Monday, January 21, 2013

Hello, World!

20130121_typecast

Typed on a 1957 Underwood Universal (from the post-ENIAC age)
Underwood Universal, c.1957


What I didn't mention in the typecast is that this means I'm also dipping my toe into being a mobile-computing-device-owner, although I have yet to desire or need a "smart" phone. What's driving this decision is mainly my desire to edit my novel, and not having any time in which to do it, or access to the home computer (where the draft resides) when I do have the time. Inspired by this photo of an AlphaSmart/tablet hookup and Mr. Speegle's own foray into the tablet-driven revision lifestyle (and emboldened with unspent Christmas cash from my family) I'm dipping my toes in. So it's all for writing, you see, and not solely gadget lust.

That's my story, anyhow. If you could have told 30-years-ago-me that I've be able, in my lifetime, to have Star-Trek like technology in my lap, and program it, I would have scoffed you right out of my room. Not that I would have been able to hear you over the din of the cassette drive, mind you.

5 comments:

Mike Speegle said...

Funny, "it's all for the writing" was much the same excuse I used once upon a time!

In all seriousness, though, having a portable, cloud-able editing device has really really improved the quality of my first drafts, making them almost readable. Almost.

Still hasn't improved my speed any, though.

Oh, and "right through the nostalgia gland" gave me a few good chucks indeed.

mpclemens said...

'Tis funny, the little lies we tell ourselves, ain't it?

I'm already dreaming of a Scrivener-like setup, tracking revised sections and assembling into a single document at the end.

But first: "Hello world"

Bill M said...

Ah yes, those first programs. I remember well all the flavors of Basic, PL/M and many others. Still the typewriter rages on while my TI-99/4A collects dust and mildew someplace.

notagain said...

Back in the early 90's when I splurged on a 386, I found an old Mad magazine that had a program to type in, and did so in QBASIC. It turned out to be Alfred E. Neuman's face.
The fact that computer mags didn't have programs to type in any more is why I went into ham radio.

Richard P said...

Atari still exists? Wow!