Do Any of the "CC Old Timers" Remember?

[sail7seas]

We had a poster named Thulewx who posted here for quite a while. I think it was as recently as a bit before Noordam came out.

His 'nick name' was chosen because he had did meteorlogical work at Thule Base in Greenland.

With Greenland recently in the news (in regard to oil), I've been thinking of him and realize he has not posted in ages.

Anyone know if he's okay? Been around?
We once sailed with him (on a Princess ship) and I hope he's fine....just busy.

Thanks if you can help.

[jhannah]

Yes, I remember him well. I haven't seen him posting in ages.

[ekerr19]

I remember him too! I thought he was booked on the Noordam inaugural and ended up having to cancel...

I haven't seen him post for awhile.

Who remembers Superstein71????? :D It's been awhile since he's been here too.

[RevNeal]

I remember Thulewx. His name is Phil. I checked his profile and his posting history and he's very active over on the Gay & Lesbian Cruisers board. His most recent post over there is June 29, 2007.

[RevNeal]

Who remembers Superstein71????? :D It's been awhile since he's been here too.

I remember Superstein61. "His" last post was on November 4, 2004. I suspect "he" was a moniker for someone else, who was just whipping up trouble.

[RevNeal]

Here's another friend who's been missing for several months: dakrewser
He's not posted since June 28, 2007. Does anybody know what's happened to him?

I've e-mailed him to try and find out, but haven't had a response yet.

[tomc]

s7s -- We had a poster named Thulewx. His 'nick name' was chosen because he had did meteorlogical work at Thule Base in Greenland. Now there is a guy I'd love to meet. Can you imagine the stories he has of doing that kind of work in that kind of place?

[RuthC]

Who remembers Superstein71????? :D It's been awhile since he's been here too.
There's a rule of thumb: Let sleeping dogs lie. Not a bad rule. ;)

[sail7seas]

Thanks, Rev....... I have an old e-mail address for Thulewx and I think I'll try writing him. Glad to hear you found posts from him elsewhere.

tomc....... Phil is a great guy. He and I met very by accident on Ocean Princess. Though we both posted here at the time, neither of us mentioned going on that cruise. As it turned out, we were both back-to-back and I very much enjoyed meeting and chatting with him.

[jtl513]

Does anybody know about dakrewser/Dave who posted very actively here and stopped abruptly on Jun 28th?

[RevNeal]

Does anybody know about dakrewser/Dave who posted very actively here and stopped abruptly on Jun 28th?

Echo Echo Echo! :D

See post 6 (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=11962746&postcount=6)

[RevNeal]

There's a rule of thumb: Let sleeping dogs lie. Not a bad rule. ;)

Now, now ... my sweet Dorcas is a sleeping dog and she always like to be bothered by her Daddy! :D

http://www.revneal.org/Resources/dorcas1.jpg

[jtl513]

Echo Echo Echo! :D

See post 6 (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=11962746&postcount=6)
Sorry! I don't know how I missed seeing that! :o

[ekerr19]

There's a rule of thumb: Let sleeping dogs lie. Not a bad rule. ;)

Ruth - I know, I know - but that guy killed me!!! Someone else here sort of reminds me of him - I tell you, Superstein loved a good argument, didn't he!?!;)

[RuthC]

Someone else here sort of reminds me of him - ;)
Ooo. Now that you mention it....

[Copper10-8]

Hey, what happened to AAAmerican?:confused:

[peaches from georgia]

Hey, what happened to AAAmerican?:confused:
Bet he's still in NJ, wasn't it?

[RuthC]

Hey, what happened to AAAmerican?:confused:
I repeat: Let sleeping dogs lie. :rolleyes:

[jtl513]

Hey, what happened to AAAmerican?:confused: You missed one it's AAAAmerican! :D He's still around a little. I just checked, and his last post was at the end of August. He posts mostly on the Cunard and Princess boards and their roll calls now. I think he got mad at us when several of us said we couldn't understand his posts! :D :D

[Copper10-8]

Bet he's still in NJ, wasn't it?

Bet ya, you're right!;)


I repeat: Let sleeping dogs lie. :rolleyes:


Woof


You missed one it's AAAAmerican! :D He's still around. He posts mostly on the Cunard and Princess boards and roll calls now. I think he got mad at us when several of us said we couldn't understand his posts!


Thaaaanks!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Hey I remember all those people!!

Superstein61 comes from the Pittsburgh area.

[sail7seas]

I agree that may be only one of his names. :)

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I heard from Dave dakrewser a couple of months ago. he is doing fine but just decided to take a break from the boards.:)

[sail7seas]

Good to hear he's okay.

Didn't he sail a different cruise line in the spring? I think he was pleased and maybe he doesn't have HAl 'on the mind' right now?

[ekerr19]

Does anyone remember that guy who posted a thread on every single cruise line board, Roll call, etc. that was something like... "Cruise Critic su*($%!!!!" - because he got cautioned by the hosts?

I seem to recall he got all bent out of shape about some misinformation he posted and thought people were ganging up on him - he actually took the entire CC site down for a couple hours with his nonsense... It was couple years ago, I think...

Oh, and then there was Vicar, lol!!! That bad boy with his double life! :eek:

[RevNeal]

Someone else here sort of reminds me of him - I tell you, Superstein loved a good argument, didn't he!?!;)

Ditto, Laura. That's been my suspicion for a while, now.

[RevNeal]

I heard from Dave dakrewser a couple of months ago. he is doing fine but just decided to take a break from the boards.:)

Thank goodness. I have been growing deeply concerned, given how he just disappeared.

[RuthC]

I heard from Dave dakrewser a couple of months ago. he is doing fine but just decided to take a break from the boards.:)
I'm glad he's ok, but sure do miss his posts.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Maybe we all should watch who we are talking about -- they may just come back to haunt us.

[sail7seas]

-

Oh, and then there was Vicar, lol!!! That bad boy with his double life! :eek:


I remember Vicar. :eek: I had some fun with him for a while. Too bad.

[sail7seas]

I still miss DaveEdwards. He died about 2 1/2 years ago now. He was such a gentleman! Such a nice guy.

[RevNeal]

I still miss DaveEdwards. He died about 2 1/2 years ago now. He was such a gentleman! Such a nice guy.


I didn't know that Dave had died. :(

[kakalina]

I rememer not too long ago someone was asking about Mama Lou. I had spoken to her not to long before the question. However, I attempted to call her yesterday and her telephone has been disconnected. Her e-mail came back. Now I am concerned that the rumors that she had passed away may be true.
Does anyone have access to persons on the Zaandam that may know if she is still with us?? I would truly appreciate any info one may have. Thanks.

[sail7seas]

I didn't know that Dave had died. :(


We were very close friends, Greg. I was so saddened and shocked to receive an e-mail from his son explaining to me why his Dad wouldn't be in touch with me anymore. He found my name/address in Dave's computer/address book.

