Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Computing Pioneers Share Their First Tech Memories

Posted by samzenpus on from the back-in-the-day dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Major names from the world of computing and technology such as Vint Cerf, William Gibson, Richard Stallman, Michael Dell and Hermann Hauser have shared their memories on their first computers and what inspired them to get involved with the computer. Highlight's include Cerf recalling his experience with the valve-based US air defense network Sage — as seen in Dr Strangelove — and Acorn co-founder Hauser building an eight bit computer out of marbles and a shoebox."

15 of 99 comments (clear)

  1. Michael Dell's story. by grub · · Score: 5, Funny


    MICHAEL DELL
    CEO and founder of Dell

    From the time I was seven years old, I was captivated by blandness. When asked what kind of ice cream I wanted, the answer was always "Vanilla, please."

    My favourite toy was an old sock that belonged to my grandfather. It was the most dull, lifeless white sock you had ever seen. I called it "Blandy". When I turned 13 my parents let me paint my room any colour I wanted. I picked a decidedly neutral beige paint. I didn't want any excitement in my room, just a calming dullness. My whole room was like that: beige walls, beige lampshades, beige bedding. The only contrast was when I would place Blandy on my pillow. My room was the ultimate in dull. Sitting in it was almost like floating in a sensory deprivation tank. Except you could see that glorious beige everywhere.

    What are your memories of your first computer?
    I bought my first computer when I was fifteen. It was a Radio Shack TRS-80. The silver-grey painted chassis caused too much excitement in my otherwise dull bedroom so I spray painted it beige. The cassette tape's door was a shiny bit of transparent plastic, far too eye catching. I used some 120 grit sandpaper to take off the glossiness. You couldn't read the tape labels through it after that, but I didn't care. It was a small price to pay in my quest for supreme dullness.

    What modern technology do you wish you had growing up and why?
    I've learned that technology on its own isn't what really matters. What's important is how dull it is. How you can get someone to spend their hard earned money on something then look at it and wonder "Why did I buy that?" To me, making items that has people doing just that, even before they receive their order confirmation, is the greatest thing ever.

    Companies that go for excitement and innovation are certain to die. They have no future. Why, if it were up to me, I'd sell whatever company it was and give the money back to the shareholders. Printed on dull, beige cheques.

    --
    Trolling is a art,
    1. Re:Michael Dell's story. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      Is it just me or does that guy have an incredibly tiny head? Seriously, look at the picture of him in the article.

  2. Stallman in a sentence by charlesbakerharris · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ahh, vintage Stallman: Because when all you have is an axe, everything looks like a grindstone.

    1. Re:Stallman in a sentence by kiwimate · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I felt sad for the guy when I'd finished reading the article. He seems constantly annoyed and bitter. Everyone else in the article was excited, reminiscing about what sparked their passion for technology or computing. Stallman was just angry.

    2. Re:Stallman in a sentence by Pope · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Apple's latest computers don't even allow users to freely choose what applications to install.

      Spreading the FUD a little thick there, huh, Stallman? But since you don't actually use them, I'm not surprised at all at your willful ignorance.

      --
      It doesn't mean much now, it's built for the future.
    3. Re:Stallman in a sentence by MrSteveSD · · Score: 4, Informative

      Well he's right isn't he? You can't side-load apps. You have to use the app store which consists of Apple-approved apps.

    4. Re:Stallman in a sentence by Rogerborg · · Score: 4, Interesting

      He is angry. I had the, uh, "pleasure" of hearing him speak in person at the University of Glasgow, then do a Q&A session. He had brief jolly (lucid?) periods when he was rambling on by himself, but many of the questions sent him off on a tirade. When he was asked why most systems are GNU/Linux rather than GNU/Hurd he practically became incoherent, raving on about compromised principles (note: his principles, not Linus's), long term damage to Freeeedom, and the Great Patent Threat. I swear he was foaming at the mouth at one point. Of course, he didn't answer the question in any meaningful way.

