Switching: How long have you used a Mac? - Page 6

cpragman · 05-26-2005, 11:40 PM

I still vote lifer, although it's not that obvious from the stats. Partly a lifer since that's what I've spent MY $$ on.

My stats
Mainframe teletype (unknown OS- the grade school's)
Apple ][ (well my friends actually - wrote some games for it, played a lot of choplifter!)
IBM PC 8086 w/ Cassette basic (well my friends actually)
TRS 80 (the high school's)
PDP-11 unix (the college's)
VAX VMS (the college's)
Various PCs (the college's)
IBM AT (my own! thanks to dad and the IBM employee discount! Can you believe this thing cost $13k, and had the option to run unix and drive multiple TTY's)
AMIGA (my college roomates. Amazing, the basic amiga had graphics (and sound I think?) coprocessor, and ran UNIX. WAY ahead of it's time)
MAC SE's and MAC II's (Paid my way thru college doing graphic design for wall street firms. Anything that was more complicated than Harvard Graphics came to us MAC users. The investment bankers didn't understand the MACs, and didn't want to learn.)
Built a network of PowerMacs for my mother-in law's office. Still running fine.
PowerMac 6500 (later tricked out with Sonnett L2 accelerator)
PM MD G4

cwtnospam · 05-27-2005, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlarkin


	There is no fact in this statement only opinion.

Fact: The advantages you've claimed that the PC has have not resulted in a product that is noticeably superior to the Mac. Far from it.

In fact, many believe that even discounting the plethora of viruses, adware, spyware, and other PC insecurities, the Mac is still a much better system.

saintdu4octobre · 06-01-2005, 10:16 PM

My first computer was an AMSTRAD...went PC for a while... then in '97 i "inherited" my Dad's powerbook can't recall if it was a 3400/2400 unfortunately i just had time to fall in love with it and get it stolen... went back to PC and then couldn't afford a Mac until a friend of mine showed me his Jaguar-running PowerMac, i said to meself i don't care if i starve i'm getting a MAC. and here we are... i don't think i'm ever going back to PC.
By the way i voted "I switched during Panther's lifetime..." by mistake it should have been "I switched during Jaguar's lifetime.."

NovaScotian · 06-02-2005, 11:07 AM

I started computing in 1961 with a Royal McBee LGP-30 in machine language, then moved up in '63 (and Fortran II) to an IBM 1130 - solid state, no less, and from there to a Digital Equipment PDP-8, back to assembly language and some Fortran.

In 1985, I bought a 512K Mac, then an SE/30, then a PM 7100/66, then a Beige G3, then a B&W G3, and soon a G5. I still have (and they work) all of my Macs except the 512K.

notaclone · 06-04-2005, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NovaScotian


	In 1985, I bought a 512K Mac, then an SE/30, then a PM 7100/66, then a Beige G3, then a B&W G3, and soon a G5. I still have (and they work) all of my Macs except the 512K.

That's nearly the same as my collection! What happened to your 512? My nephew poured a cola in mine. It still sorta worked for a while. Now it's a terrarium for the ID4 alien. Same shade of beige! Thank goodness I found working Classic in the trash one day. How could I live without knowing I had something to run Ultima III, Dark Castle and Strategic Conquest on? Which is the last time I actually remember playing video games. And lets not forget playing Maze Wars on the first network of Macs! Bratty little kids complain about it being black and white. Never heard them complain about their handhelds suffering said same affliction!

NovaScotian · 06-04-2005, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notaclone


	That's nearly the same as my collection! What happened to your 512?

It died a noble death in service to humanity. I had written a bunch of MacForth stuff for it so it could control and take data from an experimental solar-heated hot water panel after the Commodore 64 that had been doing that job crapped out (I didn't write the code for it). It was more than fast enough, given the dynamics of a huge solar panel. The data were stored on an external 400K floppy drive, and then at night they were downloaded as ASCII text via RS-232 (the printer port, I think) to another machine.