He had a fatal heart attack. After all the years of giving his wife such incredible care, it was him who died. It had to be devastating for his wife. That was a real love affair.

[sail7seas]

I rememer not too long ago someone was asking about Mama Lou. I had spoken to her not to long before the question. However, I attempted to call her yesterday and her telephone has been disconnected. Her e-mail came back. Now I am concerned that the rumors that she had passed away may be true.
Does anyone have access to persons on the Zaandam that may know if she is still with us?? I would truly appreciate any info one may have. Thanks.

I have a friend on board, Kakalina. If you like, I'll write and see if they can help.

[kakalina]

Sails that would be awfully sweet of you. I would appreciate it. You're the best!
Trish

[xpcdoojk]

I remember Superstein61. "His" last post was on November 4, 2004. I suspect "he" was a moniker for someone else, who was just whipping up trouble.

99.9% likely. I imagine that moniker falls into the unable to post currently category.:D

You HAL people know that in several of the CC forums you would not be allowed to have these discussions. You are very lucky with the hosts you have.:cool:

jc

[xpcdoojk]

Ruth - I know, I know - but that guy killed me!!! Someone else here sort of reminds me of him - I tell you, Superstein loved a good argument, didn't he!?!;)

I like the way you think! But alas, I am pretty sure that the two are not the same!:D :D :D

jc

[ekerr19]

I like the way you think! But alas, I am pretty sure that the two are not the same!:D :D :D

jc

jc -

I know ... how we survived this long as we are discussing "boards on boards" and "other posters" ACK!!!

I really don't think the two are the same, but I tell you - they really could be "brothers" LOL! ;) Same opinion on almost every single topic!!!!

[HeatherInFlorida]

I really liked the Vicar we thought we knew ... and I miss him.

I remember Superstein so well ... he was (as they say) a "pistol"!!!:D I miss him, too. He was really fun to debate with and could often be very, very fair.

[ookpik]

What happened to Ziggy?

[LAFFNVEGAS]

What happened to Ziggy?


She is alive and doing well, most of her posting is on another Cruise Board:)

[GraceNWill]

I still miss DaveEdwards. He died about 2 1/2 years ago now. He was such a gentleman! Such a nice guy.


Was the Dave Edwards you mentioned from Florida?

I knew a Dave Edwards who passed away about that same time frame - had an aneurysm, lived for a couple of months.

Could he be the same? This Dave was a well-liked guy! RIP

[Bill S]

Wow-the memories! Lots of posters have passed through this forum!

The one I remember is the doctor fellow from either NY or Boston area who had booked a PS on a HAL ship for the express purpose of conceiving a child with his wife. He let us know that the cruise was "successful".

I remember some of his posts were hilarious and his comments about the perennial dress code issue were especially good. I just wish I could remember his name.

Glad to hear that dakrewser and ziggy are OK! :)

[clippership]

Think you are referring to Joel Keenan, the Dr. who sailed in the PH and submitted very witty posts. Think he was from Greenwich, CT.

Clippership

[3 Fan]

I talked with a friend today about Mama Lou. She is alive and well. Recently moved and is going thru a period of adjustment. Friend stated they only talk on the phone so she doesn't know about e-mail. Best news is she's booked on the Veendam leaving October 28.

[jhannah]

Thank you, 3 Fan. That's good to know. I wonder if she's planning on staying aboard the Veendam for an extended period of time? I'm sure she'll meet Captain Albert first thing!

[sail7seas]

Was the Dave Edwards you mentioned from Florida?

I knew a Dave Edwards who passed away about that same time frame - had an aneurysm, lived for a couple of months.

Could he be the same? This Dave was a well-liked guy! RIP

The Dave Edwards I mean lived in California. Also very well-liked and much missed by me and others.

[sail7seas]

I REMEMBER THE POSTS BY JOEL KEENAN!! They were great. What fun we had with him.

Who remembers Burbunny? She was so very helpful teaching people how to bid for hotels on the various sites? She had a wonderful site of her own, didn't she? She used to post here regularly and suddenly disappeared. I always wondered why.

[kakalina]

I talked with a friend today about Mama Lou. She is alive and well. Recently moved and is going thru a period of adjustment. Friend stated they only talk on the phone so she doesn't know about e-mail. Best news is she's booked on the Veendam leaving October 28.

Thanks so much for the update. I have been worried since I was unable to reach her. I imagine if I drop her a line it will get forwarded and then she can call me with her new info.
Thanks very much.

[RuthC]

Who remembers Burbunny? She was so very helpful teaching people how to bid for hotels on the various sites?
Oh, yes! :) Her name is Amber, isn't it? She stopped posting on this board, but I do recall her posting in other forums here. Don't know if she still does.
I guess it's the way of the world that eventually we all move on to to other things.

[Roz]

What about Jean, whose screen name was something like elmorejj? I met she and her husband on the Zaandam. A very nice, funny person; easy to talk to. They live in Ohio. Does anyone else know who I'm talking about?

Roz

[cusyl]

I heard from Dave dakrewser a couple of months ago. he is doing fine but just decided to take a break from the boards.:)

How does one do that? I can't seem to stay away..:p

[ekerr19]

What about Jean, whose screen name was something like elmorejj? I met she and her husband on the Zaandam. A very nice, funny person; easy to talk to. They live in Ohio. Does anyone else know who I'm talking about?

Roz

Roz -

I remember jean... I see her posting hear now and again... :cool:

[Roz]

Ekerr, it's good to know that Jean's still around.

Does anyone remember when Doone (still on this board) and Danno would trade posts back and forth about his upcoming HAL cruise? This went on for MONTHS. It was back in 2001-2002 when I first started posting (does this make me an old timer? :eek: ).

Danno was/is a Celebrity cruiser, and I think he was kind of let down when he came back from his cruise. I think sometimes all the buildup on this board can lead to some unrealistic expectations.

Roz

[ekerr19]

I think sometimes all the buildup on this board can lead to some unrealistic expectations.

Roz

Roz -

I often wonder about this myself... we started cruising long before I was directed to this site, but I wonder how many people anticipate based on what they read here? In many ways, it's far different than the actual experience.

I find I pay more attention to things that are discussed here when I am onboard - which may be good or bad...

[Roz]

Ekerr, I agree with you. This board has brought attention to things that I normally wouldn't even know about, let alone notice. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. :D

Roz

[kakalina]

What about Jean, whose screen name was something like elmorejj? I met she and her husband on the Zaandam. A very nice, funny person; easy to talk to. They live in Ohio. Does anyone else know who I'm talking about?

Roz

Jean is a hoot! We sailed with her on the Veendam on a 14 day once. She is very funny and very nice.

