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1. 🎓 Dr. Freemo :jpf: 🇳🇱 (freemo@qoto.org)'s status on Sunday, 24-Nov-2019 11:00:42 UTC 🎓 Dr. Freemo :jpf: 🇳🇱

   Man I'm old. I remember 5 and 1/4 inch floppies and 286 CPUs that you could upgrade to be faster for certain operations by buying a math co-processor. It was literally a DIP style IC chip youd insert on your mother board.

   I remember upgrading my computer back then with one. It was a store in the city that had this glass case with various IC chips in plastic cases, no box or pretty packaging but it had a sort of sterile beauty to it with a little holographic sticker on it I think.

   Its weird I was pretty young at the time, barely into my double digits. Only went to that particular store once. But I can recall exactly what the inside of the store looked like and even the city block it was on.

   It invokes strong feelings of nostalgia.

   • Rob G. (designrg@qoto.org)'s status on Sunday, 24-Nov-2019 11:32:11 UTC Rob G.

     in reply to

     @freemo I remember those days well. My first PC was an IBM clone, 286 a6 MHz, the processor was fast for the time. Not an Intel part, they had moved on to promoting the newer and higher profit 386 gen processors.

     I also bought and installed the math coprocessor for my machine. Needed since I wanted to use AutoCAD, and it required it.

     So I ordered a 287 Intel coprocessor. It was about $300 CAD at the time, early 1991 probably. Would be a lot more today with inflation accounted for, and I was worried of damaging it during installation.

     Turns out it did not work. I don't remember exactly what the symptom was, but not good. I had a $300 part, bought mail order, and might be stuck with it. 😟

     http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/80287/index.html

     🎓 Dr. Freemo :jpf: 🇳🇱 repeated this.
   • 🎓 Dr. Freemo :jpf: 🇳🇱 (freemo@qoto.org)'s status on Sunday, 24-Nov-2019 11:33:24 UTC 🎓 Dr. Freemo :jpf: 🇳🇱

     in reply to

     • Rob G.

     @design_RG Oh shit autocad.. That shit trained my depth perception skills :)

   • 🎓 Dr. Freemo :jpf: 🇳🇱 (freemo@qoto.org)'s status on Sunday, 24-Nov-2019 11:33:58 UTC 🎓 Dr. Freemo :jpf: 🇳🇱

     in reply to

     • Rob G.

     @design_RG Also that gold is sexy AF

   • 🎓 Dr. Freemo :jpf: 🇳🇱 (freemo@qoto.org)'s status on Sunday, 24-Nov-2019 11:36:36 UTC 🎓 Dr. Freemo :jpf: 🇳🇱

     • Venkat :verified:

     @Venkatmangudi My first computer was pre 286 too, the 286 was my second computer.

     My first computer was from the Atari 8-bit family, then I learned on Commodore at school then apple ][e at my next school.