My Computer History

Background

I have used computers since about 1986. Over the years I have used a lot of machines and written a lot of programs. Here is the summary.

High Level Languages

C# using Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2008, 2005 and 2003,
- .NET Framework 3.5, 3, 2 and 1.1
- .NET remoting
- Data Access using Linq, ADO .NET, ADO and OleDB consumer classes
- Deployment to Windows Server 2003

C\C++,
- Microsoft Visual C++ (7, 6, 5, 1.52b) using WTL, STL, ATL, MFC and Windows API,
- Borland C++ (5, 3.1, 1),
- Watcom C version 10,
- djgpp,
- gcc on Solaris 2.6, AIX, Linux (Debian 2.2 Kernel).

Visual BASIC (6, 5, 3).

My preferred editor is Microsoft Visual Studio 6 because it is small and fast. Eclipse is nice, but it takes too much memory.

Web technologies

ASP.NET and Classic ASP,
HTML, PHP 4, XML (MSXML DOM and SAX, Xalan),
JavaScript and VBScript (In Active Server Pages, embedded in HTML and running in wscript\cscript on the command line),
Java Sun JDK 1.3 (Eclipse, JBuilder 3).

I have used and configured IIS 5, Apache and Bad-Blue for production and test systems.
I have written .htaccess files for Apache and maintain a forum using phpbb on a Linux server.

Database technologies

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express\2000\7\6.5,
Oracle 8i,
MySQL 4,
Microsoft Access 2002\2000\97.

Microsoft SQL Server is used in a professional capacity. Microsoft Access has been used on smaller projects. Oracle 8i was used in a previous job. I use MySQL 4 and MySQL Navigator at home to backup and restore forums for 2 web sites.

Low Level Languages

Intel 80286, 80386 and 80486 assembly,
Motorola 68020 and 68000 assembly,
Digital PDP 11 assembly,
Zilog Z80 assembly (Spectrum 48k+, 128k+2).

No Longer Used High Level Languages

Ada 83,
Amiga AMOS,
Atari ST STOS and GFA BASIC,
Sinclair BASIC (48k, 48k+, 128k+2),
BBC BASIC and COMAL.

I have written some C and C++ programs on various UNIX formats in previous jobs and at the University of Paisley, where I studied for 4 years. I graduated there in 1996 with a 2nd Class BSc (Honours) Degree in Software Engineering. I completed my honours project in Enhancing a known Data Compression algorithm where I turned an Adaptive Huffman\Lempel-Ziv compression algorithm into a fully functioning loss-less data compression package. Differential Compression was also investigated.

Operating systems

Windows Server 2003, XP, 2000, NT, ME, 98, 95, Windows For Workgroups, 3.1,
DOS 6.22, 6, 5, 3,
SUNOS 5.5, Solaris 2.6, Linux (Debian 2.2 Kernel),
Apple System 6 (Mac IIsi), KickStart 3.0, 1.3, TOS 1.62.

Hardware programmed directly

Thomson PGA video capture card driver (C++) made accessible for VB3,
EGA\VGA graphics cards,
Amiga blitter and copper lists,
Atari ST MFP.

My Computers

Current

2006: Laptop

Acer TravelMate 2423WXMI, Celeron (1.5GHz, 400MHz Bus, 1Mb cache), 1Gb DDR-2 PC4300 RAM, Hitachi HTS541612J9AT00 120Gb PATA drive (8Mb Cache, 5400RPM, ATA-6).
Pioneer DVR-K16RA DVD±R/RW dual layer writer 8/24 (Firmware 1.16). 3 USB ports.

2006: Backup PC

P4-2GHz Northwood (400MHz Bus, 512k cache), ASRock P4VM800 motherboard (LAN\Sound\Video onboard), 1Gb DDR PC2100 RAM, NVidia GeForce FX 5500 (256Mb RAM, 8x AGP), Maxtor 6Y080MO (2Mb Cache, 7200RPM, SATA), MDT 40Gb (2Mb Cache, 7200RPM, SATA), Pioneer 112D DVD±R/RW dual layer writer 16/40 (Firmware 1.15). 6 USB ports.

Foxconn TLM-397 Micro ATX case. Nexus 3600 PHT CPU cooler. Nexus NX-3000 300W Power Supply.