[sail7seas]

I'm thrilled we started cruising long before I knew about message boards. Sometimes all the micro planning and detailed questioning for first time cruisers takes the thrill and excitement and awe away from first crossing the gangway of one of these gorgeous ships. IMO

We had almost no idea what to expect and knew just about nothing. Funny how we managed to pick a cabin, get to the ship, board, find our way around and have a great cruise. :) We also did some stupid things and asked some really dumb questions when aboard but that also was part of the fun...... for us.

On the other hand.......new cruisers who come to the boards don't miss anything because they simply didn't know about it.

[ekerr19]

Here are a couple more folks we don't see here anymore:

tatka
Ryansmemom (Linda, "thanks for listening")
Giorgi-one
Charlie2na

Wonder what happened to them? They were all around when I first got here...

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Here are a couple more folks we don't see here anymore:

tatka
Ryansmemom (Linda, "thanks for listening")
Giorgi-one
Charlie2na

Wonder what happened to them? They were all around when I first got here...
Laura, I am pretty sure Tatka is still a very active poster just not here. I think she posts more over on Celebrity and RCL. She has been trying different cruise lines.

[sail7seas]

I very much miss Ryansmemom. She was returning to school so maybe she didn't have time to come to the boards? Her posts were wonderful. I never failed to read whatever she wrote.

[Oceanwench]

I very much miss Ryansmemom. She was returning to school so maybe she didn't have time to come to the boards? Her posts were wonderful. I never failed to read whatever she wrote.


I feel exactly the same way. :) :) :)

[jtl513]

Here's the result of some searches:

Burbunny - last post 9/3/07 on Celebrity forum
tatka - last post TODAY on Celebrity forum
Ryansmemom - 9/4/07 on Cruise Fashions, 9/3/07 on a Zaandam roll call
Giorgi-one - 9/26/07 on NCL forum
elmorejj - 8/29/07 on this HAL forum
Charlie2na is the only one who has long stopped posting: last was 2/23/06 on the East Coast departures forum

[HeatherInFlorida]

............... I think sometimes all the buildup on this board can lead to some unrealistic expectations.

Roz

I couldn't agree more. I don't think any cruise line could live up to the praise each line receives on these boards. The majority of people posting on each board are the people who love each line the most. So it can come across as idyllic which no cruise line can possibly be.

In all honesty, cruising was more exciting for us when there was more of an air of mystique when we boarded. I've learned a lot here over the years, but it's taken away the pre-cruise magic a little. I hope to return soon to that level of anticipation ... like a small child filled with wonder on Christmas morning.

However, when we board a ship for our cruise all thought of what I have read here disappears and our experience becomes about being out there in a dream world ... that's what cruising does for me. It's a safe place, away from all the "busy-ness" of everyday life.

[sail7seas]

John:

I only read this forum and just recently Ask a Cruise Question so never would have seen any of those posts. Thanks for telling us they're 'around'. :)

[Oceanwench]

I couldn't agree more. I don't think any cruise line could live up to the praise each line receives on these boards. The majority of people posting on each board are the people who love each line the most. So it can come across as idyllic which no cruise line can possibly be.

In all honesty, cruising was more exciting for us when there was more of an air of mystique when we boarded. I've learned a lot here over the years, but it's taken away the pre-cruise magic a little. I hope to return soon to that level of anticipation ... like a small child filled with wonder on Christmas morning.

However, when we board a ship for our cruise all thought of what I have read here disappears and our experience becomes about being out there in a dream world ... that's what cruising does for me. It's a safe place, away from all the "busy-ness" of everyday life.

I agree with all you've said!
Sometimes reading too much can be detrimental to your cruise and spoil some of the magic.
It's funny ... I get on a cruise ship and look at my 1,800 or so fellow pax and wonder how many of them read message boards ... and how many are just letting the experience unfold on its own ...

[Roz]

Many of the passengers I've met on cruises don't even use the internet, period, let alone a message board.

For instance, I've had people ask me how I went on an excursion when it was sold out. When I explain that I booked it 60 days ahead of time on the HAL website, they look at me like I have 2 heads. :rolleyes:

Same thing with immigration forms when you're waiting in line at the cruise terminal.

Roz

[Oceanwench]

You can pick up so much valuable info here, but you can also overdose.

Reminds me of when I first went to Disney World, and people gave me their lists of everything I **had** to do.
The same can happen with a cruise.

ROZ: I just noticed, we are within one post of each other in our totals! :-)

[Roz]

Oceanwench,

I know what you mean. In the interest of trying to help people, I've seen posters in this forum hand down pronouncements like Solomon :D . For instance, "you have to get a balcony", "you have to eat in the Pinnacle", "you must order a wang-wang", "you'll be out of place without a tux on formal night", "no trip to Alaska is complete without spending a thousand dollars on shore excursions", etc. Well, you get the idea.

Actually, there's very little you HAVE to do on a cruise ship, other than show up with proper ID, pay your bill at the end, and get off the ship.

Roz

[sail7seas]

Many of the passengers I've met on cruises don't even use the internet, period, let alone a message board.

For instance, I've had people ask me how I went on an excursion when it was sold out. When I explain that I booked it 60 days ahead of time on the HAL website, they look at me like I have 2 heads. :rolleyes:

Same thing with immigration forms when you're waiting in line at the cruise terminal.

Roz


Great post, Roz.

It is another thing for which I thank Cruise Critic. Were it not for them, I wonder if even now I would have my computer. :)

In the 'old days', I had web tv and found CC and would visit here with that 'toy'. I had no interest in computers, had no one to teach me anything about them, set it up for me etc DH was no help. :D I didn't care how slow it was. I did nothing more with it than e-mail and come to CC and another cruise board. It served me fine.

One day, CC did a major upgrade and I could no longer access CC with my pathetic Web TV. I e-mailed Laura Sterling and told her I was sorry I couldn't reach the site anymore and wanted her to know that web tv'ers were 'out of luck'. She wrote a lovely response and 'gently' suggested I get with it and think about buying a computer.

I said to myself........she's right!!

That is the only reason I made myself figure out how to use this precious laptop. I'm now on my second one and can't imagine life without it. :)

[xpcdoojk]

I REMEMBER THE POSTS BY JOEL KEENAN!! They were great. What fun we had with him.

Who remembers Burbunny? She was so very helpful teaching people how to bid for hotels on the various sites? She had a wonderful site of her own, didn't she? She used to post here regularly and suddenly disappeared. I always wondered why.



Burbunny, has a site that is for figuring out how to use hotwire or priceline. I messaged with her a few months ago. She was great. She is not posting a lot at CC.

jc

[jhannah]

I can understand how some would think message boards such as this could provide too much information. But for me, it's been a real help. I learn things that enhance my experience. It helped especially for our first cruise. I found myself being comfortable with the things being done. I even ended up helping some perplexed fellow passengers ... and that was my first time onboard a cruise ship!

