bobstek
Experienced Member
My first personal computer was a Sol-20, back in 1977, so it has remained my favorite. I now have several plus a Helios disk drive (still no time, room or courage to plug it in!) plus a fair amount of original cassette and disk software and documentation. My next machine was a NorthStar Horizon, then a Morrow Decision I (mostly because it could read both the N* hard-sectored disks as well as soft-sectored formats). I now have one of each with hard drives. Over the past 6-7 years I have added other S-100 machines - CompuPro, Ithaca InterSystems, an IMSAI and finally an Alair 8800 - plus many S-100 boards. I have a few Apple II+'s, a new in box Apple IIe, a Lisa/MacXL in original box (a store demo unit), and a 512K Mac. I aslo have a plastic carrying-cased store demo of a PC Jr.
I guess I'd call myself an early power user - I know which end of a soldering iron to hold onto and can tell a resistor from a capacitor - my longest machine language programming was a 7 byte subroutine, but I programmed mostly in BASIC, FORTRAN, a little MUMPS, and dBASE. I co-founded the Regina Owners of Microcomputer Systems and taught an introduction to microcomputers adult ed course for several years in the late '70's and early '80's. I spoke at one of the West Coast Computer Faires ("Expanding Your Horizon"), helped start the International NorthStar User's Association, contributed review articles to it as well to Sol Libe's S-100 Microsystems magazine, and even bought NorthStar software from John Dvorak when he sold it out of his home! I sold NorthStar Horizons and KayPro's (mostly) as a VAR in Saskatchewan for about 2 years. I also conceived of and directed the development of a WP boilerplate management program called DocuPower for both CP/M and MS-DOS which sold several hundred copies! In 1984 I scanned all the Sherlock Holmes stories (1100+ pages) and produced and sold An Electronic Holmes Companion (about 400 copies). In 1985 I conceived of and directed the HAL brainwave analyzer which Steve Ciarcia featured in 2 of his BYTE magazine articles. I am still a member of the Connecticut Computer (and now Culinary!) Club and meet with Steve and other club members 10 times a year for dinner and discussion.
I have other vintage machines, but S-100 and CP/M are my favorites.
So, if I'm so smart, how come I ain't rich?
I guess I'd call myself an early power user - I know which end of a soldering iron to hold onto and can tell a resistor from a capacitor - my longest machine language programming was a 7 byte subroutine, but I programmed mostly in BASIC, FORTRAN, a little MUMPS, and dBASE. I co-founded the Regina Owners of Microcomputer Systems and taught an introduction to microcomputers adult ed course for several years in the late '70's and early '80's. I spoke at one of the West Coast Computer Faires ("Expanding Your Horizon"), helped start the International NorthStar User's Association, contributed review articles to it as well to Sol Libe's S-100 Microsystems magazine, and even bought NorthStar software from John Dvorak when he sold it out of his home! I sold NorthStar Horizons and KayPro's (mostly) as a VAR in Saskatchewan for about 2 years. I also conceived of and directed the development of a WP boilerplate management program called DocuPower for both CP/M and MS-DOS which sold several hundred copies! In 1984 I scanned all the Sherlock Holmes stories (1100+ pages) and produced and sold An Electronic Holmes Companion (about 400 copies). In 1985 I conceived of and directed the HAL brainwave analyzer which Steve Ciarcia featured in 2 of his BYTE magazine articles. I am still a member of the Connecticut Computer (and now Culinary!) Club and meet with Steve and other club members 10 times a year for dinner and discussion.
I have other vintage machines, but S-100 and CP/M are my favorites.
So, if I'm so smart, how come I ain't rich?