[comphist] Re: The 8 bit world.

[Rob L. <la...@tr...>]

On Monday 30 September 2002 11:50 pm, Catherine Olanich Raymond wrote:

> > Slammed the heck out of the keys when it got key bounce (and I learned
> > touch typing on a manual typewriter in 7th or 8th grade: chip used to
> > complain I slammed his computer's keys.
>
> I learned to type on crotchety manuals myself; I understand.  (I once
> destroyed a manual typewriter by slamming it down onto the desk in a fit of
> pique.  Not percussive maintenance, mind you.  But I suspect some of the
> late model manuals were more delicate than the C 64.)  :-)
>
>
>  Took years to stop doing that...

That is one advantage the 8 bits had: they knew they were selling into the 
retail market for home users who were going to spill sodas on the thing, 
knock it off their desks, etc.  And return it to the store (or try to 
actually USE the warantee) if it stopped working.

Military field hardening had nothing on these people. :)

> > But I actually didn't whack the thing too much.  I treated it with
> > approximately the care and respect I'd treat a toaster or vacuum cleaner.
>
> Like, next to none?  :-)

Next to, but not actually "none".  I can see my toaster ceasing to work if 
thrown down a flight of stairs.  I'd expect it to have a pretty good chance 
of surviving, but it might get broken.

Rob