While we were testing a new setup, we had the 512K sitting out in the open, right behind the panel on a flat roof, when one of the hoses burst and sprayed a glycol/water mixture at 180 Farenheit into the 512K's handle cavity. The 512K was chimney cooled, remember, inhaling through slots in the bottom of the sides and exhaling through a grill in the finger slot of the handle. Many, many, interesting noises, smoke and/or steam. Dead. RIP.

xlax999999 · 06-06-2005, 06:05 PM

My Machistory starts when I was 10 years old. I got the best birthday gift from my father a Mac! Not just any mac a PowerMac 7500 with 100mhz and 1 gig of hard disk space. I figured out that I could play Nintendo through the video card and watch TV and this Mac is still my home entertainment system untill I can afford a nice TV. My next computer came when my brother went off to college and he got a new Lime iMac G3 333mhz and I was so jealous as he never really liked copmuters and I was fascinated by them. I stood by idly and kept on using my PowerMac. After his first semester he decided that I would get more use than him out of it and he gave it to me. After a few years of the Lime I realized that I needed something to watch DVD's on and that 333mhz just wasn't cutting it. I worked two jobs over the summer of 8th grade so I could buy a Graphite iMac DV 500mhz. I moved the Graphite next to my PowerMac and I could watch anything you threw at me. After four good years watching VHS and PS2 on my PowerMac, watching DVD's on my Graphite and surfing the web with my Lime (all networked together of course), there was a new iMac that I had my eye on. As I roll out of bed today I stare at just one beautiful monitor in my cosy room, a perfect 20 inch iMac G5. I will soon purchase a video capture card to finally put my PowerMac out of commision *sniffs* I love all my Macs and they all hold a special place in my heart and on my desk.

If anyone cares thats my Mac story. Also can anyone think of a good use for an Lime iMac G3 333? It was my stereo in my living room but I have since moved to wireless and no longer need that.

cobalt69 · 06-10-2005, 10:19 PM

i just got my mac from a friend its an imac graphite 400Mhz and i got it for $35 it has mac osx and i like it i also have a pc and i ve used systems with linux but i would say i do like mac but i play lots of games so it makes it convenient to have a pc too

MAC MOMMA · 06-13-2005, 07:40 PM

Hello Everyone!!! My 1st time here.....I started using a maci n 2002 I got on e-bay a g3 indigo blue 500 1 gb ram 20 gb hard drive cdrw....it was only 2 months old(did not know how to use it) l was gonna learn....in the box and all the goodies...Man my kiddies are still learing and being the momma (mac that is!!!) I got back on e-bay and in that yr and got 2 more g 3's and I thought I am going for the flower for me and dalmation for one of the kids both 600 flower 160 gb hard drive 1 gb ram cdrw and and the dalmation 600 also 40 gbhard drive cdrw 1 gb ram.....so 3 g3's....still was not enough got me a g3 366 clamshell laptop(gave to hubby) and my laptop in a calmshell lime green 466 dvd....all of these in mint shape no problams...I used pc's all my life (got tired of all the crashes)and windows in general...ya I got all the software and have tiger in it,plus classic...the best computers I have ever seen when I learn more about the macs,that g5 I would love to get....Oh well I can wish...oh I ever put virtual pc on all the macs for the kids older windows programs.....and oh so quiet.....I tell my kids once you get our hands on a mac you never go back!!!!!(pc.s that is!!!!) Thanks for reading this........

Blackboot · 06-14-2005, 06:14 AM

I voted that I switched during Jaguar...though that's not entirely true.

