When did computers start to become regualry used?

Lordy · 6th April 2016, 21:29

Hiya all I have a question regarding computer technology, when was it when computers were starting to hit the market?

was it the early 60's or 70's?
I found some tapes in Ferodo, yes went back again and found some floppy discs and cassete tapes as well, which look like they were voice recorded its got the dates on them as well.

Just wanted to know when computers started to take form and when all business had them for storing data work targets etc.

Jim Jamieson · 6th April 2016, 23:24

Early 70's I would say. We had a system at work in the local Austin Rover Main Dealer and it was housed in a room by its own.

The paper used then was the large wide sheet type with the punch holes either side.

I had a friend who worked at Digital in Ayr and remember being invited to an open day there. He said within a couple of years almost everyone will have a PC in their home.
I thought he was a bit sceptical but within just a few years PC's were made available to everyone.

I still have my original Windows 95 PC dry stored in the loft (sad NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD- )

BTW I've also got loads of those early floppy discs some unused.

Dragrad · 7th April 2016, 00:25

Floppy disks...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floppy_disk

May be of help

As to when computer became to be regularly used..... This is open to interpretation... Government, business or domestic ?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer

Well you did ask

Lordy · 7th April 2016, 00:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Jamieson

Early 70's I would say. We had a system at work in the local Austin Rover Main Dealer and it was housed in a room by its own.

The paper used then was the large wide sheet type with the punch holes either side.

I had a friend who worked at Digital in Ayr and remember being invited to an open day there. He said within a couple of years almost everyone will have a PC in their home.
I thought he was a bit sceptical but within just a few years PC's were made available to everyone.

I still have my original Windows 95 PC dry stored in the loft (sad NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD- )

BTW I've also got loads of those early floppy discs some unused.

Ok so if they were came out in the 70's that means during the 60's They wouldn't have anything dating from the 1960's which was the time my Grand father was working then.

Damn it.

I was hoping to find some sort of record of my grand fathers employment there.

guess I'll have to search the paper work or old kept files.

How ever I did find something interesting in a red file, design specifications of for brake discs, pads and callipers with carriers and yes it had Rover spec as well.

I reckon these were going to be designed and sold on to different garages or company's that would buy them, there was a few on there too, including Rover SD1. Rover 800 Rover 400 Rover 416 Aussie spec, Rover 200 I can go on, didn't find anything on the 75 or ZT tho, then again the file was 2001 dated.

Just one question back then they did use to record there own messages and send them away, like manufacturing updates and business sort of thing? I found lots of tapes, no music on them, there all dated and have specific instruction on them too.

Lordy · 7th April 2016, 00:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragrad

Floppy disks...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floppy_disk

May be of help

As to when computer became to be regularly used..... This is open to interpretation... Government, business or domestic ?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer

Well you did ask

Thanks Andrew.

I remember when I was school using floppy discs, remember jamming one of them in the machine as well and wouldn't pop out.

oops.

I was looking into lines of bushiness when they started suing them more then anything, but the wikki link is proving to be an interesting read.

Thanks again Andrew.

Lancpudn · 7th April 2016, 07:27

When I was at school the nearest thing to a PC was a nib pen you dipped in the inkwell on your desk lol, Blotting paper was big back then .

Phil-T4 · 7th April 2016, 07:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragrad

Floppy disks...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floppy_disk

May be of help

As to when computer became to be regularly used..... This is open to interpretation... Government, business or domestic ?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer

Well you did ask

When i started working with computers its was the 8" floppy disk and paper tape and now i feel old

chipsceola · 7th April 2016, 08:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil-T4

When i started working with computers its was the 8" floppy disk and paper tape and now i feel old

So do I; first experience of a computer terminal was in a wooden box, you set levers on the front for input to print receipt onto customer payment card, it did have a 'modem' - you placed big old black BT phone into what looked like a shoebox to connect to mainframe at head office, upload/ download and processing time was strictly limited in minutes per month.

First IBM look-a-like cost me over £1000 with 20mb HD 64K RAM and 3.25" floppy drive with no software apart from DOS 6.0, wanted it to do something, write you own programme in DOS or BASIC.

maxxpump · 7th April 2016, 08:39

my first computer was a Acorn BBC Master model B Installed with BASIC, Ive also had a atari ST and Commodore amiga's (A500, A600 and A1200).

I know the first computer was made during the end of the war, called colossus which was used for cracking the lorenz cipher for enigma, this was followed by some computers by remington rand and the americans (which probably nicked the tech from us!) then it was computers made by IBM and the rest is history! (but i guess the first computer was babbage's analytical engine, which was mechanical, colossus was the first valve electronic computer)

work system computers came in the 60's to early 70's, but these were huge computer systems! the first home computers were in the late 70's!

planenut · 7th April 2016, 08:47

My kids were born in 1977 and 1979, very shortly after we thought it wise to invest in a computer so that they were ahead at school.

