+9640News Posted January 6, 2018 Share Posted January 6, 2018 I was just going through some old newsletters and found some comments I posted on TI-ECHO back in 1994 with the response of others. All I can say is wow, was I ever wrong. Beery 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+9640News Posted January 6, 2018 Author Share Posted January 6, 2018 This is from the OTIUG Newsletter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ksarul Posted January 6, 2018 Share Posted January 6, 2018 What is also interesting is that all of the folks in that post are part of the community--over 20 years later! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+InsaneMultitasker Posted January 6, 2018 Share Posted January 6, 2018 (edited) Ah yes, I recall that period of time, and the proverbial 'last straw' that elicited a good portion of my rant. I'm glad the predictions were wrong among other things Edited January 6, 2018 by InsaneMultitasker 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted January 6, 2018 Share Posted January 6, 2018 Were you working for Gartner in the 90s? They have predicted the death of the desktop computer every year. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tursi Posted January 6, 2018 Share Posted January 6, 2018 This is from the OTIUG Newsletter. Oh god, that was me that put that together. I'm so sorry! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+9640News Posted January 7, 2018 Author Share Posted January 7, 2018 Oh god, that was me that put that together. I'm so sorry! No issue. I'm a bit surprised I wrote such a note at the time. I was just looking at some newsletters that were in jpg format on whtech and clicked one, and there I was. Beery 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Schmitzi Posted January 7, 2018 Share Posted January 7, 2018 If you all knew what I am talking sometimes, you would panic-stricken run away. Screaming out loud. :-D 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Opry99er Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 awesome.... 23 years later.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InfernalKeith Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 Interesting to see Tim's comments on feeling unappreciated for software work, in light of the recent meltdown and exile of a new member who didn't find responses to his liking. I remember reading a letter to the editor of MICROpendium in the early 90s from a programmer, lamenting his slow sales, and angrily pointing out that the community would have to depend on "freeware from retirees" from here on in. It's been thus for quite a while - when the user base is this small and diverse, you'd better be doing what you do for its own sake, and your own jollies, because that's all you're guaranteed. As for the rest, I don't think anyone can blame a "psychic" for not seeing how accessible the internet was about to become, and how much that was gonna change our lives. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+mizapf Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 It's been thus for quite a while - when the user base is this small and diverse, you'd better be doing what you do for its own sake, and your own jollies, because that's all you're guaranteed. Exactly. This is how I designed TIImageTool - it is intended as a tool that, in the first place, is helpful for me and contains all features I deem to be useful. I just once diverted from this path by adding CF7 compatibility, even though I do not have any CF7, and in the end I got the impression that the additional work did not really pay off because only few people using TIMT would also use it for CF7. I think the same view applies for the overall MAME project as well, even though the user base is much bigger (in particular for the arcade part). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 As for the rest, I don't think anyone can blame a "psychic" for not seeing how accessible the internet was about to become, and how much that was gonna change our lives. I was concerned. At the point the Internet was becoming commercially available I had been on-line for about six years or so. I told my best friend at the time, "we're just not ready as a society for these kinds of mass connections." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinphaltimus Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 "we're just not ready as a society for these kinds of mass connections." I believe this is true - even today - but more-so over how those connections have been implemented under certain services. (Social Media) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+acadiel Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 Oh god, that was me that put that together. I'm so sorry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+acadiel Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 Interesting to see Tim's comments on feeling unappreciated for software work, in light of the recent meltdown and exile of a new member who didn't find responses to his liking. I remember reading a letter to the editor of MICROpendium in the early 90s from a programmer, lamenting his slow sales, and angrily pointing out that the community would have to depend on "freeware from retirees" from here on in. It's been thus for quite a while - when the user base is this small and diverse, you'd better be doing what you do for its own sake, and your own jollies, because that's all you're guaranteed. As for the rest, I don't think anyone can blame a "psychic" for not seeing how accessible the internet was about to become, and how much that was gonna change our lives. I think just about everyone has a mini meltdown or such every once in a while. I had some stuff going on a few years ago in my life (illness, moving twice in six months, etc) that caused a short term meltdown. Ksarul talked some sense into me, though Just tells me folks here are human, and we need affirmation, and being here for each other for those that they've known for quite a long time is almost part of the job description. About the new member that abruptly left, I can't even begin to speculate what they might have going on in their life. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+adamantyr Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 Interesting to see Tim's comments on feeling unappreciated for software work, in light of the recent meltdown and exile of a new member who didn't find responses to his liking. I remember reading a letter to the editor of MICROpendium in the early 90s from a programmer, lamenting his slow sales, and angrily pointing out that the community would have to depend on "freeware from retirees" from here on in. It's been thus for quite a while - when the user base is this small and diverse, you'd better be doing what you do for its own sake, and your own jollies, because that's all you're guaranteed. As for the rest, I don't think anyone can blame a "psychic" for not seeing how accessible the internet was about to become, and how much that was gonna change our lives. With the vintage computing hobby, you should definitely have a large amount of motivation on your own to do things. Positive feedback from anywhere will be elusive and rare. What's fun (sort of) is how more than half my co-workers are younger than some of the computer magazines I own. Oi. #GetOffMyLawn #InMyDayWeHad4KandLikedIt! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InfernalKeith Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 Yeah, many of the people I work with could biologically be my kids. It's strange talking to people who have no concept of the internet before social media, computers before PC and Mac, music and games as physical media, etc. I try to stay open minded but I definitely feel that old guy's temptation to just burrow into my nest of familiar stuff and let the rest of the world go by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digdugnate Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 lol, as probably one of the youngest (I'll be 40 this year), i always try to keep it in check. i really want to be more involved on a technical level with the TI hobby, but it just isn't in the cards for me right now. I will still continue to be a cheerleader, tho! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+InsaneMultitasker Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 Interesting to see Tim's comments on feeling unappreciated for software work, in light of the recent meltdown and exile of a new member who didn't find responses to his liking. I remember reading a letter to the editor of MICROpendium in the early 90s from a programmer, lamenting his slow sales, and angrily pointing out that the community would have to depend on "freeware from retirees" from here on in. It's been thus for quite a while - when the user base is this small and diverse, you'd better be doing what you do for its own sake, and your own jollies, because that's all you're guaranteed. As for the rest, I don't think anyone can blame a "psychic" for not seeing how accessible the internet was about to become, and how much that was gonna change our lives. Context is everything. I don't feel that the historical snips give a good sense of situation back then. IMHO, the recent meltdown and exile has little in common with the past. Users had abandoned ship for the PC and other venues. Hardware and software sales had slowed considerably, the repair situation was in dire shape, people whose livelihood was linked to the TI were either feeling a lot of pressure from those that remained or were threatening to leave. What I and many others did for fun was under assault by the consumers who didn't understand (or didn't care to understand) that this was our hobby, too. Thankfully, 20+ years later the ugliness has disappeared and has been replaced by the desire to learn, have fun, and make social connections with people interested in the TI as a vintage hobby. The current resurgence is pushing the Ti capability envelope without the pressures that existed back then. It is a good time to enjoy the hobby. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 I look at a lot of those predictions in a similar light as you akin to, what was at the time, the looming Y2K apocalypse that was not so because people took action to prevent it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+acadiel Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 :-) (And yes, you can buy them on redbubble). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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