My first computer (or my family's) was an old TI-99/4A, which allowed me to play some very simple games using the inserted cartridges. It was a lot like the Atari we had, but not nearly as fun. However, I could occasionally play computer man by typing c:/list in the console and a couple other commands that made the screen look important...even though it did nothing at all. We next got some run of the mill laptop, one of the first made, running DOS. This one was about 20 pounds if I remember correctly, and never moved from the desk, I think the battery time was about 20 minutes. We later upgraded it to WinDoze 3.1. Finally, my family upgraded to the future when we bought a 300 MHz Pentium II from Gateway, the very day that speed was released. Granted, a week later they were almost up to 400. After that, I moved out on my own, and couldn't afford computers, so I was forced to deal with hand-me-downs from family members. Started with a 386 running WinDoze 95, but actually upgraded two more times in less than a year and ended with a 466 MHz running WinDoze 2000. During this time, I worked at a network/computer sales and service outfit in their service department. I was given a really decent WinDoze machine that was less than a year old. Most people in the company were upset that the new guy got the newest computer. However, digging around in the service department shelves (this company kept EVERYTHING) I found an old Mac LC II, about 9 years old at the time, and decided that I wanted to give Mac a try. OS X had JUST come out, and I was GIVEN a pre-release of OS X Server by Apple, so they had my attention. But, I couldn't talk my boss into letting me run a Mac at my desk. So, with the help of two of our network engineers and our in-house Mac tech, I connected this LC II to the network, hooked up an old monitor, keyboard, and mouse, and found that it SMOKED the PC I had been using. I kept both computers at the desk, but never touched the PC again. Finally, at home, I got married to a smart woman, who owned a WinDoze 2000 laptop. About 1 year after we got married, and 3 days after the warranty expired, the computer crapped out. Hard drive toasted, video card wasted, and the screen was smoked. All that happened at once. So, I finally got the chance to purchase my very first computer, which just happened to be a PowerBook G4 12".

Not only was I impressed with the G4, but when we ordered our PB, we bought the fastest they had, 867. We received an email the next day saying that the computer would be delayed, as they were going to wait another week until the 1 GHz computers came out, and they would ship us that one instead...with no extra cost. GO APPLE!!! I'm hooked for life.

Sorry if that was long, but I just LOVE my Mac, and can't wait to continue to purchase future Macs. Next up...G5 dual 2.3 GHz with dual 23" Apple monitors. **Drool**

Oh, and xlax...do you have a server for your house? Use that old iMac. You don't need that much processing power to do that.

Blackboot.

walchan99 · 06-15-2005, 08:35 PM

Wrestled with an IBM 1100 and punch cards while at university in the early 80's. Worked on an IBM desktop at my first job thereafter. Discovered a friend's SE30 in 1988. Persuaded my company to go Mac in 1990 (IICX). Worked in Mac-only places till 1998. Bought my first home computer, a PowerMac 6500, in 1997. Still using that for my kids, with processor and other upgrades. Upgraded myself to an AlPB 15" in 2003.

kayoteq · 06-16-2005, 05:58 AM

Nothing quite like the fun of the home-made memory upgrade of my Mac 128 to 512.. almost made it, but my soldering iron raised some traces.

Fortunately, we had a local Mac tech who could fix it, so in essence, it was a success..

I just got here, myself, since I haven't had OS X working until.. um, a few hours ago. Still figuring out everything, since it was a BWG3 with a wiped hard drive.

Now, the fun of figuring it all out over again. . I usually keep my Mac about 6 months to a year after it's been obsoleted by the latest system..
4 years this time?

Ah, the days when color was a new feature to me.

Switch? Okay, yeah, it's a 9Forever mac user finally
giving in to the Roman X ways.

Now I just can't figure out why the computer I own and set up won't let me put sounds in the beep folder.. what is this 'priveledges' thing?

(I know, just being sarcastical..)

tincorner · 06-16-2005, 04:34 PM

How long do you have to have used one to be a lifer? If I discount my ZX81, VIC20 and Commodore 128 then, yes, I'm a lifer. First machine was an SE running System 6.0 but prior to that I used Mac Plus machines at college and University. I moved from the SE to an LC. First machine I bought new was an original iMac and I'm currently on an iMac 20" G5 and an iBook 900G3.

My five year old has inherited my iMac 700 G4 and my three year old daughter my iBook 388G3 Clamshell. Unfortunately the other machines (a 475 and an LCIII crept in somewhere) are resigned to the loft

.

