How can you afford it?

[how.about.another.slice]

After being away several months, I notice many of the same faces are still spending all day posting, despite their assurances that they work. One even spent a whole day waiting until 5.30 pm before posting just to prove she is employed!!! (only people unemployed or on benefits for years would assume the average work day is still from Nine-to-Five LOL!)

My question is, how do you afford to be here so much? Do you live off savings, an inheritance, divorce settlement, or do you simply chat from a library or a second hand notebook on limited internet usage?

To get a decent computer costs at least $2000 and without good internet connection, chatting on a forum isn't even worth it, so are these regulars going into debt over the boards? Would a bank even loan or credit them enough to supplement their activites and time usage here?

It's all very puzzling...

[just_me_karen]

So Crikey, was I right in reading you have your computer set up in the garage?

[debra9275]

We had an early Toshiba lap top, but we didn't buy it, it was supplied by OH's work. he's always worked in IT. I'm pretty sure he had a Laptop in the mid to late 1990's

[trustmee-2013]

I think you take everything too seriously

[cherry*135]

I was able to bring a laptop home from work sometimes, pre 2001.. we didn't have any computers at home then...it was fascinating and  we didn't even have an internet connection at home...must have played patience or something on it.

[catsnknots]

---

@am*3 wrote:

Did any posters here own a laptop for home use - 10 -12 years ago or did you only have a desktop computer?

---

not me... 

[trustmee-2013]

Sounds like they go to a lot of effort Am3. Three in one thread?

Most likely sitting back and enjoying the trouble and creating more. 

[debra9275]

All I really remember is that the old ones were heavy clunkers lol

[*crikey*mate*]

When Was the First Laptop Invented?

The first laptop to be commercially available was the Osborne 1, released in 1981 by the Osborne Computer Corporation. However, this laptop could only run off of a direct power supply, it didn't have a battery. Later, in 1987, the air force requested a large amount of laptops, resulting in the first laptops successful in large-scales. Adam Osborne invented first laptop Also his assistant Katie Spencer helped.

Who invented the laptop and which company first produced it commercially?

Jan 16, 2005, 12.52am IST

The laptop was invented by Adam Osborne in 1981. It was called 'Osborne 1' and cost $1,795. It came bundled with $1,500 worth of programmes. It had a tiny computer screen built into it. It was invented by Osborne Computers.

The first portable computer was a success, with sales reaching 10,000 units a month. IBM launched the IBM 5155 Portable Personal Computer in 1984. In 1988, Compaq Computer launched the first laptop PC with VGA graphics, Compaq SLT/286. In 1989, NEC released UltraLite, which was the first 'laptop' computer. Weighting under 5 lbs, it was the precursor of today's models.

[cherry*135]

The old laptops were heavy clunkers.

trustmee....

Most likely sitting back and enjoying the trouble and creating more. that is it in a nutshell, I think. Gets boring very quickly, especially as same old stuff.

crikey  - that would be in the US?

[debra9275]

Yes, I remember he had a clunker Compaq Crikey can't remember exact years though.

In the 80's his computer room was wall to wall computers and magnetic spinning tape drives everywhere, great big things