Even with what I learn here, there is still so much to discover while onboard. All the little design/decor touches and cubbyholes that are never mentioned. And no amount of information can spoil the beauty and uniqueness of each port of call and the people you meet there.

I much prefer being an informed traveler. I still find I experience many "a-ha" moments.

[babyher]

Great post, Roz.

It is another thing for which I thank Cruise Critic. Were it not for them, I wonder if even now I would have my computer. :)

In the 'old days', I had web tv and found CC and would visit here with that 'toy'. I had no interest in computers, had no one to teach me anything about them, set it up for me etc DH was no help. :D I didn't care how slow it was. I did nothing more with it than e-mail and come to CC and another cruise board. It served me fine.

One day, CC did a major upgrade and I could no longer access CC with my pathetic Web TV. I e-mailed Laura Sterling and told her I was sorry I couldn't reach the site anymore and wanted her to know that web tv'ers were 'out of luck'. She wrote a lovely response and 'gently' suggested I get with it and think about buying a computer.

I said to myself........she's right!!

That is the only reason I made myself figure out how to use this precious laptop. I'm now on my second one and can't imagine life without it. :)

Web Tv :)

Talk about a blast from the past.

I had one of those when they first came out.

Just like you I had no need to get a computer, no idea how to set one up and no desire to learn *LOL*

I didn't need one in my home for work. Paid my bills by phone or good old snail mail. At the time between work and a busy social life (I was single back then *LOL*) I was hardly ever home so why bother.

I got tired of being looked at like a caveman everytime I said I had to wait to go to work to get my e mail, or whatever by my friends, so I caved and got Web TV .

God that tiny little keyboard and man it was slower than molasses. *LOL* But I got hooked on it. After a while like you said , fewer and fewer sites on teh net were able to be accessed by Web TV so I eventually had to cave in further and get a computer.

I still have that thing up in my closet next to my 8 track tape player, my Atari 2600 system , and my Spiro Agnew watch *LOL*

[ekerr19]

Our second computer, back 1993 or 1994 was a Dell Pentium I -!!!! We were so thrilled to have it, and it cost a small fortune, about $2,500. Things sure have changed.... now we each have our own laptop, wireless, etc.

Our very 1st PC was an old Amstrad that DH bought through one of those Amex advertisements that used to come with the Amex bill... (anyone remember those????) It wasn't even Windows based, but DOS and had those large floppy discs - that was in 1988. :eek:

[sail7seas]

Wow....... Impressive, Laura....... You go way back! I'm guessing it was about 1998 or so until I finally caved and got my first computer. I promise if it weren't that I could no longer come to CC, I probably wouldn't have gotten it then. :eek:

[It's odd...... I just realized it says my 'join date' here on CC was August 2000 but that doesn't make sense. Did our original 'join dates' get changed when all the posts were lost in the upgrade?]

[HeatherInFlorida]

Our second computer, back 1993 or 1994 was a Dell Pentium I -!!!! We were so thrilled to have it, and it cost a small fortune, about $2,500. ........................
Our very 1st PC was an old Amstrad that DH bought through one of those Amex advertisements that used to come with the Amex bill... (anyone remember those????) It wasn't even Windows based, but DOS and had those large floppy discs - that was in 1988. :eek:

My first computer in 1995 was a Packard Bell!!! It was HUGE and cost close to $2000. I think it had 8 MB of RAM and I was sure that was all I would ever need!!! That's when I found CC on AOL ... 1995. Had a different name back then.

We had DOS at work!!! And the floppies. We used to have a little box we carried our floppies in and locked in our desks at night. They were bigger than CD's back then and they were truly "floppy".:D :D

Here we are 12 years later with a wireless network, a desktop and 2 laptops!!!

[RedmondCruiser]

I too wondered about daKrewser and am glad to hear that he's OK

I have not seen a post from Capt. Card lately. Also there are employees of the line who periodically post and I have not seen many of those lately either. I have to admit that I don't read all the posts so this may all be in error.

[xpcdoojk]

My first computer was a Mac Plus in 1987. It came with a single 3.5" floppy drive. The system file was on the floppy and to run any program on the Mac Plus you had to constantly swap disks. I did this for a week before I convinced my DW that I needed a 20MB hard drive that at the time cost about $700. You can buy a 2GB flash drive for 10 bucks now. Anyway, I used my Mac Plus for about 4 years then I bought a Mac LC II with color monitor! Woohoo. Over the next decade I had a couple more Macs, until 2000 I got a HP laptop for work and I still have a Mac I use it very little now, and I can't justify buying a computer when I get the laptop gratis for work.:D Mac is better and is technologically and socially just cooler, but the PCs are very good now.

jc

[jtl513]

Ahhhh, I've got you all beat! I worked on the ARPAnet (*) with a TI computer around 1976. It used an acoustic-coupler modem that was good for about 600 baud ... that's 45 times slower than a 28 kbps dial-up modem!! It didn't even have a display, just a "teletype" with a roll of yellow paper.

First PC I worked on was an IBM 186 around 1980, with MSDOS. First home computer I owned was a TI-99A around 1985. It had to have an "expansion box" that was the size of a modern microwave if you wanted to have a floppy drive. You furnished your own TV monitor, which for us was a 9" b&w. You keyed-in your own programs in Basic that were published in hobbyist magazines, and it took a couple of hours to put in a simple game. Those were the FUN days of computing!!

* Advanced Research Projects Agency net, that tied together about a dozen universities and some government contractors back then. It later evolved into the Internet.

[ekerr19]

Wow, we are all getting so old, lol!!! :D

I was one olf the first few that even knew how to work the "only" PC we had in the office - staff of 300+, LOL!!!!

Did anyone else have word processers?? Like "Wang 20/20".... I so worked on that in the 80's... :eek: Can you imagine that now????

[jtl513]

Did anyone else have word processers??Yes, we owned one of those once. I don't even remember the brand now. I DO remember that it had a thermal print-head that burned out about every two months and cost some obscene amount of money to replace! :D

[CDRMark]

Ahhhh, I've got you all beat! I worked on the ARPAnet (*) with a TI computer around 1976. It used an acoustic-coupler modem that was good for about 600 baud ... that's 45 times slower than a 28 kbps dial-up modem!! It didn't even have a display, just a "teletype" with a roll of yellow paper.

Snip...
Those were the FUN days of computing!!

