[ Retro Scan of the Week ] Running with Computers
June 17th, 2013 by Benj Edwards
The Otrona Attaché: For people who love teeny-tiny computer screens
Discussion Topic of the Week: Have you ever run as fast as you can while holding a computer? If not, what’s the largest object you’ve ever held while running full speed?
June 17th, 2013 at 6:08 pm
An old 386 (back when it wasn’t considered old). I was moving, an waited until the last second, because I wanted it to ride up in front of the van/truck to lessen the risk of it being crushed under other things. I rushed out of my house as fast as I could with that monstrosity. The computer did not get crushed or nicked, but I learned a hard lesson that day about parking the drive heads…
June 19th, 2013 at 8:59 pm
Love the guy running to his helicopter, don’t think they were targeting Joe Sixpack here… Crazy that this was state of the art only 30 years ago!
Can’t say I’ve ran with computers this large, but have absolutely hustled through airports trying to catch connecting flights with a messenger bag containing my Mac draped across my back.
June 20th, 2013 at 6:29 am
That counts, MES. And great story, Dementropy. I’ve practically ran my way across airports carrying laptops and huge bags as well.
At various hamfests in the past, I’ve walked at a very brisk pace carrying 30 lb computers before. It usually happened when I bought too much to carry to the car in one trip, so I had to rush back ASAP to make sure the seller didn’t try to sell the item(s) to someone else while I was gone.
I have never run to a helicopter — either with a computer or not.
June 22nd, 2013 at 1:21 am
Back in middle school, probably around ’03/’04, I used to run with my Compaq laptop to get from one end of the school to the other in 7 minutes. I’m still not sure how I convinced them to let me bring it in… played solitaire in between taking history notes.
But it was worth it just to get that distraction in a harsh day of middle school. Windows 98 never let me down that year.
June 24th, 2013 at 3:48 pm
I recently got back to working on a Compaq Portable II I saved from going in a dumpster a few years ago. It’s about the size of that portable pc. All I have to do is install a new 3.6v lithium battery, so it will retain it’s bios settings (changing bios involves running a configuration floppy.) I’m hoping I can get the 20 mb Plus Hardcard to work, otherwise I’ll have to find another low capacity hdd to work with it.
July 5th, 2013 at 5:06 pm
Repeated trips hauling ass from my friend’s computer shop to the back of a truck with large 20-inch CRT monitors that had broken, getting them loaded as quickly as possible to take them to his brothers recycling facility.
Pretty sure I shrunk a few inches that day.