I fall between YNCS and the Mad Professor (born mid-fifties), but my computer experience is similar. The first computer I programmed was a new IBM 360 in 1976. While we used card decks for our class, if we talked real nice to the instructor, we could go to the computer room and sit down at a teletype and interface directly with the computer!

My first professional computer job was managing system security for four Honeywell 68000 mainframes, in 1984. Less than six years later, we got some IBM XTs to use as terminals. We figured out that each PC had at least as much computing power as the mainframe it connected to. All it lacked was storage space and connectivity.


My first professional computer job was managing system security for four Honeywell 68000 mainframes, in 1984. Less than six years later, we got some IBM XTs to use as terminals. We figured out that each PC had at least as much computing power as the mainframe it connected to. All it lacked was storage space and connectivity.