Worst PC Spec Ever?

[firecracker]

Reading recent posts here, we talk about 1Gb RAM and 3Ghz processors...

...I remember upgrading an 80286 to 4Mb (thats FOUR megs of RAM), and being so impressed that it could load Windows 3.11 in around 45 Seconds...

beat that for the worst spec

 

[Christopher Fox]

The worst spec PC I ever had (at work) was an IBM XT (8086 - i.e. pre-286) it had no hard drive but twin 5.25 inch floppies.

When I upgraded it to an 2Mb Ram AT (286) with a 10Mb hard drive I thought I would never run out of disk space!

Chris

PS: The AT cost 3,000 pounds!

 

[firecracker]

I had an XT too...but it wasn't the worst, because I only ever run DOS and GW-BASIC on it...it was a cracker!

Oh yes, remember those days well "10Mb" - BIG drive space, only a power user could max it out!

 

[Christopher Fox]

Yes, strangely I really like my low-spec DOS PCs too. (I wonder what that that says about us?)

I remember replacing my EGA monitor with VGA and thinking the letters looked all 'wrong'!

Chris

PS: Windows 2.0 was the ealiest version I ever loaded.

PPS: Before that new-fangled DOS I used CP/M on the Amstrad PCW (those were the days)

 

[firecracker]

What a pair of anoraks eh?

Well, the first real computer I owned was a Commodore 64 - which I believe had about 4k of RAM - it was nigh useless, but started a bug for programming in BASIC.

These days I use dot Net to write Visual Basic apps, but you're right there was an inherent and satisfying simplicity of using the machines and programs of the old days...

Right, off to read me trains-spotters monthly in the shed..... aaaarrrgghhhhhh!!!

 

[SirKenin]

The first computer I used was the Commodore Pet. What a behemoth that thing was. I learned how to program quite well on it though.

1 Meg Floppy!! WOW. It was the height of technology (but a bummer we had to share the drive with a whole network of computers. heh)

 

[mikeTHEmelvin]

im so glad i didnt have to buy my first computer! my dad built me and my sisters from scrach! hes upgraded it from time to time, so it runs just fine with Windows XP

 

[tekwerx]

Heh, my first comp was an Atari 2600. :/

First PC was a Packard Bell 386SX. I remember when dad brought it home and he had boxes full of floppies (big and small) for us to mess with that hed borrowed from coworkers. That was fun. My best memories on that comp were learning to use MS-DOS and The 25th Aniversary Edition Star Trek game. Wowza, memories. LoL

 

[Kokopelli]

Any PC with the title, E Machine...

 

[tekwerx]

Nah, eMachines is now actually like the 3rd top in quality now. theyve done a HUGE 180 turn around. I forget wether they got bought out or bought someone themselves, but either waqy, theyve made a huge leap ahead all of a sudden, and on top of that, they still are ridiculously cheap. Maybe its because they chucked out MS OS in favor of Linux. Excellent move, Id say.

 

[tekwerx]

Actually, sorry, need to post an update. Did a search after I posted, and eMachins has moved up, theyre now #2, not only in quality, but overall sales as well. Doing even better than I thought before. Hm.

 

[Kokopelli]

If that is the case, I take back what I said.

 

[pgp_protector]

First Computer .... Vic 20 with a Tape Drive
Then a C64
PC Jr
Amiga 500
Amiga 4000
Then the Gamunt of WinTell Systems

(I'm not counting the Atari 2600 Programing Cartrage )

 

[Stryper]

I've used an emachines 600mhz celeron, 256mb of ram for about 4 years straight. I love this baby, it never quits.

 

[doofus125]

Nah, eMachines is now actually like the 3rd top in quality now. theyve done a HUGE 180 turn around. I forget wether they got bought out or bought someone themselves, but either waqy, theyve made a huge leap ahead all of a sudden, and on top of that, they still are ridiculously cheap. Maybe its because they chucked out MS OS in favor of Linux. Excellent move, Id say.

Well then that says something about the quality of everything then doesn't it? I have an emachine, I've had it 6 months and already have had to replace the motherboard, hard drive, dvd rom.......what a piece of junk.

 

[doofus125]

Actually, sorry, need to post an update. Did a search after I posted, and eMachins has moved up, theyre now #2, not only in quality, but overall sales as well. Doing even better than I thought before. Hm.

Quite honetly, the reason they are up in sales is because people don't realize how bad they really are, they don't last very long at all, they just see the cheep price ($349 at Best Buy after rebates) and they think they are getting a great deal.

 

[doofus125]

I'm in the process of upgrading a computer at work. It's a Gateway 486dx (I think that's what it is) with 4mb of ram, 100mb hard drive, and windows 3.11 for workgroups. I need to upgrade it to windows 95 so we can connect our new Zebra label printer to it to print address lables since our old Eltron is dieing. It's the only use the system has so it's a waste to use something newer so as long as it runs the software that's all that I care about

 

[Kokopelli]

I prefer to build my own systems. It is a bit more expensive than purchasing something like a Dell or E-Machine, but I know what is going into the system and I do not have to pay for a bunch of "free" nonsense. Plus, building your own allows you to cannibalize parts.

When I used to work for CompuServe, I got my first bad taste from E-Machines when the computer was first offered for around $400.00. The blasted things had winmodems installed and would not remain connected for the life of me. The company also loved Cyrix processors and eventually had more problems than they were worth.

I have owned one "name brand" system, an old AST Pentium 75. Worst computer I have ever had the displeasure of owning. About the only name brand system I would buy, is a Dell or Sony notebook. And that is only because I cannot build a notebook like I can desktop.

 

[SirKenin]

The only prebuilt computer I've ever owned was an IPC. I was the first person in the city with a P3-500 the week they came out. It was actually a really good computer, but I prefer now to build my own. I put top of the line name brand hardware in them and have no troubles (except my video card drivers are being a pill at the moment)

 

[OccamsLaser]

IBM PCjr. 4.66mhz - no hard drive. 128KB (not MB, KB) onboard memory, expanded via soldering iron to 640KB. On IBM Employee Discount Plan, it cost $910 in 1985.

OL