I am one of the dumbest people that uses a computer but someone told me that they purchased their computer from a flea market 20 years ago and that it has not been updated other than a color copier and uses it on the internet. Is this Possible?
Computer ?
- Thread starter Frank Jr.
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Replies 34
- Views 3K
- Status
I am one of the dumbest people that uses a computer but someone told me that they purchased their computer from a flea market 20 years ago and that it has not been updated other than a color copier and uses it on the internet. Is this Possible?
It is possible.
From what I know, 20 yrs. ago there was the PC XT 8088 processors. That processor ran at a whooping 4.77 Mhz. Memory was 128 Kb and the hard drive was 10 MB. You can't even run Windows 95 on that machine.
When I had mine I was running DOS. Then I upgraded to a 286 and that ran at 6 Mhz. I think I was able to run Windows 3.1 but can't really remember. So maybe it's a 286 running Windows 3.1 and I believe there was a browser called Mosaic that ran on Windows 3.1 but we're talking 20 yrs. ago and I can't remember for sure.
When I had mine I was running DOS. Then I upgraded to a 286 and that ran at 6 Mhz. I think I was able to run Windows 3.1 but can't really remember. So maybe it's a 286 running Windows 3.1 and I believe there was a browser called Mosaic that ran on Windows 3.1 but we're talking 20 yrs. ago and I can't remember for sure.
Tell me what type of computer that was made in the early 80's would have this capability. Maybe they are still connecting to bulletin boards with their 2400 baud modem.
Well the OP did not mention what architecture or OS, but email was invented in 1972, there was the Arpanet ~1962, all required equipment that would/could get it on the internet, i.e. IBM PCs had serial ports, which is the only thing required for an (even modern) external dialup modem (which btw, modems have been around since the 50s'), just add a terminal program and an ISP that suppports SLIP.
Before windows, DOS supported internet connectivity by slip/ppp using things like Trumpsock (prewindows and pre winsock). The government and education sites also housed various systems which were networked via modem.
Before windows, DOS supported internet connectivity by slip/ppp using things like Trumpsock (prewindows and pre winsock). The government and education sites also housed various systems which were networked via modem.
Tell me what ISP still supports slip/ppp. I got the question being that the person is still using it on the internet today. I do not know any provider that will still support things from the 80's. Even with the serial port the PC's from the 80's did not have one that would support the speeds of todays modems. Also how many PC's would you have found at a flea market in the early 80's. They still cost a pretty penny at that time.
Well first let me clarify, I am not defending the OPs friend, I am just answering queries to the best of my ability, if I were you I would be doubtful too, but not because it is not possible (because it is), but because it's very unlikely.
Now to your question, when I said slip/ppp, that was referring to the way they would/might have had to connect back then, TODAY, he could just use his ISPs DSL/Cable router which does the actual handling of the connections, and any old ISA ethernet card (remember lanman?) would do (transfer speeds would be severly limited due to CPU/RAM considerations), or, if he says he is using a dialup modem, many (many many) ISPs support SLIP connection, far more than I could list here.
Fact is, the internet predates 1986, which means the computers of that time had the ability to network (if it had a serial port, it could be connected), and therefore could participate on the internet, albeit slowly.
I know that you are not defending his friend. I still do not find it next to impossible in todays world.
I still do not think that you could get a ISA ethernet card to communicate through a cable/DSL router. the 10baseT standard for ethernet did not even get created until the early 90's. A PC from the early 80's would not even have enough memory to load the driver in DOS.
Now, now, remember we are talking about it's possibility TODAY to connect with an ethernet card, NOT the 70s(for pre ethernet I spoke about serial ports and modems), and today, many ISA ethernet cards are still around (and FYI, the ISA standard has been around since the early 70s), and the PC does NOT have to know how to use the ethernet card directly in its hardware, all it has to know, is how to speak ISA (which it does), and it has a software driver (TSRs can use very tiny stubs to save on RAM), nothing else hardware-wise matters.
RAM is a non-issue, for they used to use tokenring drivers with the same RAM limitations just fine, as well as trumpsock for DOS, extended memory also existed in some architectures.
