So recently I suggested my dad get an iPod that he could plug into his car for his commutes. He works 30-45 minutes from where he lives. I gave up on broadcast music and entertainment in the car years ago when I bought an XM radio. I couldn't stand the constant breaks for commercials. When I got home I felt like I just listened to a big long commercial. I heard that 1/3 of the hour is commercials however that doesn't take into consideration all of the DJ's talking time and such. When I got my iPhone I started listening to music from my iPhone in the car as well as podcasts. 5 months later I have so many podcasts that I listen to that I rarely get through them and to the music. So back to my dad, I guess my suggestion got him thinking and after a bit of a bit of research he decided to probably get one. I was thinking he would get the nano with the wheel and small screen then we got to talking and he was willing to spend a bit more if it was worth it. So we went over what the ipod touch had to offer with the bigger screen and applications and so forth. He ended up getting the touch and seems to really like it. Now he is learning about it and the iTunes software and loading it up with music and movies. So far he seems to really like listening to the podcasts and music on his commute. NO MORE COMMERCIALS.
We have been emailing back and forth about how to do certain things with the iPod and about music and podcasts and such. That brings me to the point of this blog and a stroll down memory lane. I remember when I was in high school and computers were just becoming almost affordable for some people. I remember when we got our first 386 computer from some place that is now out of business. (not counting the TI-99). It had dual floppy drives and probably had like 4 megs of memory (not gigs, megs) and probably a 40 meg hard drive or something. We used the heck out of that thing and when it was time to upgrade I bought it from my dad and he went out and got a 486 computer. That was smoking fast back then with probably 6 megs of memory and a 60 gig hard drive. We played and hacked on those things teaching each other things along the way. Then we started signing into BBS sites way before there was the internet. Basically people started building these computers that hosted a dos application (character based) where you can press different numbers to navigate around and look at information and sometimes download free software. Over a 2800 baud modem it was very slow but cool. Then came the 56K modems which was a major upgrade. Of course this is before cell phones so to be on the BBS you tied up the home line for hours. We would type code in for hours to have a little stick guy dance around on the screen too.
Then we wanted to connect our computers together. Even though there wasn't a lot we could do once they were connected we did it anyway. We had the in the same room from what I recall and worked on it for a long time. We had to install these cards and you had to connect right from one to the other, no hub. In those days you went from one computer to the next. It took a while to figure it out and get all the right equipment but we did it. Then I put my computer in my room and we stretched the cable through the hall and it still worked. In a whole different room. Very cool stuff back then.
Now today when we get together we have a family room full of laptops. Everyone has one even the kids. all wireless surfing the web consuming information and searching out answers. Need to know a sports score? Old days watch the game or read the answer in the newspaper, today espn.com baby. Old days, need to purchase something from a store look at newspaper ads and call around asking for price or if they had it, now google and surf your way to see who has the best deal and if the stores have one in stock. Buy it and have it sent or they'll set it aside and you can pick it up. Now we are all connected, emailing, blogging, and sharing pictures, movies and life.
I appreciate that my family is connected through technology. My parents are edging closer to retirement and my parents buy wii's, ipods, HDtv's, LCD tv's, laptops, high speed internet, portable phones, etc... They may not be able to squeeze every ounce of ability out of all the devices but they are in the game. They are far more advanced in this area than any other baby boomer I know.
