If you had to go back in time knowing what you know now about technology what kind of computer would you get for the first time in your life? My family got our first computer around 1989 or 1990 when I was a kid. There were several home computers on the market at the time, but I'm not sure I would want to dig into the computer details again. I would rather have all of the features built-in for me, so I'd probably get a Macintosh with a GUI rather than one of the command-line computers. I know that computers weren't really usable until the 1970s. Before that you couldn't even figure them out.
Knowing what I know now, speaking of computers (and I’ve built and programed a few of them) tells me that I don’t want the latest and greatest. I don’t want a computer that I can’t control.
I was always lucky enough to be able to get a top of the line computer for the time. Mainly through my parents job as a child, then through my own savings as a grown up. I'm blown away by the advances in one way, but underwhelmed in other ways if that makes sense. The building and communication of computers today is so simple. But on the other hand, the same wattage and heating problems continue to exist and each generation of hardware seems to both become more efficient, while also pulling more power and requiring more cooling.
My first computer was Microsoft based...... but my last computer... that is now over ten years old is a Mac....... and it is obvious...... go with a Mac all the way........!!!!!! This girl is twelve years old.... but she is still working great!!!!!
My first computer was a Tandy Model I. I had the dual 180k floppy drives, AND the coveted 16k memory expansion. When I picked my first computer, it was pretty much the only thing available that you didn't need a dedicated room and power feed for.