Work has me on an (rather powerful, to be fair) XP box for eight hours a day but I keep sane by using Exceed to hook me up to the Linux cluster when I actually need to do something productive.

There's also my old work machine - an SGI Octane - sat under my desk 'cooling off'. That may come home with me when I'm sure nobody will miss it.

I'm also responsible for the conversion of six Windows people to date.

So do I get to call myself a lifer?

JDV · 06-17-2005, 04:04 PM

I first started playing with the Apple II when I was a grad student at the ETH in Zurich, but my first "personal" computer was a 286 PC and I primarily used and developed in the DOS/Windows environment, although my duties involved maintaining a number of Macs of various kinds over many years. Pre-OS X Macs were disturbingly unstable and they remain rather too expensive, but the advent of OS X changed my view of their utility as a "real" computer. My present position is with a company that adopted Macs very early for the ease of the graphical interface. This forced some rather unfortunate software choices, which are still with us, but using newer hardware and OS X has made keeping them actually running much easier. I still use both, and--though I complain about Microsoft like everyone else--I find both have their strengths and weaknesses.

Joe VanZandt

xlax999999 · 06-27-2005, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackboot


	Oh, and xlax...do you have a server for your house? Use that old iMac. You don't need that much processing power to do that. Blackboot.

I will consider this when I move out of my Dorm room next year, although I'm not sure the 6GB Hard Drive will cut it for a server. Also the fact that it only has USB 1.1 and no Firewire my storage options are limited.

maclifer · 07-07-2005, 03:58 PM

Actually, my first computer was an Apple III. Loved it so much I wound up going to work for the store I bought it from... eventually becoming their "Lisa Specialist," knocking around town with one of THOSE in my car. Even got to train in Cupertino with a bunch of other sales hammerheads, though between us we couldn't save that beauty from extinction.

Later, on Day One, I had my 128k Mac, then the 512, then the Plus (burned many wee hours playing Dark Castle, or cranking out letters in Write Now... with that springy keyboard and boxy mouse!)

Through the years, for one reason or another, I've had a PC or two as well -- even a Kaypro and some other odds-and-ends. But from then 'til now, I've never been without a Mac, and I hope I never am.

Kochanski · 07-13-2005, 02:23 AM

I don't remember what the first Mac I used was. I was only four or five years old. Macs are the only computers my dad would buy. I was in seventh grade the first time I ever used a computer that wasn't an Apple. The first computer that I bought was a powerbook 1400cs in 1997. I gave that to my sister when I bought a 14" ibook in 2002. Then I just bought a Powerbook G4 in May. I've considered buying a PC for gaming, but I can't seem to bring myself to pay money on a computer that isn't a Mac.

DarkLotus · 07-18-2005, 10:21 PM

I bought my ibook around two years ago, since then ive been addicted to the mac. I hate using PC's but I have to for school sometimes. Im getting ready to buy my second mac, a mini. Im waiting for the arrival of the updated mac mini though.

Juanfer2k · 07-19-2005, 03:58 PM

Hi this is Juan.
I consider myself a "lifer" since ihave had pc (or mac)

I have been using Tiger with the new emac 1.42 and 768RAM
Mac IS the best 4 me. Windows S-u-c-k-s.. I always new It... that's the main reason i never bought a PC.

i have an issue now: I feel my system is getting slower everyday
the partition type is MAC OS (jounaled)

Can Anyone tellme the possible reason for this i call issue?

THANKS
elcerritovalle.com

blackdiamondbay · 07-19-2005, 10:07 PM

i just bought my first mac in about 10 years for starting college in the fall. my first computer was actually an apple IIgs. i loved it. then my dad decided that we should get a windows computer, and i didn't care much since the new computer had a cd-rom drive, an actual user-interface screen, and a pretty faster processor. well, i had that computer right up until this past june (yeah, 10 years on a 200 mhz computer with 128mb ram). i just bought a sweet 15" powerbook g4 1.67ghz with a 8x superdrive. i guess i switched because i bought a 40gb ipod back in november (which i couldn't even use with my windows computer because i only had windows ME, which isn't supported by itunes), and i fell in love with it, and then i began to look beyond the ipod/itunes section of apple.com, and i realized that, contrary to what i have been told, apple does actually make some really good, and beautiful, computers.

also, didn't want bill gates owning my life like he does for about 95% of computer users (or whatever that horrible number is).

