Age

Born 1973, currently 31. First experience/sight of a computer was at around age 9-10 at primary school, when the class got to use a loaned BBC 'B' for a day. I was hooked there & then. I didn't see another computer until I went to secondary school. The computer lab there had: about 8 ZX Spectrums in a network (of sorts), 1 BBC 'B' (which spent most of its life playing Revs), and one Sharp MZ-80K (which I acquired a few years later). Sometime between 1982 and 1985, Dad had an Apple ][ Europlus on loan from works; he learned DBase, I learned Apple Basic - which I've long since forgotten. I do recall a rather good helicopter game though (one rescued soldiers or somesuch from burning buildings. Also a flight simulator game, which ate many a child-hood hour. In February 1984, Dad ordered a Sinclair QL, which eventually showed up in about June or July. I used that in its barebones 128k twin MDV setup for about seven years, before finally buying disk drives (Well, a 5.25" single drive), then extra memory, then a Gold Card, then twin 3.5" drives, before finally retiring it for good in about 1994. I still have that QL, & most of the accessories I ever bought/acquired. Between 1986 and 1990 - I have long forgotten the actual dates, and I almost forgot the actual machine! - I owned a ZX Spectrum - which I later swapped for a CBM Plus/4 + games. During the same period, I had a BBC 'B' on loan; with a very flakey keyboard connector which I eventually had to replace myself, using ordinary stranded ribbon cable. Euch. It never was quite the same after that. At sometime between 1990-1992, someone (I never met them) asked me to write some software on a Commodore PET 8032SK; I got to play with the complete system (it included an 8040(?) double drive unit & printer). Around this sort of time I made the fatal error of selling the Sharp MZ-80K for ?10 to a mate. Oops. The PET system eventually went back to its owner in about 1993 (I think) - software un-written. In 1994, I finished college & went to work, starting on a 486DX33. I got my own PC the same year (a DX2/66), and have used PCs to work on ever since. My classic comps collection, though, didn't really get going until 2000, when I bought another QL. And another one.... I have about 7 now. Also a BBC B, a BBC Master, a Spectrum or 4, a ZX81, a pair of Osborne 1's, a collection of PETs (including an 8032-SK), a pair of MZ-80K's, 2 -80A's and an -80B, and so on. Big iron wise, I would covet a Vax 8800 (as used at N. Staffs Polyversity), but have to make do with an HP 1000F & an A700. So there you go... I am currently slimming down my oversized collection somewhat, as it's getting to be a PITA to haul around everytime I move house (4 times in 5 years so far). Cheers, Ade.