Pute Pute
I was five years old when I first noticed the Kaypro II sitting on my dad’s desk. A 9" screen glowed phosphorescent green; the brushed metal case with snaps and handle eagerly suggested “I’m portable!” — as portable as a metal box 4 cubic feet filled with circuit boards can be.
I loved the click-a-clack of the shiny black and blue keys, and the satisfaction of shutting the disk drive flap. Gosh, this was a real live computing machine, one that my father satisfactorily used for writing professionally long past anyone’s expectations.
These memories came flooding back after reading James Fallows’ notes on the digital age from The Atlantic, July 1982: “Living With a Computer,” a fine gem of nostalgia.
I’d sell my computer before I’d sell my children. But the kids better watch their step. When have the children helped me meet a deadline? When has the computer dragged in a dead cat it found in the back yard?
Previously: Future Report
Subsequently: A Matter of Size
Comments
My friends dad owned a Kaypro. He was always trying to tell me about CP/M, the operating system. Back then I just knew Basic and the idea of an OS frightened and confused me.
— Greg | Jul. 18, 2002 — 9 AM
Just imagine if CP/M had become the operating system of choice instead of MS-DOS. A world without the wealth of Bill Gates, and hey, maybe everyone would be using a Macintosh or Amiga instead.
— Luke | Jul. 18, 2002 — 9 AM
There are days I would enjoy nothing more than using my old Amiga 500.
— Greg | Jul. 18, 2002 — 11 AM