View Poll Results: Switching: How long have you used a Mac?
I plan on switching sometime in the near future..	57	3.42%
I just switched for the Mac Mini..	39	2.34%
I just switched for Tiger..	91	5.45%
I switched during Panther's lifetime..	256	15.34%
I switched during Jaguar's lifetime..	155	9.29%
I switched prior to Aug 2002..	87	5.21%
I've been a Mac user for more than 5 years..	163	9.77%
I'm a Mac "Lifer"..	781	46.79%
I'm putting all my eggs in the Longhorn basket..	7	0.42%
The obligatory "Other"..	33	1.98%
Voters: 1669. This poll is closed

06-01-2005, 10:16 PM	#103
saintdu4octobre Prospect Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 36	My first computer was an AMSTRAD...went PC for a while... then in '97 i "inherited" my Dad's powerbook can't recall if it was a 3400/2400 unfortunately i just had time to fall in love with it and get it stolen... went back to PC and then couldn't afford a Mac until a friend of mine showed me his Jaguar-running PowerMac, i said to meself i don't care if i starve i'm getting a MAC. and here we are... i don't think i'm ever going back to PC. By the way i voted "I switched during Panther's lifetime..." by mistake it should have been "I switched during Jaguar's lifetime.." Last edited by saintdu4octobre; 06-01-2005 at 10:20 PM.

06-06-2005, 06:05 PM	#107
xlax999999 Major Leaguer Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 272	My Machistory starts when I was 10 years old. I got the best birthday gift from my father a Mac! Not just any mac a PowerMac 7500 with 100mhz and 1 gig of hard disk space. I figured out that I could play Nintendo through the video card and watch TV and this Mac is still my home entertainment system untill I can afford a nice TV. My next computer came when my brother went off to college and he got a new Lime iMac G3 333mhz and I was so jealous as he never really liked copmuters and I was fascinated by them. I stood by idly and kept on using my PowerMac. After his first semester he decided that I would get more use than him out of it and he gave it to me. After a few years of the Lime I realized that I needed something to watch DVD's on and that 333mhz just wasn't cutting it. I worked two jobs over the summer of 8th grade so I could buy a Graphite iMac DV 500mhz. I moved the Graphite next to my PowerMac and I could watch anything you threw at me. After four good years watching VHS and PS2 on my PowerMac, watching DVD's on my Graphite and surfing the web with my Lime (all networked together of course), there was a new iMac that I had my eye on. As I roll out of bed today I stare at just one beautiful monitor in my cosy room, a perfect 20 inch iMac G5. I will soon purchase a video capture card to finally put my PowerMac out of commision sniffs I love all my Macs and they all hold a special place in my heart and on my desk. If anyone cares thats my Mac story. Also can anyone think of a good use for an Lime iMac G3 333? It was my stereo in my living room but I have since moved to wireless and no longer need that. Last edited by xlax999999; 06-06-2005 at 06:08 PM.

06-10-2005, 10:19 PM	#108
cobalt69 Prospect Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2	i just got my mac i just got my mac from a friend its an imac graphite 400Mhz and i got it for $35 it has mac osx and i like it i also have a pc and i ve used systems with linux but i would say i do like mac but i play lots of games so it makes it convenient to have a pc too