2006: Mame PC

Dell Optiplex GX260. P4-2GHz Northwood (400MHz Bus, 512k cache), 512Mb PC2100 RAM, 40Gb Hard Disk. SFF motherboard (Onboard LAN\Sound\Video onboard).
Goldstar CD-ROM Drive. 6 USB ports.

Original Western Digital Protégé WD400 (40Gb, 5400rpm) replaced with Seagate Barracuda (40Gb, 7200rpm).

Accessories

Fujitsu Siemens 17 inch TFT-LCD Monitor, Microsoft Intellimouse, 2 port KVM switch.
Samsung 711MP TV\Monitor used as a replacement for Philips CM8833-II.
Inventel Wireless Router, printer, scanner, webcam.
Alcatel Speedtouch ADSL modem also available.

Due for recycling

2006: PC

Dell Optiplex GX150
P3-866MHz, integrated Intel graphics card, 4 port USB 2.0

Western Digital Protégé (10Gb, 5400rpm) hard disk replaced with Western Digital Protégé WD400 (40Gb, 5400rpm).

2004-2006: PC

Binned

2004-2006: PC

P3-733, 128Mb RAM, 40Gb Hard Disk (2Mb Cache, 7200RPM, ATA133), ATI 16Mb video card.
Originally intended as a MAME machine but now too slow. Made from old P4 case and parts from eBay costing about £30.

2002-2006 IBM ThinkPad T20

P3-700, 192Mb RAM, 12Gb IBM-DJSA-220 (512k Cache, 4200 RPM, ATA66), S3 Graphics Inc Savage IX PCI graphics, Hitachi DVD-ROM (GD-S250), IBM ThinkPad Fast Infrared Port, 3Com 56k v.90 Mini PCI modem, IBM ThinkPad 1024*768 TFT LCD Panel, 3Com 10/100 Mini PCI Ethernet adaptor, PCMCIA Adaptor (Texas instruments PCI-1450 CardBus controller), Crystal SoundFusion sound card.
Good for testing the Nimmo project over a network.

Still got, still working

2007: Commodore C64C

Nice, clean machine.
Has 8580 SID chip.

2007: Commodore C64

Needed VIC-II and keyboard from spare parts machine.
Has 6581 SID chip.

2006: ZX Spectrum 128k+2

Good for RGB-Scart testing.

2002: ZX Spectrum 48k+

Bought on eBay for £8. Took a bit of cleaning up but now in excellent condition. I had to get one for old times sake.

2000: Atari 520STFM

TOS 1.4, 512k RAM. Bought a second hand STFM AGAIN because I thought I might have a go at programming an emulator but it is simply too difficult! Excellent for nostalgia. Second hand fun.

2000: Atari 2.5Mb STF

Used for spare parts to make the STE work during disk conversion.

Modificications:
2006: Replacement PSU and keyboard purchased. Original floppy drive returned to this machine.

1994: Commodore Amiga 1200

Excellent demos and a few good games. The hard disk is really required to use the North C compiler. The Zappo external PCMCIA CDROM beat PC drives at that time, but I still swapped it later for the hard disk. 68020 was nice, Kickstart 3.0.

Modifications:
2006: Amiga PCMCIA TCP-IP link setup!
2006: 60Mb hard disk broke! Replaced with a 230Mb hard disk.

1992: Commodore Amiga 500

Kickstart 1.3, 512k Chipram, 512k Fastram. Modified (track cut) to provide 1Mb Chipram for CDTV.
A very nice machine.

1991: Atari 4160STe

TOS 1.6. Originally a 520k machine upgraded to 1Mb by 4*256k SIMMs.
After a few years the keyboard, floppy drive and power supply all had to be replaced.

Modifications:
2006: Short button floppy drive and matching lid purchased, original key tops used, STF keyboard used. Upgraded to 4Mb.
2001: Floppy drive, keyboard and PSU from 2Mb STF used. The STF has a long button so I had to use the STF lid too!

1986: ZX Spectrum 48k

Second hand, but this was the first computer I ever owned and I am extremely fond of it. A classic.

Modifications:
2007: Rusty, weak DC Socket replaced with one from a Panasonic TU-CT21 Freeview Box on 22nd April 2007. Next day was the 48k's 25th Birthday!
2001: The keyboard was cleaned and membrane replaced. I bought 2 keyboard membranes from Trade-In-Post for £6 each just incase it ever needs another one in my life time.

Games Consoles

2007: Nintendo DS

For Yoshi's Island DS.

