I taught a beginning computer class back when they used PAPER bugs - I have no idea how long ago that was. My first husband built computers in our basement back in the mid-70's and I played on those, so I don't know - a lot of years. I got my own/first personal computer in the mid-90's.

Since 1999 or 2000. it seemed like everyone but me had one. I remember I was so scared to start using it, registering and thinking of passwords. And then I discovered Ebay...

not too long after I got my first PC in 1991

Same for us, Gibby, 1991. Except the first one was a Mac and we had to get the 8-year old son to help us run it.

We bought an Apple II (or maybe it was the IIc) when my eldest was in second grade, so that was in 1983 or 84.

DH was just talking about this yesterday!
We bought our first computer a Hewlitt Packard in 1995. It was an expensive way to learn the internet at $2600!

I think it must be about 15 years. I know we started getting computers at the health dept. somewhere aroung 1990 and only my secretary knew anything about one and I sure didn't. I knew I was going to have to start learning and DH encouraged me to buy one and start learning at home.

I started going online about 15 years ago. I retired from the health dept. in 2005 and all 12 employees, by that time had a computer at their desk. Nearly every program we did was connected to the state's network and at least 95% of work was done on line, the paper trail was at an end.

On the Internet since 1995.

Started using computers in 1989 or so.

Since Christmas 1998.

Wish I had taken some computer classes back in the late 70's when I was in school... but we all thought "Computer class? That will never be useful!". LOL

We didn't get online until DD was 10 or so... so that would be around 1999?

I spent almost 19 years starting in 1976 with a very large computer company who was a partner in getting the internet up and running. As such, I was on the internet, using email and subscribing to Usenet (my first was Dave Barry) back in 1980 or 81.

Jodi-

I've been using the Internet regularly since the early '80s.

I didn't learn to use a computer until sometime in this century maybe eight years ago.

1986 . I recall my boyfriend, now dh, telling me that I could shop through the internet. He set me up, I don't recall the shops, but I was thrilled and perplexed how they could do that. It is MUCH easier to shop on line now, thank goodness.

Guess that makes it around 24 years ago.

I don't know how long. I remember Prodigy forums -- does that help set a date? Gosh, it was S-L-O-W. (Dial-up, too.)

My first home computer had Windows 98 - that is about
all I know for a date. But, being able to "play" on
it, amazed me. And, I had that sloooooow dial-up, too.

I used my first computer in 1964 - I was an operator.
First sent data over a network...from a card reader. Remember those "do not fold,spin or mutilate" billing cards from your telephone company?
Started using reel tape in 1973. Back then, memory consisted of chips that were plugged into a board. a 4,000 byte memory board was about 12"x12". We fixed bad memory by replacing the bad chip(s) on a board.
Used first hard disk(replaced cards), when the company I worked for bought an IBM 360/25 computer in about 1965. Data was sent over dedicated telephone lines.

My first "desktop" computer was a MITS Altair, back in the mid 1970's. Operating system was BASIC. No storage, you typed in the program, followed by the input data...and then waited for the result to appear on the screen.

I had a Commodore64 at home.

Used terminals to transmit data over closed networks and what is now Internet sometime in the mid 70's.

I used terminals for years, them gave in and allowed the company to replace my terminal with a PC in the 80's...OS was Windows 3.1.

My hubster built his first computer in 1981...it was a Texas Instruments and the data got stored on a cassette deck...Then in 1982 he got an IBM...I didn't join the fricus until around 1995...then I come home from a trip and he'd replaced DOS with Windows...that totally freaked me out...boy have we come a long way...I remember sitting on the couch griping about all the wires attached to the laptop...ethernet...printer...now everything is wireless...YEEE HAAA!!

My kids were little... I was working with computers at a small hospital in Nebraska, when I set up AOL and then a dial up connection to the hospital so I didn't have to drive in when called in the middle of the night. My kids are 28 and almost 31 so I'm thinking it's got to be close to 25 years ago now.

I remember when I was in high school (graduated in 1973) my older sister having one of the early computers. She said it had 16k of memory and she couldn't imagine needing any more!

1991 for me...right after I retired from teaching I got my first computer.

Got my first PC after I lost my job of 26 years. Figured I'd better learn to use a computer fast! I did and found a job that I love. That was in 2000 the same year I found the KT!