06-13-2005, 07:40 PM	#109
MAC MOMMA Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1	How long have you used a Mac?? Hello Everyone!!! My 1st time here.....I started using a maci n 2002 I got on e-bay a g3 indigo blue 500 1 gb ram 20 gb hard drive cdrw....it was only 2 months old(did not know how to use it) l was gonna learn....in the box and all the goodies...Man my kiddies are still learing and being the momma (mac that is!!!) I got back on e-bay and in that yr and got 2 more g 3's and I thought I am going for the flower for me and dalmation for one of the kids both 600 flower 160 gb hard drive 1 gb ram cdrw and and the dalmation 600 also 40 gbhard drive cdrw 1 gb ram.....so 3 g3's....still was not enough got me a g3 366 clamshell laptop(gave to hubby) and my laptop in a calmshell lime green 466 dvd....all of these in mint shape no problams...I used pc's all my life (got tired of all the crashes)and windows in general...ya I got all the software and have tiger in it,plus classic...the best computers I have ever seen when I learn more about the macs,that g5 I would love to get....Oh well I can wish...oh I ever put virtual pc on all the macs for the kids older windows programs.....and oh so quiet.....I tell my kids once you get our hands on a mac you never go back!!!!!(pc.s that is!!!!) Thanks for reading this........

05-26-2005, 11:40 PM	#101
cpragman All Star Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Limerick, PA Posts: 858	I still vote lifer, although it's not that obvious from the stats. Partly a lifer since that's what I've spent MY $$ on. My stats Mainframe teletype (unknown OS- the grade school's) Apple ][ (well my friends actually - wrote some games for it, played a lot of choplifter!) IBM PC 8086 w/ Cassette basic (well my friends actually) TRS 80 (the high school's) PDP-11 unix (the college's) VAX VMS (the college's) Various PCs (the college's) IBM AT (my own! thanks to dad and the IBM employee discount! Can you believe this thing cost $13k, and had the option to run unix and drive multiple TTY's) AMIGA (my college roomates. Amazing, the basic amiga had graphics (and sound I think?) coprocessor, and ran UNIX. WAY ahead of it's time) MAC SE's and MAC II's (Paid my way thru college doing graphic design for wall street firms. Anything that was more complicated than Harvard Graphics came to us MAC users. The investment bankers didn't understand the MACs, and didn't want to learn.) Built a network of PowerMacs for my mother-in law's office. Still running fine. PowerMac 6500 (later tricked out with Sonnett L2 accelerator) PM MD G4

06-02-2005, 11:07 AM	#104
NovaScotian League Commissioner Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Halifax, Canada Posts: 5,156	I started computing in 1961 with a Royal McBee LGP-30 in machine language, then moved up in '63 (and Fortran II) to an IBM 1130 - solid state, no less, and from there to a Digital Equipment PDP-8, back to assembly language and some Fortran. In 1985, I bought a 512K Mac, then an SE/30, then a PM 7100/66, then a Beige G3, then a B&W G3, and soon a G5. I still have (and they work) all of my Macs except the 512K.