      Also, he stank. I don't mean that in a jocular "Ha ha, smell hippy" sense, I just mean that up close, he really did look filthy and reek of stale sweat. It was physically repugnant to be near him, and if you don't think that does or should matter, well, I do because basic hygiene is common courtesy, and Stallman's lack of it shows contempt for others. It's not the way to make friends or influence people, which is basically Stallman's job.

      --
      If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
  3. Stallman ROFL by sproketboy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Question: "What modern technology do you wish you had growing up and why?"
    Stallman: "In terms of freedom, computing technology is getting worse."

    Nice sidestep Richard. How about just answering the simple question? We would have been interested in your answer.

    1. Re:Stallman ROFL by Anrego · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The man is incapable of a light hearted discussion or joyful reminiscing.

      He has tuned every molecule in his body towards his views on software. I don’t actually think the man is capable of thinking in other terms.

  4. Gibson's a cyberpunk pioneer.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...not a computer pioneer.

    Hell, the man himself admitted he didn't know thing one about computers when he wrote 'Neuromancer.' They were magic boxes to him.

  5. Multi-page articles suck by PlatyPaul · · Score: 5, Informative

    Skip TFA and go straight for the print view.

    --
    Misery loves company. Online misery loves unsuspecting random strangers.
  6. Why Gibson? by PlatyPaul · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Don't get me wrong - he's a hell of an author. But his inclusion seems a bit odd, given that he doesn't really work in "the computer industry".

    Of course, neither does Michael Dell.

    Thanks, folks. I'll be here all week.

    --
    Misery loves company. Online misery loves unsuspecting random strangers.
  7. I don't understand . . . . . by bogidu · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Most of them wished they had the internet when they were growing up. Granted, I'm about a generation behind most of them and got my first internet access account when I was 23, however I have to admit that over the last 10 years the 'potential' of the internet has pretty much turned to crap thanks to a) ISP Corporatism b) government meddling & c) the mistaken belief by so MANY groups that it is something that needs to be "CONTROLLED".

    Personally i'm starting to take the pov that anything that has occurred on the internet could have eventually happened with 'near-line' or 'on-line' bbs's. I mean honestly, has http actually made things BETTER, or just more accessible by the masses?

    1. Re:I don't understand . . . . . by HeckRuler · · Score: 3, Interesting

      That's because a crappy restrictive Internet is still a hell of a lot better then no Internet.

      Also, you're talking about the "potential" of the Internet, the forecasted outlook of where it's going. It isn't looking stellar with the reduced competition among ISPs and politicians trying to restrict it. Back in the 90's, the Internet was a mystical land that was going to revolutionize everything. Lots of potential.

      And it happened. It DID revolutionize how we do... quite a lot of things. And right now, in it's current state, it's pretty awesome. A vast swath of the Internets potential has been realized. Welcome to the future.

      Finally, being more accessible by the masses IS BETTER. That bar has constantly been lowered. Facebook and all didn't do anything you couldn't have done with a bit of code and a personal website (and/or BBS), but it made it easier. And it's a good thing. Or do you want to have to string together an array of shoe-boxes with marbles?

  8. Matrix by kytreb · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I was at the end of 8th grade when the Matrix came out. I was fascinated at that point. I actually had a minidisc player as tried like hell to get it to work as a regular disc drive. I started listening to industrial electronic music. I deleted windows from my computer and figured out how to get linux running. I started reading books on C++. I subscribed to 2600. FREE KEVIN. Throughout high school I was obsessed be programming. I kind of got out of it after my first year as a computer science major in college. After having spend the majority of my past 5 years in front of a computer screen I decided it was enough and got into economics. As dorky as it is to say, The Matrix had a huge impact on my youth. I'm still interested in tech. It is still a hobby (I am commenting on /. after-all). But the days spent with Mountain Dew, my face in a thick programming book and the glow of the CRT while listening to God Speed You Black Emperor at 3am are gone...