[ Retro Scan ] Benj’s 1992 Christmas List
December 11th, 2017 by Benj Edwards
Seems like I wanted a computer
My father passed away in 2013, and since then, I have been slowly going through his possessions, including his papers, to take stock of what’s there and put things in order.
Last year, in the back of a tall metal file cabinet, I found a manila folder labelled “Christmas Lists.” Amazingly, it contained many of my handwritten childhood Christmas lists, addressed to both Santa and my parents. It was very touching to find. I had no idea my father had saved them.
Among these papers, I found this gem from 1992 (I pinpointed the date easily because I remember which year I wanted to get a Prodigy client set). I was 11 years old. That was also the first year I started my BBS.
Unlike my richly illustrated Christmas list from 1989, this one is all text. Among items like ‘G.I. Joe guy,’ a giant Hulk figure, and a snare drum, we find gems such as ‘Nintendo Game Genie,’ the aforementioned ‘Prodogy’ (sic), and “#1 gift! A COMPUTER!!!”
(I’m pretty sure the $15 was a joke.)
At the time, I was using a dreadfully slow monochrome IBM PS/2 Model 25 (with an 8086 CPU) to run my new BBS (that my dad had bought new around 1987), so I’m pretty sure that was the main reason I wanted a computer.
I didn’t get a new computer that Christmas. I think my dad bought me my first non-hand-me-down PC around 1994. But I did get a Prodigy connection kit, and you can read more about that in this classic post. And of course, best of all, I was surrounded by my loving, supportive family in a stable home. It was a great Christmas.
I was a lucky kid, and I am very grateful that my family encouraged me to explore what I loved. I plan to do that for my kids as well.
I hope all of you out there have a very Merry Christmas.
Discussion Topic: Have you ever received a computer for Christmas? Tell us about the first one.
December 11th, 2017 at 12:04 pm
This post got me. I also lost my father in 2013. It sounds like we were both very lucky to have them!
December 11th, 2017 at 2:27 pm
Thanks for you comment, twilitezoner. Sorry for your loss — and yes, I think we were both very lucky.
December 11th, 2017 at 3:22 pm
First computer was a Christmas gift for the family: a TI-99/4A. It was a lot of fun.
December 15th, 2017 at 12:35 pm
Technically a computer (since it’s in the name!), I received an Atari 2600 VCS during Christmas of 1980. Also received Maze Craze and I think one other game. I still have the 2600 and most of my cartridges, as well as several different joysticks/peripherals. Hooked it up a few years ago to the big screen, and it still worked!
December 16th, 2017 at 10:44 am
I am very lucky to still have my father, although his mind is going. 🙁 He always supported getting myself and my brother involved in computers. Our first was an Atari 2600 that we still have, then was a TI/994a that we still have that I recall programming on when I was in 3rd grade (approx 1981/82). Then came a stuff Commodore 64 setup including monitor, disk drive, and printer in 1984 that we still have, and then in 1988 our first pc–and IBM PS/2 30-286 which opened us to the world of IBMs and compatibles. We built our first custom system in the early 1990s and then another monster machine in 93/94. We still have all of the machines, although half are in the state of needing restoration in some form or another.
His investment in our computing skills has paid dividends as we were able to fix his business point of sale systems without $800 technicians and I was able to build an entire electronic document management system as well as corporate wan using leftover scrap parts for pennies on the dollar.
Someday when he will pass, I will need to mention this in his eulogy. I also need to spend more quality time while he is here.
December 17th, 2017 at 6:30 am
Heh. My pa wanted me to learn and use a computer with a Texas Instrument (TI) 99/4A back in 1983 or so in PA. I was scared of it. Haha. Although, I liked it after I found it could have games like my Atari 2600. 😛
December 28th, 2017 at 7:14 pm
The first computer I received for Christmas was a TI-99/4A. I got it the year they went bust and the computers were cheap. It was a good little computer. Programmed in many of the programs from a computer magazine since you couldn’t really find games for it anymore.
April 27th, 2023 at 3:35 pm
I got my first computer the Christmas of 1994. A Packard Bell Legend 18CD with a box of educational software CD disc. It was a 486/50Mhz with 8MB of ram. My brother and I loved this thing. Its is still running to this day. It’s now a decoration piece in my office running game demos. I will play an old game every once in a while on it.