2007: PS-One

Required for Arcade Party Pak!

2006: Sony PlayStation 2 Compact

Ideal for Outrun 2006, GT4, THPS 3 and Klonoa 2 and an excellent DVD player.
Model number: SCPH-77003 CB

2006: Microsoft XBox

For Panzer Dragoon Orta and Outrun 2. Second hand of course.

2004: N64

Purchased second hand with Mario 64 and Mischief Makers.

2000: Sega Dreamcast

Shenmue, Shenmue 2, MSR and the best version of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater.

1997: Sega Saturn

Essential for Sega Ages, Sega Rally, Sonic Jam, Panzer Dragoon, Panzer Dragoon Zwei and Panzer Dragoon Saga.

Sold on

Computers

2001-2004: PC

P3-800, GigaByte GA-6VXC7-4X motherboard, 256Mb RAM, 40Gb Maxtor (2Mb Cache, 7200RPM, ATA100), 40Gb Western Digital (2Mb Cache, 7200RPM, ATA100), 10\100 Ethernet card, Matsushita SR-8585 DVD-ROM 8/40 (Firmware 1x32), LiteOn DVD±R/RW SOHW-812S 12/40 (Firmware US0A), 56k Modem.

ATI All-In-Wonder Rage Pro 16Mb PCI replaced with Voodoo 3-3000 AGP (£5.99 from eBay) for better performance.

2000-2001: PC

P2-350, 128Mb. Upgraded motherboard, CPU and memory to P3-800, 128Mb (133MHz) at trade-in shop (17/3/2001).

1997-2002: PC

P200, 64Mb RAM, 2.6Gb Western Digital (512k Cache, 5400RPM, ATA33), 4Mb SIS graphics card, 56k Modem, 10\100 Ethernet card, Teac 24x CD.

1994-2000: PC

Digital (DEC) 433. 80486sx33, 4Mb RAM, 240Mb Western Digital hard disk, ATI 512k Wonder graphics card. Good for Windows 3.1 and Borland C++ 3.1 for DOS. Still the fastest booting PC I have ever seen!

1990-1991: Atari 520STFM

TOS 1.4, 512k RAM. Sold to upgrade to an STe.

1988-1990: ZX Spectrum 48k+

Better keyboard, loudspeaker and less wobbly interface. We bought it with Full Throttle from John Menzies. I regret selling it now...

Games consoles

25th March 2005-23rd April 2007: Sony PS2 Compact

Swapped for Mark's old PS2 so he could upgrade, old PS2 traded for Nintendo DS.

1st December 2001-25th March 2005: Sony PlayStation 2

SCPH-30003 R, traded-in for a PS2 Compact.

3rd January 1998-21st December 2001: Sony PlayStation

Rage Racer, FF7, Retro Force and Klonoa were excellent but now I can play them on the PS2!

Video cards

Voodoo3-3500

30/9/2000-19/10/2002.
16Mb AGP. Upgraded to ATI All-In-Wonder Rage Pro. I'll miss the pod (sniff).
Gone to a good home.

SIS 6326

9/10/1999-19/10/2002.
4Mb PCI. Better base card for Voodoo 2.

Voodoo 2

13/8/1999-30/9/2000.
12Mb PCI. My PC was too slow for this lovely card! Upgraded to a Voodoo 3-3500 and a new PC.

Cirrus Logic CL6446

18/12/1997-19/10/2002.
1Mb PCI. This was a base card but only one quarter of the size of the old ISA version.

CD Writers

Pioneer 111D DVD±R/RW dual layer writer 16/40 (Firmware 1.06), 21/4/2006-3/6/2007,
Teac W58E, (IDE), (32x read, 8x write, 8x rewrite), CDRW, 12/5/2001-12/6/2004,
Matsushita 7502 (Compro), (SCSI), (4x read, 2x write), CDRW, 12/12/1998-12/5/2001.

DVD Readers

Matsushita SR-8585 DVD-ROM 8/40 (Firmware 1x32).

Hard disks

Maxtor 6Y080LO IDE drive (2Mb Cache, 7200RPM, ATA100).

Memory

512Mb DDR 3200 RAM

Monitors

CRT

Relisys RE767
AOC Spectrum 4V1r
DEC PC LPv 433SX monitor
Philips CM8833-II
Thomson EGA\RGB compatible monitor

Backup drives

100Mb Zip Drive (22/3/1997-21/12/2003).

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