* Advanced Research Projects Agency net, that tied together about a dozen universities and some government contractors back then. It later evolved into the Internet.
Not playing "my dog's bigger than your dog", but...
Used a teletype set-up in college in 1971 with an acoustic coupled 300 Baud modem and a green phosphor monotor to access Arpanet at Argonne National Labs; thought I was on Star Trek....:)
Live long and prosper
Mark

[Roz]

Oceanwench,

I just noticed your edit that says we're within one post of one another. Does that mean we post too little or too much? Are we "overdosing"? :eek:

Roz

[kakalina]

Our first home computer was an old 8088 with the floppy discs.
Note: DH still has it " in case he might need the parts" someday :o :eek:

[richwmn]

Just to add my .02 -- summer of 1970 card decks to the main frame at GaTech, followed by 110 baud teletype access to UGa and Ga State during the fall. In 1975 built the "Glass Teletype" kit from SWTP followed in 1976 by the Altair 8800A kit (the first commercially available kit) with 256 bytes of memory, expanded quickly to 4096 bytes of memory. This had to be programmed by switches on the front of the computer before it would send information to the "Glass Teletype".

Rich

[Orlandocruiser]

Our first computer was a TI-99 - I don't think we could do much with it but play games, but I do remember writing a program to help me come up with a budget that I was making for a club that I was the treasurer for. Then we graduated to an Apple IIe (128k - gee my ipod is 80gb). Then we some Korean brand - don't remember the name. And ever since it has been every few years a new computer. Just bought a new Dell (with Vista) and what we think now is a huge hard drive (we had so much stuff on itunes that we had to get an external drive on our old desktop to hold it all). But yes the amazing thing is that this computer didn't cost a whole lot more (and probably a lot less in 1973 dollars) than DH paid for his first scientific calculator. I remember cringing at how much that thing cost and how happy he was to give up his slide rule.

[CDRMark]

Just to add my .02 -- summer of 1970 card decks to the main frame at GaTech, followed by 110 baud teletype access to UGa and Ga State during the fall. In 1975 built the "Glass Teletype" kit from SWTP followed in 1976 by the Altair 8800A kit (the first commercially available kit) with 256 bytes of memory, expanded quickly to 4096 bytes of memory. This had to be programmed by switches on the front of the computer before it would send information to the "Glass Teletype".

Rich
Unless Jobs Gates or Woz are posting, I think you may 'win'!
Cheers
Mark

[HeatherInFlorida]

..............
Did anyone else have word processers?? Like "Wang 20/20".... I so worked on that in the 80's... :eek: Can you imagine that now????

Yes!!! I remember those! Just shows how I hate change ... I did NOT want to work on word processors. Then I didn't want to work on computers. Now I don't know how I would live without it ... or how I ever did!!!

Our first home computer was an old 8088 with the floppy discs.
Note: DH still has it " in case he might need the parts" someday :o :eek:

You DH sounds like my DH ... he actually raids the trash just in case I'm tossing something of "value" that we just might need someday!

[RuthC]

Yes!!! I remember those! Just shows how I hate change ... I did NOT want to work on word processors. Then I didn't want to work on computers.
I had a secretary who refused to give up her manual typewriter! Every time hers died, and was replaced with a simple electric typewriter, she'd go out and find another manual for herself. Whenever the building's power went out the rest of us were stuck to do our jobs, but she was there typing away!
She finally retired in 1995 and took her manual typewriter with her.

[sail7seas]

I was attached in that same way to the IBM Selectrics. Loved those electric typewriters way back when!!! :)

[HeatherInFlorida]

I had a secretary who refused to give up her manual typewriter! Every time hers died, and was replaced with a simple electric typewriter, she'd go out and find another manual for herself. Whenever the building's power went out the rest of us were stuck to do our jobs, but she was there typing away!
She finally retired in 1995 and took her manual typewriter with her.

LOL, Ruth!:D Well, I wasn't THAT bad!!!! I typed on electrics even in high school (and we won't say when that was). But I was mostly on manuals for a long time. I'll never forget when the Selectric came in!!!:eek:

[prescottbob]

Ahoy!

Geez, and now we have the privledge of paying monthly internet server fees, maintance and upgrade fees, and talking with a foreign customer service individual whose english skills can be somewhat limited when our PC's have problems. Doesn't get any better then that.

"Can you talk slower, please?"

Only kidding. It's a great life.

Bon Voyage and Good Health!
Bob (plugged in and processing):)

[babyher]

I was attached in that same way to the IBM Selectrics. Loved those electric typewriters way back when!!! :)



Sail,

Was that the typewriter that had all the letters on the ball rather than individual keys?

If so those are the machines we used in high school for typing class , and had a few when I first started working.

[jhannah]

Yes, the Selectrics featured the interchangable type ball. Quite an amazing feat for its day.

My first computer was an Apple IIe. It had just 64k. I later purchased a power supply upgrade that had 512k of memory. Wow!

Do you remember the old 3M copy machines that used a yellow-ish transfer paper for duplicating the image? And how about those messy mimeograph machines that used a waxy paper stencil? Or the spirit duplicators? I loved those as a kid when our school used them. Loved sniffing the newly-run work sheets! ;)

[sail7seas]

Sail,

Was that the typewriter that had all the letters on the ball rather than individual keys?

If so those are the machines we used in high school for typing class , and had a few when I first started working.


That's the one!! I loved those machines. Got me through college. :) They never seemed to break. I loved the 'built it' correction tape. :D Great machines.

[babyher]

Yes, the Selectrics featured the interchangable type ball. Quite an amazing feat for its day.

My first computer was an Apple IIe. It had just 64k. I later purchased a power supply upgrade that had 512k of memory. Wow!

Do you remember the old 3M copy machines that used a yellow-ish transfer paper for duplicating the image? And how about those messy mimeograph machines that used a waxy paper stencil? Or the spirit duplicators? I loved those as a kid when our school used them. Loved sniffing the newly-run work sheets! ;)


Oh I remember the mimeograph machines very well, especially the smell *LOL*

All our test papers were done on those and almost every time they handed the papers out several lines were barely readable or else the stencil paper would crease in the machine and screw up a few lines.

So before the test the teacher would always have to go over it

"Question 4 is supposed to read "such and such"
"The last two words on question 8 are "such and such"

[sail7seas]

:D I remember those mimeo sheets......and Tests! :eek:
My sister was a teacher and how she rejoiced when copy machines (Xerox) became common.

[dfish]

As a teacher I remember those old mimeo machines with no fondness. When we first got a copy machine in the school, teachers weren't allowed to use it. It was for office use only. We (the teachers) managed to get a used one donated to us and had it delivered to the building when the principal was gone to a meeting. We kept it in a work room off one teacher's classroom and all the teachers knew where it was. The secretaries used to sneak us supplies. It took the principal over two years to find out about it!

[babyher]

That's the one!! I loved those machines. Got me through college. :) They never seemed to break. I loved the 'built it' correction tape. :D Great machines.

I only got to use them like I said in typing class in high school , so I certainly didn't get that proficient with them. But they were pretty cool at the time.

When I went to college my parents bought me a little electric Smith Corona.

I still have that hanging around somewhere. :)



I have a great idea for a theme cruise


An outdated technology memorabilia cruise.