My first computer was the year Windows 95 came out, but it didn't even have a modem on it. I was still using Win95 when I got the computer where I could go online, and with dialup that sometimes took me an hour of trying just to get online because my isp didn't have very much available space in this backwoods country.

Shirley

Was anyone else a member of CompuServe? That was my first experience with posting on a forum....back then we called them bulletin boards, I think. I thought CompuServe disappeared a long time ago, but apparently it's still around.

My firt real computer was a Commodore 64 I learned a whole lot with it about spread sheets documents but then I got a HP with Works Later got another HP PC with Word and my latest has been a Compaq . As far as the internet from about 1998.

I am not sure, when we got the Comodore, but I got online around 96

Moni

We bought our first computer around November of '99, and I'd just started using the internet regularly earlier that year, I think. I remember finding the Rose Forum here while on a temp assignment with not much to do - it opened a whole new world up for me:-)

I was on Compuserve - the General Hospital Soap board (as forums were called back then)

Five year ago DGD stayed with me after school until her parents picked her up. She said that if I did not get a computer for her homework that she would fail. LOL

I was scared to touch it.

After about 6 months, I decided to toy with it, and have been hooked ever since All that I know about it, I have learned on my own.

Can't remember exactly, but mid '80s.
I was working part time for a United Way Agency and a couple years after I started there they got a computer just for office work. Scared me at first, but I really got to where I liked using it.

Decided I should have one at home so I bought one only to find out it didn't have a modem! I learned a lot though and emailed using Juno, and made lots of greeting cards, etc. Sold that to a friend and bought a HP (yes, it had a modem.) I believe it had Windows 3.1. Had Dial-up. Then I bought another one and 3-4 years ago I bought this one; another HP.

I guess I have been on the Internet at least 15 years. Don't really remember. Lots of changes in that time.

I'll have a PC as long as I can see to peck at the keys.

Sue

I didn't "allow" it into my home until 1998, I was scared of it.

What year did the internet actually start? I had no idea it was in available in the early '80s!!!

My DH didn't want a home computer because he worked with them everyday. He said he had four on his desk at work and didn't need one at home.

Bobby was in kindergarten 1998 and I told DH that we needed a computer since he would be learning to use them at school. He got a rebuilt one for Christmas that year. I learned how to use it and was on the WWW in early 1999 that is when I found the KT.

I can't imagine my life without the internet. It has made my life easier and also more enjoyable. Now we have 3 desktops and 2 laptops.

I would say it's been about 15 years. And I remember the day we connected to the internet...like it was yesterday. I sat on it all day long and explored. I was amazed.

I can't imagine my life without the internet either. The internet is my tv, my movie theater, my entertainment.

My first computer...a Tandy dinosaur bought around 1989/1990...was not internet "ready"...but that's the one I cut my teeth on. ;-) From there...to a top of the line Gateway desktop...and now an Asus Pundit Book End Tower...which I adore...replaces the Gateway that went boots up the day after my husband died. Best investment I've ever made as far as computers are concerned. It's a small, extremely quiet and clean, reliable workhorse.

I've been on the internet...at differing levels of enthusiasm...for about 12 years. I've always used it as my major research tool but shied away from personal participation for a long, long time.

I found the GW computer forum by accident a long while ago and participated there for a while. Then...my husband became ill and my computer time was slim, little and none. I discovered the KT...and was an active "lurker" for a long time before I worked up the courage to "get involved". I'm still not what I would consider an "active" participant...but I'm a daily "reader" who enjoys contributing when time allows.

From all my years of internet observation...I have to add that the KT is the most congenial, caring and kind collection of "friends" that I've ever seen on the internet. It's a pleasure to spend part of my day here...whether I post or not.

Anne

We have been on line for 14 years. We got on line with a Hewlett Packard. Amber and I pooled our money to buy it as she still lived at home. We had a computer before that but it was only for business and not for the internet. It was a Mac and it was so expensive. It with the monitor and a printer that only printed black was almost $6,000!

Sue

Someone wondered... when did the Internet start? The concept came about in the early 1960s, but it started out a lot simpler then the beast we all know and love :-)

Here's a nice link with some history.

Here is a link that might be useful: History of the internet

i was first on the internet at home in 1996. i worked for & went to college at Indiana Univ & Purdue and was on the 'internet' & LAN system starting in the mid 1980's. my parents had IBM's from the mid 70's and on, in their CPA practice. sometime in early 1980's we got 2 puters at home and in 1984 i started taking programming classes in high school :-) ~ liz