Beekay 5,094 Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 Y'all should be at the door with bated breath waiting for your new Sinclair spectrum/Commodore Ben. Then we can find all the missing A and O. That is unless you get involved in Space Invaders. Good luck with your new PC Ben. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HSR 286 Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 Spectrum 2, 48k, if upgraded, with the rubber Keys, lovely smell...when it warmed up...Hungry Horace. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,094 Posted November 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 Once described as having keys like dead flesh HSR. Can you remember having to load programs via a cassette recorder. Start it up and go and put the kettle on. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,089 Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 My first computer involved pushing wooden beads along a metal rail. I must be older than you BK. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Engineer 612 Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 I never saw my first computer (early 1970s). For each program I created a bundle of punch cards (one line/80 characters per card). Left the bundle for computer techs at the Poly (the computer was in the basement). Returned a week later to see whether the program had run or failed and collected a printout (the old green and white stripey paper). Usually it had failed, I re-did a few cards and left it for another week. After a month or two I might get a result. A few minutes waiting for a cassette to load on a 16k Speccy was rapid by comparison, even if it fell over once or twice. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,089 Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 In my accountancy days, starting around '62, I saw many mainframe computers, which were huge reel to reel machines housed in air conditioned rooms. My first personal computer in industry was an Apple 2, in the early 80's, which I bought because it ran the very first spreadsheet program 'Visicalc'. It was limited in size and function compared to present day PC's but it was revolutionary at the time and reduced my workload tremendously. Although I've got a couple of Macs on my desk, an iMac and a Mac Mini, I tend mainly to use my ipad these days and I haven't had the need to run a complex spreadsheet for many years. I did have a Windows PC when the children were at university, primarily for their use during holidays and as a flight simulator, but I much prefer the ease of use of the Mac. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,094 Posted November 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 Bit off course but, my first introduction to computers was when I had one given to me about 15 years ago. I think it only had a memory of 64mb. The PC I have now is one terabyte. If I lived another 100 years, I'll never be able to use all that it is capable of. Still don't know what a spreadsheet is. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,089 Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 A spreadsheet is a document arranged in rows and columns of a grid which can be manipulated and used in calculations. You will probably have Microsoft Excel. It can be as simple as a laundry list or as a complex budget. Maybe something to wile away your time during the present lockdown - perhaps your Christmas card list for a starter. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,094 Posted November 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 I do print me own Christmas cards Phil. I've just printed off some algebra maths sheets from open university, for my neighbour, who couldn't print them. They were sent to him via PowerPoint. Because I don't have "Word or Office", I had to find a prog.to enable me to print them for him. Must say I do enjoy working out how to do something. Trouble is, I can never remember what I did. (My tablet was just saying, " you don't have an app for this". Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,089 Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 There are some cheap versions of 'Office' available. It might be worth considering. I do like your idea of printing your own cards. I quite fancy doing that myself - without all the sentimental rubbish. 'HAPPY WINTERVAL' I think. I'm on it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brew 5,377 Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 I still have my Sinclair but no cassette recorder to it's really only a piece of junk in the cupboard. BK if you need a MS (powerpoint, Excel) program look for Libreoffice or Freeoffice. They are MS Office compatible and free.. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,094 Posted November 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 Phil, I would be more than happy to send a copy of the program I use for card making. You can make cards for all events and personalise with your own message/names etc. The prog.is on two CDs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,089 Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 Thanks Barrie but I'm Apple Mac and the CD's would probably not be compatible. I am, however, since you sparked off the idea, investigating the options. Edit. I’ve just realised I’ve got iPhoto on the Mac which will do all this for me. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MargieH 7,594 Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 @Brew I have have used Libre Office for several years now and love it. It’s a bit more more basic than Microsoft Office but has everything that I need to compose documents. I can save documents in 2007 - 365 so it’s certainly compatible with Microsoft. I rarely use ‘Excel’ as I prefer using tables instead for lists etc Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,089 Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 I’ve started composing the Christmas card already and just need to pick the right picture. Would a ‘photo of me in a festive jumper be in poor taste? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,094 Posted November 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 I reckon it would be in great taste. It depends on who you dislike most. Maybe we should invite festive photos of NS members and the do a compilation group festive card. I've got a Christmas jumper somewhere. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,094 Posted November 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 Which one Margie? When I checked on my pc it came up with 5 or 6. The first one I clicked on, you had to buy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MargieH 7,594 Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 Libre Office was free when I first got it - I presume it still is. ( I did donate £10 to their foundation because it is so good but that is obviously not compulsory) My version has been updated from 5 to 6.4 if that helps. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stuart.C 483 Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 B-K On this link download 6.4.7 (7.0.3 looks to be still under development), no mention of payment. https://www.libreoffice.org/ You may have to change the operating system to Windows (32bit),, unless you know you've got (64bit) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,094 Posted November 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 Margie, what I meant was 5/6 different programs. Stuart, are we talking on a tablet or pc.? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brew 5,377 Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 Libreoffice is available for PC, Android and iOS, it's free and opensource - see Stuarts link... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
letsavagoo 956 Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 I use Linux on all my pc’s and LibreOffice is pretty much standard issue with the majority of Linux distributions. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
loppylugs 8,424 Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 I love Linux. I have nothing micro$oft on my laptop. Works great and doesn't mess about with my computer. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brew 5,377 Posted November 6, 2020 Report Share Posted November 6, 2020 I hate Linux with a passion! I have a server in Strasbourg running on Centos and when it decides to throw its toys out the pram it's a nightmare to fix, Linux more secure? tell that to the four Russians that manaaged to hijack it a couple of years ago.. Took four days to regain control. At least with Mr Gates beta program it's point and click and when it goes wrong most of the file names make sense. There is masses ofsupport for Windows too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jonab 1,644 Posted November 6, 2020 Report Share Posted November 6, 2020 Strange. This thread doesn't seem to have incurred the wrath of RR (so far). 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.