1987 "High-Performance" Computer! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Fleet · 05-09-2004, 10:51 PM

I've scanned this from a 1987 Radio Shack catalog. It's kind of funny to look at this now. According to the specs, this computer has 4.77 Mhz! Also 384K RAM.

We've come a long way.

HootervilleFan · 05-09-2004, 10:59 PM

When I went to high school and college...there were no computers. Imagine that! Imagine typing term papers on an electric typewriter, and the only way to correct mistakes was to use White-Out, or to literally "cut and paste" the corrected material onto a new sheet of paper and then zerox it all out. In 1982, our journalism dept. finally got some PC's with word processors. We did all our newspaper work on both manual and electric typewriters. The sounds of the old newsrooms, with IBM Selects ticking and humming away are long gone....

Brian · 05-09-2004, 11:00 PM

I think it's amazing how much computer technology has advanced since then. That computer looks so primitive by today's standards.

PZelda · 05-09-2004, 11:06 PM

Oh man...What an ad...

Myself, I didn't know about IBM computers until 1990 or so. My first experience with a computer was on an Apple IIe in 1988, and I used Apple's all through the early years of elementary school.

Here's another one that's been on the 'net for some time. It's a computer ad from 1989. This was apparently for companies and not consumers...check out the insane price on this one! Monitor and mouse NOT included

Fleet · 05-09-2004, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Miss Vicki
Here's another one that's been on the 'net for some time. It's a computer ad from 1989. This was apparently for companies and not consumers...check out the insane price on this one! Monitor and mouse NOT included

What? $8,400?!? That's ridiculous. A real high price even for back then. I'm sure glad they came down on price!

I like how that ad says that 20 Mhz is "Lightning-fast!"

PZelda · 05-09-2004, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fleet
What? $8,400?!? That's ridiculous. A real high price even for back then. I'm sure glad they came down on price!

Jsut think...you could get a lightning-fast 20MHz and 2MB of RAM computer for such a price!

Fleet · 05-09-2004, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Miss Vicki
Jsut think...you could get a lightning-fast 20MHz and 2MB of RAM computer for such a price!

Yeah, I think they just slightly exaggerated on that ad.

Fleet · 05-09-2004, 11:32 PM

Here is the oldest computer ad I have. From a 1980 Radio Shack catalog.
It boasts a "Full 4 MegaHertz Operating Speed." Pretty impressive.
BTW, my brother saved these two catalogs and gave them to me because he knows I am a collector.

HootervilleFan · 05-09-2004, 11:50 PM

That one looks like an old black and white TV set with a busted up typewriter attached to it.

Fleet · 05-09-2004, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HootervilleFan
That one looks like an old black and white TV set with a busted up typewriter attached to it.

But it's powerful!

robyrob · 05-10-2004, 08:05 PM

i have a friend who has a pair of 10mb hard-drives from the early seventies, he uses them for end tables.

they still run (notice i didn't use the word "work") too - they make this horrendous grinding sound, then go CLANK CLUNK CLUNK as the read/write heads are tracking

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 05-10-2004, 08:11 PM

It's come that far in 17 years, imagine how it'll be in another 17.

Brent88 · 05-10-2004, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fleet
I've scanned this from a 1987 Radio Shack catalog. It's kind of funny to look at this now. According to the specs, this computer has 4.77 Mhz! Also 384K RAM.

We've come a long way.

4.77 MHz? Our first computer(Late 1999) was 500 MHz and this one we got in February 2003 is 2.4 GHz.

I can't imagine how slow a 4.77 MHz is.

Kazza · 05-10-2004, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fleet
I've scanned this from a 1987 Radio Shack catalog. It's kind of funny to look at this now. According to the specs, this computer has 4.77 Mhz! Also 384K RAM.

We've come a long way.

That's the same kind of computer I had! My dad paid almost $2,000 in Radio Shack and I was the only one at home to understand it.

Kazza · 05-10-2004, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fleet
Here is the oldest computer ad I have. From a 1980 Radio Shack catalog.
It boasts a "Full 4 MegaHertz Operating Speed." Pretty impressive.
BTW, my brother saved these two catalogs and gave them to me because he knows I am a collector.

I've been somewhere and seen those! Can't remember where BUT I can remember whacking it a million times because of the speed

05-09-2004, 10:51 PM	#1
Fleet Mansions, limousines & H-ween Forum Star Join Date: Jan 06, 2002 Location: Northridge/Porter Ranch, California Posts: 15,625	1987 "High-Performance" Computer! I've scanned this from a 1987 Radio Shack catalog. It's kind of funny to look at this now. According to the specs, this computer has 4.77 Mhz! Also 384K RAM. We've come a long way. Attached Images

05-09-2004, 11:06 PM	#4
PZelda Two Valeries! <3 Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 15, 2002 Location: I'm STILL missing NYC. :( Posts: 78,223	Oh man...What an ad... Myself, I didn't know about IBM computers until 1990 or so. My first experience with a computer was on an Apple IIe in 1988, and I used Apple's all through the early years of elementary school. Here's another one that's been on the 'net for some time. It's a computer ad from 1989. This was apparently for companies and not consumers...check out the insane price on this one! Monitor and mouse NOT included Attached Images
	__________________ Cheers behind the couch!

05-09-2004, 11:32 PM	#8
Fleet Mansions, limousines & H-ween Forum Star Join Date: Jan 06, 2002 Location: Northridge/Porter Ranch, California Posts: 15,625	Here is the oldest computer ad I have. From a 1980 Radio Shack catalog. It boasts a "Full 4 MegaHertz Operating Speed." Pretty impressive. BTW, my brother saved these two catalogs and gave them to me because he knows I am a collector. Attached Images

05-10-2004, 08:05 PM	#11
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,203	i have a friend who has a pair of 10mb hard-drives from the early seventies, he uses them for end tables. they still run (notice i didn't use the word "work") too - they make this horrendous grinding sound, then go CLANK CLUNK CLUNK as the read/write heads are tracking
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05-10-2004, 08:11 PM	#12
Pleasant Tomorrow Member Forum Addict Join Date: Feb 19, 2003 Location: New York Posts: 69,525	It's come that far in 17 years, imagine how it'll be in another 17.
	__________________ my name is ashlee Welcome! Everything is fine.

05-09-2004, 10:59 PM	#2
HootervilleFan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 01, 2004 Posts: 186	When I went to high school and college...there were no computers. Imagine that! Imagine typing term papers on an electric typewriter, and the only way to correct mistakes was to use White-Out, or to literally "cut and paste" the corrected material onto a new sheet of paper and then zerox it all out. In 1982, our journalism dept. finally got some PC's with word processors. We did all our newspaper work on both manual and electric typewriters. The sounds of the old newsrooms, with IBM Selects ticking and humming away are long gone....

05-09-2004, 11:00 PM	#3
Brian Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jun 23, 2001 Posts: 20,451	I think it's amazing how much computer technology has advanced since then. That computer looks so primitive by today's standards.

05-09-2004, 11:50 PM	#9
HootervilleFan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 01, 2004 Posts: 186	That one looks like an old black and white TV set with a busted up typewriter attached to it.