06-14-2005, 06:14 AM	#110
Blackboot Prospect Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2	My first Mac I voted that I switched during Jaguar...though that's not entirely true. My first computer (or my family's) was an old TI-99/4A, which allowed me to play some very simple games using the inserted cartridges. It was a lot like the Atari we had, but not nearly as fun. However, I could occasionally play computer man by typing c:/list in the console and a couple other commands that made the screen look important...even though it did nothing at all. We next got some run of the mill laptop, one of the first made, running DOS. This one was about 20 pounds if I remember correctly, and never moved from the desk, I think the battery time was about 20 minutes. We later upgraded it to WinDoze 3.1. Finally, my family upgraded to the future when we bought a 300 MHz Pentium II from Gateway, the very day that speed was released. Granted, a week later they were almost up to 400. After that, I moved out on my own, and couldn't afford computers, so I was forced to deal with hand-me-downs from family members. Started with a 386 running WinDoze 95, but actually upgraded two more times in less than a year and ended with a 466 MHz running WinDoze 2000. During this time, I worked at a network/computer sales and service outfit in their service department. I was given a really decent WinDoze machine that was less than a year old. Most people in the company were upset that the new guy got the newest computer. However, digging around in the service department shelves (this company kept EVERYTHING) I found an old Mac LC II, about 9 years old at the time, and decided that I wanted to give Mac a try. OS X had JUST come out, and I was GIVEN a pre-release of OS X Server by Apple, so they had my attention. But, I couldn't talk my boss into letting me run a Mac at my desk. So, with the help of two of our network engineers and our in-house Mac tech, I connected this LC II to the network, hooked up an old monitor, keyboard, and mouse, and found that it SMOKED the PC I had been using. I kept both computers at the desk, but never touched the PC again. Finally, at home, I got married to a smart woman, who owned a WinDoze 2000 laptop. About 1 year after we got married, and 3 days after the warranty expired, the computer crapped out. Hard drive toasted, video card wasted, and the screen was smoked. All that happened at once. So, I finally got the chance to purchase my very first computer, which just happened to be a PowerBook G4 12". Not only was I impressed with the G4, but when we ordered our PB, we bought the fastest they had, 867. We received an email the next day saying that the computer would be delayed, as they were going to wait another week until the 1 GHz computers came out, and they would ship us that one instead...with no extra cost. GO APPLE!!! I'm hooked for life. Sorry if that was long, but I just LOVE my Mac, and can't wait to continue to purchase future Macs. Next up...G5 dual 2.3 GHz with dual 23" Apple monitors. Drool Oh, and xlax...do you have a server for your house? Use that old iMac. You don't need that much processing power to do that. Blackboot.

06-15-2005, 08:35 PM	#111
walchan99 All Star Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 542	Wrestled with an IBM 1100 and punch cards while at university in the early 80's. Worked on an IBM desktop at my first job thereafter. Discovered a friend's SE30 in 1988. Persuaded my company to go Mac in 1990 (IICX). Worked in Mac-only places till 1998. Bought my first home computer, a PowerMac 6500, in 1997. Still using that for my kids, with processor and other upgrades. Upgraded myself to an AlPB 15" in 2003. __________________ •iMac•20"•2.4GHz C2D•4GB•10.8.5 •MacBook Pro 15" 2.4 GHz 10.6.8 •AluBook 15" 1.25 GHz 10.5.8 •Wireless: Time Capsule 1GB/AEBS/AEx •iPhone5 6.12 •iPad2 6.12 •Apple TV 3G 6.1

06-16-2005, 05:58 AM	#112
kayoteq Prospect Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 4	Apple ][plus and beyond Nothing quite like the fun of the home-made memory upgrade of my Mac 128 to 512.. almost made it, but my soldering iron raised some traces. Fortunately, we had a local Mac tech who could fix it, so in essence, it was a success.. I just got here, myself, since I haven't had OS X working until.. um, a few hours ago. Still figuring out everything, since it was a BWG3 with a wiped hard drive. Now, the fun of figuring it all out over again. . I usually keep my Mac about 6 months to a year after it's been obsoleted by the latest system.. 4 years this time? Ah, the days when color was a new feature to me. Switch? Okay, yeah, it's a 9Forever mac user finally giving in to the Roman X ways. Now I just can't figure out why the computer I own and set up won't let me put sounds in the beep folder.. what is this 'priveledges' thing? (I know, just being sarcastical..)

06-16-2005, 04:34 PM	#113
tincorner Prospect Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 19	How long do you have to have used one to be a lifer? If I discount my ZX81, VIC20 and Commodore 128 then, yes, I'm a lifer. First machine was an SE running System 6.0 but prior to that I used Mac Plus machines at college and University. I moved from the SE to an LC. First machine I bought new was an original iMac and I'm currently on an iMac 20" G5 and an iBook 900G3. My five year old has inherited my iMac 700 G4 and my three year old daughter my iBook 388G3 Clamshell. Unfortunately the other machines (a 475 and an LCIII crept in somewhere) are resigned to the loft . Work has me on an (rather powerful, to be fair) XP box for eight hours a day but I keep sane by using Exceed to hook me up to the Linux cluster when I actually need to do something productive. There's also my old work machine - an SGI Octane - sat under my desk 'cooling off'. That may come home with me when I'm sure nobody will miss it. I'm also responsible for the conversion of six Windows people to date. So do I get to call myself a lifer?

