from: LandyVlad on Feb 12, 2023, 08:11 AMI just found (and threw out)and early instruction book for 'Dreamweaver'
I used to use MS frontpage a lot BITD still fire it up now and then if I want a quick web page :)


The only person who got all his work done by Friday was Robinson Crusoe

Skhilled

Quote from: LandyVlad on Feb 12, 2023, 08:11 AMhaha yeah tucows! memories.

While I can recall first of various computers etc I can't actually remember when I first got 'online' aka "internet"  But I do recall IRC being pretty heavily used. :)

slaps /user with a herring

But speaking of old days on the internet I just found (and threw out)and early instruction book for 'Dreamweaver'. I used to use that to get a bit fancier from self-coded html and after haviogn decided that MD frontpage was shite  :ys   

I used to love IRC. Here's a few old books I still have and have others too..

https://photos.app.goo.gl/YnFgaRnYgK7Kov8q9

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Nj3kJpZs9kntbMov5

Dave

#16
I can remember writing stuff in Basic for the Spectrum 48K. I used to write programs for my sons to help them with their maths
If you want play quizzes or games click below

lurkalot

Quote from: Skhilled on Feb 01, 2023, 07:18 PMI was pissed off when Netscape died. :( I thought it was the best browser ever...back then. LOL

Me too.  :rgton

Skhilled

Quote from: Dave on Feb 16, 2023, 06:21 AMI can remember writing stuff in Basic for the Spectrum 48K. I used to write programs for my sons to help them with there maths
I remember doing the same with Basic at first then DOS and Machine Language. Then I used to play with dBase quite a bit. LOL

LandyVlad

My first home computer was an Apple ][+ (although dad had brought older ones from work for brief periods), and the school computers were mostly TRS-80s .
Having said that the school did also have a card computer which was still in use.
Anyone remember doing exams using those cards and you had to fill in the circle with a pencil as to your multiple choice answer?
Please do not PM me with questions on astrophysics or theology.  You will get better and faster responses by asking homeless people in the street. Thank you.

Skhilled

I remember the TSR-80's. A friend of mine got one for his kid I used to help him with it. :)

I vaguely remember doing exams on those cards once or twice but then there were complaints about them for some reason that I don't remember and they stopped doing it. I do remember that you had to use a number 2 pencil or it wouldn't work right? I think they were easier because it gave you the answer...you just had to pick the right one instead of remembering it. LOL


Bigguy

"It's the American dream....cause ya have to be asleep to believe it." - George Carlin

Skhilled

I also had a Compaq once but forget what model it was, although I remember liking it. :)

lesmond


The only person who got all his work done by Friday was Robinson Crusoe

Skhilled

I remember those but couldn't afford it at the time and got the TI99/4A.

lesmond

Quote from: Skhilled on Feb 26, 2023, 02:00 PMI remember those but couldn't afford it at the time and got the TI99/4A.
I think it was about £200!!

The only person who got all his work done by Friday was Robinson Crusoe

Skhilled


Neša

Quote from: lesmond on Feb 26, 2023, 02:04 PMI think it was about £200!!

Wow $2,000 as of 2022 with inflation (the RBA calculator wont do 2023) was it a powerful system? I've spent 1.8K on a PC last year and I have a medium range system.


Skhilled

Yes, PC are higher cause of the graphics card issues. :( Too many people bought them up for crypto mining and drove the prices way up. >:(

LandyVlad

Quote from: Neša on Feb 27, 2023, 10:00 PMwas it a powerful system?

It was epic - had an astounding 5 kilobytes of RAM (but before you get too impressed, only 3.8 KB was accessible in BASIC).
No it wasn't top end, it was pitched to the mass market home user - an affordable games-biased computer.
And interestingly the first computer to sell more than 1 million units.

If you're interested in more detail:

https://www.howtogeek.com/724683/the-first-pc-to-sell-millions-commodore-vic-20-turns-40/

https://www.atarimagazines.com/compute/issue11/12_1_THE_COMMODORE_VIC-20_A_FIRST_LOOK.php
Please do not PM me with questions on astrophysics or theology.  You will get better and faster responses by asking homeless people in the street. Thank you.

Skhilled

I remember when it was introduced but couldn't afford it then. Later I ended up getting a C64 and only because my grandfather bought it for me. LOL