I never suggested that one could use ethernet in the 70s, I said that he could be using that method for the internet TODAY, I plainly stated that back then a modem and terminal software would be used.
Please do not put words into my mouth.
Additionally, there are plenty of UNIX machines that are 20 years old, that are on the internet to this day, windows is not the first computer system.
I should inform you, I have been into computers since the Apple was built out of plywood, I am not just guessing here, this is all fact.
Besides, in 1987 AOL had a 5.25" floppy for the Apple II, so, how else could one explain that, so again, I maintain it is possible, I also know of people who used to login to Freenet from a TRS-80.
Last edited:
Bless all of your hearts for responding. They told me basically off the the shelf 20 years ago from a flea market. Ain't no way. just wanted a freind that did not want to believe this was bs to hear it from someone else.
Is there someway he can prove it to you? I mean, strictly speaking, it could be done, but it just seems so unlikely, perhaps he is exagerating about the 20 years part?
Either way, it is hardly something to brag about, I prefer the newer systems myself.
You are the one that stated that he could use a Cable/DSL router to connect today.
All I stated was that the ethernet standard that was used to connect to todays network was not created until the early 90's. There i a big difference in the drivers that were built in the 70's and 90's. The drivers in the 90's took a lot more memory than the ones in the 70's. And by the way ethernet standards were first created in 1973.
Don't forget this talk is about a PC not Unix system that was purchased at a flea market. We are not talking about high end systems at that time.
I will give you that it is possible to connect to the internet but you would not be able to do anything today.
I to have been working in the industry for a long time. Not as long as you but long enough.
All I stated was that the ethernet standard that was used to connect to todays network was not created until the early 90's. There i a big difference in the drivers that were built in the 70's and 90's. The drivers in the 90's took a lot more memory than the ones in the 70's. And by the way ethernet standards were first created in 1973.
damaged said:Additionally, there are plenty of UNIX machines that are 20 years ol, that are in the internet to this day, windows is not the first computer system.
Don't forget this talk is about a PC not Unix system that was purchased at a flea market. We are not talking about high end systems at that time.
I will give you that it is possible to connect to the internet but you would not be able to do anything today.
I to have been working in the industry for a long time. Not as long as you but long enough.
Yes, I still maintain it is possible.
I know this, again, I never said that people used ethernet before they were invented, but the ISA standard WAS. I am saying it it possible, for example, one could write their own drivers, he could be using DOS or Novell, which you can still get ethernet drivers for) and they do NOT have to be bloated, study up on PICs.
Actually we only know what the OP told us, for all we know, the guy owns an Altair outfitted with a token-ring card, which he has connected to a token-ringlan gateway then connecting to the cable/dsl modem, of course I don't think anyoen would be insane/cheap enough to DO this, but I am only addressing the possibility.
That is all I have been saying, but you seem to have this idea that I am saying things I never said, (even though you say you are not, you still seems to be thinking I am defending this guy).
Then you might wanna do some homework, as you should know that a PC is an architecture, not an OS, UNIX is an OS not an architecture, there are LOTs of PCs that run UNIX (then AND now), I'm on one now, so to say that "it is a PC not a UNIX system' is like saying "it is a computer, not a windows system'.
This person tries to show people that they do everything on their own but abuse their family. Does not give their family any credit. I know the computer was purchased two years ago for them by their mother who does not know much about computers.. Sad....... Maybe I should not have said anything but I am so tired of them doing or saying things like this. Just wanted someone else to say it. It's like saying I purchased a 52" HD TV 20 years ago. Oooookay.
I guess a good debate is thinking that you are defending him. You are giving people way to much credit. There are not that many people that would ever think of doing what you have said (or would ever want to).
By the way their is not much homework to do. I guess you think I am an idiot because I like talking in terms that most people would understand. I am used to dealing with end users and managers that would look at you with a blank stare if I talked to them the way you have.
Oh don't be offended, it was not my intent, I do not think you an idiot, I am just a little passionate about my line of work and can be obstinate.
Apologies.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