06-17-2005, 04:04 PM	#114
JDV Hall of Famer Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chicago, Illinois Posts: 3,191	Long-time user of both... I first started playing with the Apple II when I was a grad student at the ETH in Zurich, but my first "personal" computer was a 286 PC and I primarily used and developed in the DOS/Windows environment, although my duties involved maintaining a number of Macs of various kinds over many years. Pre-OS X Macs were disturbingly unstable and they remain rather too expensive, but the advent of OS X changed my view of their utility as a "real" computer. My present position is with a company that adopted Macs very early for the ease of the graphical interface. This forced some rather unfortunate software choices, which are still with us, but using newer hardware and OS X has made keeping them actually running much easier. I still use both, and--though I complain about Microsoft like everyone else--I find both have their strengths and weaknesses. Joe VanZandt

07-07-2005, 03:58 PM	#116
maclifer Prospect Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 2	Been here since Lisa... Actually, my first computer was an Apple III. Loved it so much I wound up going to work for the store I bought it from... eventually becoming their "Lisa Specialist," knocking around town with one of THOSE in my car. Even got to train in Cupertino with a bunch of other sales hammerheads, though between us we couldn't save that beauty from extinction. Later, on Day One, I had my 128k Mac, then the 512, then the Plus (burned many wee hours playing Dark Castle, or cranking out letters in Write Now... with that springy keyboard and boxy mouse!) Through the years, for one reason or another, I've had a PC or two as well -- even a Kaypro and some other odds-and-ends. But from then 'til now, I've never been without a Mac, and I hope I never am.

07-13-2005, 02:23 AM	#117
Kochanski Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1	Mac for Life I don't remember what the first Mac I used was. I was only four or five years old. Macs are the only computers my dad would buy. I was in seventh grade the first time I ever used a computer that wasn't an Apple. The first computer that I bought was a powerbook 1400cs in 1997. I gave that to my sister when I bought a 14" ibook in 2002. Then I just bought a Powerbook G4 in May. I've considered buying a PC for gaming, but I can't seem to bring myself to pay money on a computer that isn't a Mac.

07-18-2005, 10:21 PM	#118
DarkLotus Prospect Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 15	I bought my ibook around two years ago, since then ive been addicted to the mac. I hate using PC's but I have to for school sometimes. Im getting ready to buy my second mac, a mini. Im waiting for the arrival of the updated mac mini though.

07-19-2005, 03:58 PM	#119
Juanfer2k Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1	Hi this is Juan. I consider myself a "lifer" since ihave had pc (or mac) I have been using Tiger with the new emac 1.42 and 768RAM Mac IS the best 4 me. Windows S-u-c-k-s.. I always new It... that's the main reason i never bought a PC. i have an issue now: I feel my system is getting slower everyday the partition type is MAC OS (jounaled) Can Anyone tellme the possible reason for this i call issue? THANKS elcerritovalle.com

07-19-2005, 10:07 PM	#120
blackdiamondbay Prospect Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 2	i said "switched for tiger" . . . i guess i just bought my first mac in about 10 years for starting college in the fall. my first computer was actually an apple IIgs. i loved it. then my dad decided that we should get a windows computer, and i didn't care much since the new computer had a cd-rom drive, an actual user-interface screen, and a pretty faster processor. well, i had that computer right up until this past june (yeah, 10 years on a 200 mhz computer with 128mb ram). i just bought a sweet 15" powerbook g4 1.67ghz with a 8x superdrive. i guess i switched because i bought a 40gb ipod back in november (which i couldn't even use with my windows computer because i only had windows ME, which isn't supported by itunes), and i fell in love with it, and then i began to look beyond the ipod/itunes section of apple.com, and i realized that, contrary to what i have been told, apple does actually make some really good, and beautiful, computers. also, didn't want bill gates owning my life like he does for about 95% of computer users (or whatever that horrible number is).