Log in

View Full Version : My Life B.W., Before Wi-Fi

Jerry Raia
10-02-2006, 03:00 AM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/27/technology/circuits/27pogue.html?_r=1&ref=circuits&oref=slogin' target='_blank'>http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/27/technology/circuits/27pogue.html?_r=1&ref=circuits&oref=slogin</a><br /><br /></div><i>"I RECENTLY arrived at a hotel about an hour before a room would be available. So I sat in the lobby and opened my laptop. Just as I expected, a message popped up on my screen. “Do you want to join the wireless network ‘Free Lobby Wi-Fi?’ ” I clicked Yes, and off I went to E-mail Land. (Why is it that the expensive hotels charge for Internet access, but it’s free at the cheap ones?)"</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Jerry-NYTimes.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />Here is an amusing read about what most of us take for granted now. Getting online. How many of you have ever had to use an acoustic coupler? It has been a few years for me, ok maybe 25 or so. You need a subscription to read this but it might be worth it for grins.
Macguy59
10-02-2006, 03:25 AM
I sure do remember using a coupler . . . back in 1979 :lol:
Jerry Raia
10-02-2006, 03:35 AM
Ok maybe a few years earlier then. :lol:
Mike Temporale
10-02-2006, 02:12 PM
No coupler for me. but I sure did make good use out of my 1200 baud modem. :D Ah, the good old days. 8)
Tim Williamson
10-02-2006, 10:49 PM
What's a coupler? :oops:

I think the first modem I used was 9600 baud.
Jerry Raia
10-03-2006, 12:10 AM
It was a cradle with two cups where a phone handset would be placed to make a modem connection. The ones I remember were 300 baud. :lol:

http://www.cs.unc.edu/Outreach/vr/computer_museum/acousticcoupler1.html
Macguy59
10-03-2006, 12:23 AM
It was a cradle with two cups where a phone handset would be placed to make a modem connection. The ones I remember were 300 baud. :lol:

http://www.cs.unc.edu/Outreach/vr/computer_museum/acousticcoupler1.html

I feel old today :(
Jerry Raia
10-03-2006, 12:28 AM
Tell me about it. :(
bleeman
10-06-2006, 08:31 AM
I remember my first "mobile" connection. It was in 1978 and I had moved up enough within the ranks to be able to take home an AsciiScope from the office. It was a heavy (the case was steel) 24x80 dumb terminal with a 300 Baud coupler built into the top of it under a sliding door. It was GREAT! Not only could I connect back into the DECsystem-10 at the office, but on weekends I could play Adventure!

(Talk about feeling old 8O )