Re: Re: How do you use unix?
By: Rixter to KnightMare on Wed Sep 18 2024 03:32 am

I worked at university data center in the 80s and we used the 80 punch cards for student data storage. It was loud and slow.

In my high school computer class, we took a break from Commodore CBM systems to work on a WANG computer feeding batch jobs on punch cards. When we asked why we had to do it, my teacher said "Trust me, you'll understand some day".

Now, I get to say "WHY YOU KIDS HAVE IT SO EASY - WHEN I STARTED OUT WE HAD TO FEED BATCHES OF CARDS INTO THE COMPUTER TO SEE YOUR PROGRAM OUTPUT!"
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Re: Re: How do you use unix?
By: poindexter FORTRAN to Rixter on Mon Dec 16 2024 08:23 pm

In my high school computer class, we took a break from Commodore CBM systems to work on a WANG computer feeding batch jobs on punch cards. When we asked why we had to do it, my teacher said "Trust me, you'll understand some day".

When I was in school, they had typing classes in jr. high and high school, and there was also a programming class in high school as an elective. I took the typing class in 8th grade, and in 9th grade, I took the programming class and was hoping it would be C or C++, but they were teaching BASIC. They were still using a book from the late 70s, and this was the mid-90s when I was taking the class..

Nightfox

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Re: Re: How do you use unix?
By: Nightfox to poindexter FORTRAN on Tue Dec 17 2024 09:53 am

When I was in school, they had typing classes in jr. high and high school, and there was also a programming class in high school as an elective. I too

Looking back, the two classes I wish I took were typing and auto shop.

I'm a fast typist, but I'd be a helluva lot faster if I typed properly. I learned by hunt-n-peck, and just got better at it.

Auto shop? That was for the kids who weren't going to college!

They also got free time with floor jacks, lifts, engine hoists, pneumatic wrenches, oil drains, every wrench you could ever need, and specialty tools you could never afford to use once.

The kids in shop all had killer cars for a fraction of the cost of what it cost the other kids.
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Re: Re: How do you use unix?
By: poindexter FORTRAN to Nightfox on Tue Dec 17 2024 01:00 pm

Looking back, the two classes I wish I took were typing and auto shop.

I still benefit from taking typing in HS. That said, I'm sure you can learn using any of the online typing tutors today. The *main* thing is: don't look at the keyboard, no matter what. This'll slow you down at first, but in the end, you'll be a much faster typist, even with the inevitable mistakes.
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Re: Re: How do you use unix?
By: poindexter FORTRAN to Nightfox on Tue Dec 17 2024 01:00 pm

Looking back, the two classes I wish I took were typing and auto shop.

I don't remember auto shop being offered at my high school. I think it would have been useful, though I didn't get my driver's license or a car until I was 21.

Nightfox

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Re: Re: How do you use unix?
By: Digital Man to poindexter FORTRAN on Tue Dec 17 2024 01:45 pm

I still benefit from taking typing in HS. That said, I'm sure you can learn using any of the online typing tutors today. The *main* thing is: don't look at the keyboard, no matter what. This'll slow you down at first, but in the end, you'll be a much faster typist, even with the inevitable mistakes.

Yeah, I still benefit from taking typing. I was surprised to learn not too long ago that typing class typically isn't offered anymore these days.

Nightfox

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Re: Re: How do you use unix?
By: poindexter FORTRAN to Rixter on Mon Dec 16 2024 20:23:03

In my high school computer class, we took a break from Commodore CBM systems to work on a WANG computer feeding batch jobs
on punch cards. When we asked why we had to do it, my teacher said "Trust me, you'll understand some day".

Now, I get to say "WHY YOU KIDS HAVE IT SO EASY - WHEN I STARTED OUT WE HAD TO FEED BATCHES OF CARDS INTO THE COMPUTER TO
SEE YOUR PROGRAM OUTPUT!"

I've heard that some universities still have "coding on paper" courses, classes and exams. I don't think it has a purpose other than filtering out students. I was lucky enough to see a real FORTRAN punch card (as a door note) and to type a little on VT100 hardware terminal.

However, I've heard a story from one of IT teachers about writing code on paper so it could be passed to an operator, who typed it into a machine and gave back the printed (literally) output. It was back when computers were uncommon at home and when there was no IBM PC yet. At least not here.

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Re: Re: How do you use unix?
By: Digital Man to poindexter FORTRAN on Tue Dec 17 2024 01:45 pm

Re: Re: How do you use unix?
By: poindexter FORTRAN to Nightfox on Tue Dec 17 2024 01:00 pm

Looking back, the two classes I wish I took were typing and auto shop.

I still benefit from taking typing in HS. That said, I'm sure you can

learn
using any of the online typing tutors today. The *main* thing is: don't look at the keyboard, no matter what. This'll slow you down at first, but in the end, you'll be a much faster typist, even with the inevitable mistakes.

I took typing in the 7th or 8th grade. It's probably one of the few things I can say i really benefitted from in school. for HS I only went for 2 years and I was in a program where I took "technical college" courses for hs credit. Well i guess I benefitted from that because I had some great history teachers over there.

Anyways, I learned on electric typewriters. It was a great way to get a rhythm. To pass the class you had to go 1 on one with the teacher and beat her which
was pretty fun.

I was about 120wpm. Now, I'm nowhere near that but I can ramp it up; my accuracy is what has suffered.

I tried to teach my son how to type and also got him those mavis beacon program. He never liked it and he's now a hunt and peck typist.
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I took typing in the 7th or 8th grade. It's probably one of the few

The most useful class I ever took was Typing 1a from Mrs. Jean Welch during my first semester in high school. I use what she taught me every single day.

Anyways, I learned on electric typewriters.

A room full of IBM Selectrics. Go old school or go home.

ag

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Re: Re: How do you use unix?
By: Aaron Goldblatt to MRO on Thu Dec 19 2024 01:33 pm

The most useful class I ever took was Typing 1a from Mrs. Jean Welch during my first semester in high school. I use what she taught me every single day.

Anyways, I learned on electric typewriters.

A room full of IBM Selectrics. Go old school or go home.

Mine wasn't that old school. The typing class I took 8th grade in a classroom full of Mac Classics. My high school also offered a typing class, also in the Mac lab (they also had a section of IBM-compatible PCs in the same area).

Nightfox

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A room full of IBM Selectrics. Go old school or go home.

...

classroom full of Mac Classics.

My school had a like three SEs, one SE/30, and a single ][e in the physics teacher's room..

The newspaper staff raised thousands of dollars for Classics, but the principal stole the money to repaint lockers instead. But I'm not still bitter, over 30 years later. :-)

ag

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Aaron Goldblatt wrote to Nightfox <=-

The newspaper staff raised thousands of dollars for Classics, but the principal stole the money to repaint lockers instead. But I'm not still bitter, over 30 years later. :-)

That sucks - what school paints lockers, anyways?

My locker in 1983 had a handful of old 1960s and 1970s stickers on the
inside, including one from a radio station whose call sign was "Earth
Rock" and the logo looked like a 60s guy with a huge 'fro. It felt like
a time machine to a kid who'd only been interested in music for a few
years.

Is it weird that I remember my high school locker number and combination
all these years later?




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Re: Re: How do you use unix?
By: poindexter FORTRAN to Aaron Goldblatt on Fri Dec 20 2024 10:00 am

Is it weird that I remember my high school locker number and combination all these years later?

Mine changed every year. And I almost forgot we even used lockers in middle/high school..

Nightfox

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