There was the Sinclair, the Commodore, Amega or BBC, so went for a Sharps MZ700, well the salesman persuaded us. The Operating System was "Basic" and installed each time by cassette tape. We thought we were well up to date.

Data storage had been in since the late 1960's with computers requiring large sterile rooms; one of my colleagues at work now has the habit of sharing his snacks with everybody, 'cos he leaves bits for us in the keyboards. Computers have amazing ability which I estimate we only normally use about 5% of.

6th April 2016, 21:29	#1
Lordy This is my second home Ford Probe GT. Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Caenarfron Posts: 7,897 Thanks: 3,533 Thanked 2,516 Times in 1,481 Posts	When did computers start to become regualry used? Hiya all I have a question regarding computer technology, when was it when computers were starting to hit the market? was it the early 60's or 70's? I found some tapes in Ferodo, yes went back again and found some floppy discs and cassete tapes as well, which look like they were voice recorded its got the dates on them as well. Just wanted to know when computers started to take form and when all business had them for storing data work targets etc. __________________ Regardless of nation and Origin all Soldiers should be remembered past or present. Lest we forget. Never forget them and support our armed forces. https://i.imgur.com/oyca2Lyl.jpg?1 Passion Never Dies It Only Gets Stronger. Go your own way. Last edited by Lordy; 6th April 2016 at 21:45..

7th April 2016, 00:25	#3
Dragrad This is my second home *None DROWNED** Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Cardigan Posts: 33,339 Thanks: 1,257 Thanked 1,664 Times in 1,081 Posts	Floppy disks... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floppy_disk May be of help As to when computer became to be regularly used..... This is open to interpretation... Government, business or domestic ? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer Well you did ask __________________ Andrew Ich Dien Problem solving is... lateral thinking SEARCH FIRST ...ASK LATER...

7th April 2016, 07:27	#6
Lancpudn This is my second home MG ZS EV Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Lancashire Posts: 15,574 Thanks: 4,591 Thanked 3,427 Times in 2,565 Posts	When I was at school the nearest thing to a PC was a nib pen you dipped in the inkwell on your desk lol, Blotting paper was big back then . __________________ Blessed are the tea makers. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3b...auto-2000_auto

7th April 2016, 08:39	#9
maxxpump Posted a thing or two Rover 75 CDT Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Brighton Posts: 1,786 Thanks: 215 Thanked 244 Times in 205 Posts	my first computer was a Acorn BBC Master model B Installed with BASIC, Ive also had a atari ST and Commodore amiga's (A500, A600 and A1200). I know the first computer was made during the end of the war, called colossus which was used for cracking the lorenz cipher for enigma, this was followed by some computers by remington rand and the americans (which probably nicked the tech from us!) then it was computers made by IBM and the rest is history! (but i guess the first computer was babbage's analytical engine, which was mechanical, colossus was the first valve electronic computer) work system computers came in the 60's to early 70's, but these were huge computer systems! the first home computers were in the late 70's! __________________ Mods done: 160 upgrade, EGR bypass, Viton "O" rings, Fitted 16" unions, cleaned manifold, uprated air filter, fog lights, better bulbs, upgraded ICE and full speaker set up.

6th April 2016, 23:24	#2
Jim Jamieson This is my second home Rover less ! Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Tarbolton Posts: 3,442 Thanks: 393 Thanked 888 Times in 542 Posts	Early 70's I would say. We had a system at work in the local Austin Rover Main Dealer and it was housed in a room by its own. The paper used then was the large wide sheet type with the punch holes either side. I had a friend who worked at Digital in Ayr and remember being invited to an open day there. He said within a couple of years almost everyone will have a PC in their home. I thought he was a bit sceptical but within just a few years PC's were made available to everyone. I still have my original Windows 95 PC dry stored in the loft (sad NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD- ) BTW I've also got loads of those early floppy discs some unused.

7th April 2016, 08:47	#10
planenut Regional Secretary Rover 1.8T Tourer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Heathrow Posts: 6,954 Thanks: 1,551 Thanked 2,036 Times in 1,264 Posts	My kids were born in 1977 and 1979, very shortly after we thought it wise to invest in a computer so that they were ahead at school. There was the Sinclair, the Commodore, Amega or BBC, so went for a Sharps MZ700, well the salesman persuaded us. The Operating System was "Basic" and installed each time by cassette tape. We thought we were well up to date. Data storage had been in since the late 1960's with computers requiring large sterile rooms; one of my colleagues at work now has the habit of sharing his snacks with everybody, 'cos he leaves bits for us in the keyboards. Computers have amazing ability which I estimate we only normally use about 5% of.