Everybody bring your outdated computers, office equipment, telephone systems , video games and other miscellaneous electronics or yore *LOL*

We can put them all out on display in one of the lounges and have cocktails and hor douerves served.

[babyher]

Does anyone remember the "ADAM" computer by Coleco ?

The Edsel of Electronics :)

[jhannah]

How about the Osborne? The first "portable" PC. Must have weighed 50 pounds!

[babyher]

How about the Osborne? The first "portable" PC. Must have weighed 50 pounds!


Oh God,

I had never heard of it. I just googled it and saw a pic of one.

"portable"???????? For who King Kong? *LOL*

looking this up I found an "old computer" site that is pretty cool. I saw an old Texas Instruments 99/4 I remember a friend of mine having and we used to play around with back in the day.

[ekerr19]

We had the "Pong" video game whne we were in HS and thought we were just the cat's meow! We spent hours hitting that stupid slow motion ball back and forth...

My kids think it's hilarious. :)

[jhannah]

I remember Pong when I visited the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry back when I was about 9 years old. I also remember playing Tic-Tac-Toe with a computer. Home use as yet unheard of in those days.

[HeatherInFlorida]

I used to love the smell of mimeo sheets. And then collating!!! Anyone remember laying pages and pages out on a huge table and walking around to collate them all? Then they brought in electric staplers and we thought that made it so much easier!!!

And I loved Pong!!! That was so addictive!!!!:)

Love all the little Selectric "balls" with the different types. That's when I became a really fast typist because the keys could no longer stick if you typed too fast.

Got me with the Osborne!!! I wonder why I never heard of it!!! 1981 isn't that long ago!:o

[RevNeal]

My first computer was an Apple II. :)
Here's a photo of it:

http://www.revneal.org/Resources/appleii.gif

My Dad bought it for me in 1978. I cut my programming teeth learning BASIC and Fortran on this lovely old computer! Believe it or not, back then a 1 Mhz processor was an amazing thing, and that's exactly what the old Apple II had: a 1 Mhz MOStek 6502 microprocessor, operating with an 8 bit Data Path and a 1 Mhz Bus. It originally came with 4K of RAM and 12K of ROM, with integer BASIC hard-coded onto the ROM for easier programming, but that was later expanded to an amazing 64K of memory when, in 1979, we added a 48K RAM card. It originally came with a tape-deck for loading either purchased programs, or for saving and re-loading programs I had written myself (and I wrote a bunch of them). However, in 1978 we added an external "Disk Drive," and eventually added a second drive in 1980.

In 1980 I bought -- with substantial help from my Dad -- an Apple IIc.

http://www.revneal.org/Resources/Apple2c.jpg

As it's name suggests, this was a significant upgrade to the original Apple II. In addition to a somewhat faster 1.4 Mhz SynerTek 65C02 microprocessor, the IIc improved upon the Apple II by employing an impressive 32 kb of ROM and a then-utterly amazing 128 kb of RAM. In addition to having a somewhat faster processor and more than twice the memory, it was smaller than its predecessor, more portable (with a cool handle), and had a built-in 5.25 floppy drive. In short, it was the perfect computer for a dorm-cramped undergraduate student in that day and age, and that was exactly how I used her; I wrote 3 years worth of undergraduate papers on this baby before I had it upgraded (a mother-board and disk-drive swap-out which saved me a bundle over buying a new computer) to the guts of an Apple IIc Plus.

My first Macintosh was a Mac Plus.

http://www.revneal.org/Resources/macplus.jpg

She has an 8 Mhz 68000 processor, a 16 bit Data Path, 128 kb of ROM, an internal 3.5 "floppy" drive, no Hard Drive (I added an external 40 MB drive, which she she sat on), and 1 MB of RAM (which I soon upgraded to 2, and then 4, MB), and an Imagewriter for printing purposes. Believe it or not, that was a LOT of computer way back in 1990!

Since then I've owned a bunch of different Macs: a Performa 405, Powerbook 145b, a Performa 6400, a G3 "Blue and White," a G3 Wallstreet Powerbook, a G4 Titaniuum Powerbook, and G4 Aluminum Powerbook with a 17.1-inch display.

http://www.revneal.org/Resources/pg4_17.jpg

This computer comes with a 1.67 GHz 64 bit G4 processor with 512 KB onchip Cache, a 166 MHz Bus, 1.5 GB of RAM, an ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 videocard, 100 GB Hard Drive, CD-RW/DVD+-RW Drive, 56 kbps modem, Airport and Bluetooth cards, and 10/100/1000 BaseT Ethernet. This is an absolutely amazing computer.

[the2ofus]

Does anyone remember dittos? I'm thinking they were before mimeo and they smelled even stronger.

My very first job was as a summertime fill-in church secretary. It took me hours to type the mimeo master for the Sunday service bulletin.

When I went off to college, my aunt presented me with a little portable Ollivetti manual typewriter about the size of a ream of paper, which had an elite typeface and even was capable of spacing down 1 1/2 instead of 2 lines so I could fit more on a page. I remember a number of all-nighters typing term papers on that little thing. I still have it.

My first computer was an 8088 and cost $2000. I was dragged kicking and screaming into the computer age. Don't know what I'd do without one now.

[jhannah]

Greg, you forgot the ENIAC you built from a kit in your dad's garage! ;)

[HeatherInFlorida]

Speaking of smells, anyone remember the smell from the first fax machines??? Yuck!!! You had to be there to receive it and they were all curly!!!

[cruisinjudy]

Greg,
I also started with the Apple II and then we added the ability to have upper and lower case! My next computer was an Apple IIGS, then finally got a Mac. I had the Mac classic in my classroom, which looked like the Mac Plus. Now I have had a number of different Macs and we have three in the house at present.

[jtl513]

Speaking of smells, anyone remember the smell from the first fax machines??? Yuck!!! You had to be there to receive it and they were all curly!!!The ones that gave all brown printing on damp paper? No, I don't remember those! :D

[Toad]

Can anyone say........ "THREAD DRIFT"?

[jtl513]

Can anyone say........ "THREAD DRIFT"?
The title said "Do Any of the "CC Old Timers" Remember?"
We're remembering.
Go away! :mad: :D

[Copper10-8]

We had the "Pong" video game whne we were in HS and thought we were just the cat's meow! We spent hours hitting that stupid slow motion ball back and forth...

My kids think it's hilarious. :)

Pacman for us, oh and Space Invaders!

[maxout]

Here is an updated version of pong... :D

http://www.liquid.se/pong/pong.html

[SharonN]

Just to add my .02 -- summer of 1970 card decks to the main frame at GaTech, followed by 110 baud teletype access to UGa and Ga State during the fall. In 1975 built the "Glass Teletype" kit from SWTP followed in 1976 by the Altair 8800A kit (the first commercially available kit) with 256 bytes of memory, expanded quickly to 4096 bytes of memory. This had to be programmed by switches on the front of the computer before it would send information to the "Glass Teletype".

Rich


A couple of years later than you but not much. I graduated with a CS degree in the mid 70's not ever seeing a computer. We had to use keypunches for doing all of our programming and turned in the decks at a desk and then picked up the printouts later. You could get 2 runs a day if you worked it right. If you got your cards in by early morning (9 or 10 I think) you could pick up the results at 5 and you had to have them back in by 6 to get the results at 8 the next morning. We did get a few teletypes my last semester which were great if you could get on one but there was always a long wait.

My first job out of college as an assembly language programmer used a mini computer with 64k bytes of core memory. We had to write our code on these large green coding sheets and send them to the Keypunch dept. We had to schedule time to actually get on the computer for debugging (1 hour every day or two) which was done by entering the bootstrap thru the control panel (in Octal) and then setting breakpoints thru the switches to check the register values etc. When the program was ready for use we'd create punched tapes of the debugged version. If you found a problem later you could patch the tape. Who'd have ever thought of the debugging tools now available or having the type of computers we have at home. Of course we don't have the confetti from the punched cards and tapes to use for fun anymore either (had to find something to keep us busy while waiting for our turn on the computer!)The kids I work with now don't have a clue of all the fun they missed. :D

[TedC]

Anyone remember quill pens?

[HeatherInFlorida]

The ones that gave all brown printing on damp paper? No, I don't remember those! :D

It was sort of damp, but I don't think it was brown, I think grey but who remembers?:) ... maybe brown was before my time;) .

Anyone remember quill pens?

Very funny;) .

[jhannah]

Anyone remember quill pens?
I sure do! I've used many of them. They do great custom imprinting work, and have good buys on office supplies.

59847

[HeatherInFlorida]

Maybe I made a mistake! With the small "q", I thought Ted meant the original quill pens dating back to before any of us were born! I know they are still used for calligraphy and such. But I thought Ted was making a joke:D .

[jhannah]

I believe Ted was making a funny and referring to those old feather pens. I just turned it to refer to the pen company!

[gooselace]

Just caught up with the end of this thread - so many memories. My frist "computer" was a Trash 80 (TRS-80) no programs - just Basic. But you could cuff it to a phone receiver to communicate the text.

The quill pen reminded me of my first journalism job, in 1955. The newpaper editor's secretary, the ony staff member who could read his handwriting, was sick, so he dictated his editorials to me while I "hunt & peck" typed them, while he looked over my shoulder. If I made a mistake, he insisted on starting over. It's a wonder the paper came out every morning!

[TedC]

Maybe I made a mistake! With the small "q", I thought Ted meant the original quill pens dating back to before any of us were born! I know they are still used for calligraphy and such. But I thought Ted was making a joke:D .

Heather, you did not make a mistake - you win the Golden quill pen award.

[ekerr19]

Question: how big was your first cell phone? Mine was gigantic compared to what I have today - and it didn't take pictures, have color graphics (no graphics!), had a ridiculously long antenna that was prone to break and reception was awful - to top it off, it weighed a ton!

We were watching Modern Marvels or something like that and my kids were cracking up over the 70's & 80's "gadgets" - the first walkman, cell phone, 8-track tapes, etc.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Question: how big was your first cell phone? Mine was gigantic compared to what I have today - and it didn't take pictures, have color graphics (no graphics!), had a ridiculously long antenna that was prone to break and reception was awful - to top it off, it weighed a ton!

We were watching Modern Marvels or something like that and my kids were cracking up over the 70's & 80's "gadgets" - the first walkman, cell phone, 8-track tapes, etc.


Laura, I remember what was fondly called the "The Brick" I did not have one but several friends did:D I waited till they got just a bit smalled (not by much though)

[sail7seas]

We were watching Modern Marvels or something like that and my kids were cracking up over the 70's & 80's "gadgets" - the first walkman, cell phone, 8-track tapes, etc.

I still have (and occassionally use) the old Watchman TV. I loved that darn thing and it is still in my drawer for use if we have a power failure. :)

When I walk, I often use my very small Sony Walkman radio/tv that hooks on my waistband. I can get about 12 FM stations; 5 AM and the local tv stations (sound only) for my area. I figure it 'ain't broke, I still like it, why not use it? I even bring it on our Canada/New England cruises and seeing as we are often so close to the coast (particularly when on St. Lawrence River) that I can receive stations when we walk the deck.

But I bought DH a great Ipod to use when we walk. :)

[LAFFNVEGAS]

But I bought DH a great Ipod to use when we walk. :)

Sail, you are ahead of me, we do not even have an Ipod:D I do have a MP3 player but have only downloaded songs once. I thought it was to much trouble and time comsuming to do anymore.

But I also do not text message either, to me that is way to much work and much easier just to call the person and say what I want to say and if I cannot cal then just email:D

[sail7seas]

Lisa....... I don't even turn my cell phone on but I do always have it with me. The only time it gets used is if I choose to make a call. Only a few people I know have the number and they all know to not bother calling as my phone won't be turned on. I never learned how to retrieve messages on it. :D

I don't have a clue if my cute little phone does text message. Isn't anything I'm into. Do they all have the capability?

[ekerr19]

Sail & Lisa -

My kids text me, so I've gotten "into" it - many times they only answer texts, lol because their phones are on silent.

I have tried to get DH into texting, but he is so S-L-O-W at it, he hates when we text him - and usually just calls us back, lol.

My DD can text as fast as I can talk!

Sail - not all can text, but most newer ones do - if it's not part of your plan, it can be very expensive. Needless to say, we have unlimited texting because of the kids.

[Artanis]

Does anyone know/remember Cupcaked (Karen)? There are some others just on the tip of my brain, but I'd see them mainly on the Celebrity boards (1998-2001...)
Mors, I think is one ... I'll have to go visit there to jog the memory...another guy was the resident Celebrity "basher" but was a good poster, was just noting differences he was seing that ticked him off. I think he'd compare X to HAL, but had previously loved X. Pretty sure his name ended in an "I". Now this thread is driving me nuts trying to remember :o I found CC back when it was AOL keyword "cruise" on our new Packard Bell :D (about 1997 or so) and found our TA on here :>)
She's handling our first HAL next August, Maasdam Canada/NE.

Ahh rememer! 'Twas Parnami.

[TedC]

Remember "LewKnick" - or something like that? He always had good insights. and interesting posts.

Last I read he was in poor health after serious injuries as a contract worker in Iraq. Sure hope he's still with us and recovering.

[sail7seas]

I think his name was closer to llknick........

He was severely injured and lost limbs. I hope I am mistaken but I believe he passed away. I certainly apologize in advance if I'm wrong but I'm quite sure I remember hearing that. He was very intelligent; an excellent poster.

[ekerr19]

Remember "LewKnick" - or something like that? He always had good insights. and interesting posts.

Last I read he was in poor health after serious injuries as a contract worker in Iraq. Sure hope he's still with us and recovering.

I remember him!

It was Iknick, wasn't it????

[sail7seas]

That's it Laura. I seem to remember someone posted here for him that he had written a book which was published and may have promised to provide a link re: title/where to buy it.

[RuthC]

Question: how big was your first cell phone? Mine was gigantic compared to what I have today - and it didn't take pictures, have color graphics (no graphics!), had a ridiculously long antenna that was prone to break and reception was awful - to top it off, it weighed a ton!
That was my brick! I just got rid of mine within the last few months---and not because I wanted to, either! :mad: The company forced me to get a new one because they were not going to have analog service soon.
There was nothing wrong with it at all; but my new one is smaller and much lighter, I will admit.

[Orcrone]

That was my brick! I just got rid of mine within the last few months---and not because I wanted to, either! :mad: The company forced me to get a new one because they were not going to have analog service soon.
There was nothing wrong with it at all; but my new one is smaller and much lighter, I will admit.
When you also throw in how much easier it will keep a signal, how much better the reception is, and especially how much longer your battery will last you probably won't miss your brick for long.

Now that I charge my cell phone once every few days I can hardly believe a 20 minute conversation used to run the battery down to nothing.

[RuthC]

When you also throw in how much easier it will keep a signal, how much better the reception is, and especially how much longer your battery will last you probably won't miss your brick for long.
Remember when people said "Oh, I'm just getting it for emergencies"? Well, that's what I use mine for. I've turned the new one on once. Don't believe I've made a call with it yet. :rolleyes:
I used to charge the old one once a year just to be sure.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Remember when people said "Oh, I'm just getting it for emergencies"? Well, that's what I use mine for. ............

Me, too, Ruth! And I love the security of having it. I have a Verizon pre-pay and use it so little I've accummulated 49 hours of talk time!!!!

My first "cell" phone was called a mobile phone, I think. I called it a car phone. It was by Motorola and it came in a little zippered case.

I feel so sad about Iknick ...

[Cruising-along]

DH works for Verizon Wireless, and he's constantly replacing our phones with "the latest".....seems like I just learn one phone and he's gotten new phones :mad: Being technologically challenged (and I admit this freely :o ), I don't know how to do 3/4 the stuff my phone can do! As for texting, that seems like too much trouble to me too!
We did make a big change though, we got rid of our land line phone, and are using only our cells. Saves a bundle, we were paying outrageous amounts to the phone company in fees etc. just to have it sit on a desk, whether we used it or not. I didn't think I'd like changing, but now I love it. No more telemarketer calls either ;)

[ekerr19]

I'll admit I finally decided to go the Blackberry route - tried the BB Pearl, didn't care for it - now DS uses it and loves it.

I DO love my current BB, though forwarding email via Windows Vista (my work) has it's challenges...

I hope those of you that "use it for emergencies only" are better at that than my Mom!!! My Mom is one of those "emergency users" and didn't even know how to turn the phone on, lol!!!! She also did not know how to access the VM - and we were leaving her tons of messages while she travelled last - thankfully (!) a flight attendant helped her.... last time I was there, I programmed a bunch of important contact numbers into it for her.

Marc - I love, love, love having only to charge every 4th day or so, and I use mine a bunch!

[sail7seas]

Yup...... I'm one of 'them', Laura. :)

I know how to make a call and would know how to answer one if I purposely left the phone on in order to receive an expected call.

That's it.

I never recorded a voice mail message and don't have a clue how to nor how to hear any voice mail which may be left for me. :( I cannot retrieve any style message.

My niece entered some numbers for automatic dialing for me but I never have accessed them.

I have so many thousands of unused minutes it's ridiculous. I am most certainly so overpaying for the plan I have that they must laugh their faces off at what a moron I am. :o

I check every now and then to be sure it is still charged. :D

[ekerr19]

Yup...... I'm one of 'them', Laura. :)

I know how to make a call and would know how to answer one if I purposely left the phone on in order to receive an expected call.

That's it.

I never recorded a voice mail message and don't have a clue how to nor how to hear any voice mail which may be left for me. :( I cannot retrieve any style message.

My niece entered some numbers for automatic dialing for me but I never have accessed them.

I have so many thousands of unused minutes it's ridiculous. I am most certainly so overpaying for the plan I have that they must laugh their faces off at what a moron I am. :o

I check every now and then to be sure it is still charged. :D



Well, at least you can turn yours on!!! My Mom couldn't. :confused: I'm a firm believer - It's still much better to have it when you need it - than not have it when you absolutely need it in an emergency. It's one of those things that could one day save a life - that's the main reason we have them for our kids (not to check up on them or anything, of course.... ;) )

[Sea Island Lady]

My 81 year old mother received a notice from her cell phone company saying that she would have to replace her phone because they were going analog. She took the phone to a kiosk in the mall and asked what she needed. The salesperson said that her phone was perfectly fine (even though it is ancient) and that the company just sends those notices out to get people to buy new phones. I suggested that she just use her phone until it dies. She probably makes a call once every 6 months. :D Keeps it in her car and only turns it on when she needs it. Same for my DH. :rolleyes:

I did a search and came up with the following information on Lknick.
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=319820

[HeatherInFlorida]

......................
I hope those of you that "use it for emergencies only" are better at that than my Mom!!! My Mom is one of those "emergency users" and didn't even know how to turn the phone on, lol!!!!........

.............I'm a firm believer - It's still much better to have it when you need it - than not have it when you absolutely need it in an emergency. It's one of those things that could one day save a life - that's the main reason we have them for our kids

I try to remember to turn mine on whenever I leave the house so that I can be REACHED in an emergency as well as use it for my own emergency. So, yup! I can turn it on:) . Actually I'm very good at operating all this new stuff and I'm not in the least challenged technically ... I just don't particularly like anything about cell phones.

But you are so right!!!!:) For emergencies, it is the best invention ever. During my own emergency several years ago I'm not sure what I would have done without it. Now I never leave home without it.

[sail7seas]

Thanks for the link. That was a year and a half ago. It was sad to reread it now.

[Orcrone]

Remember when people said "Oh, I'm just getting it for emergencies"? Well, that's what I use mine for. I've turned the new one on once. Don't believe I've made a call with it yet. :rolleyes:
I used to charge the old one once a year just to be sure.
Well now you can charge it every other year.:D ;)

[Orcrone]

Marc - I love, love, love having only to charge every 4th day or so, and I use mine a bunch!
DW and I went away overnight, so I charged up my phone cell and left the charger at home, after all it's only overnight. Well when we went to the beach I stuck it in the roomsafe. When I took it out that night the battery was dead. Turns out I forgot to turn it off. It couldn't receive a signal in an all metal box and ran the battery dry trying to find a signal.:o