Your Earliest Memory of the CPC?

[mr_lou]

I wish I went to your intermediate school now...  all I had at intermediate was a room of C64s (and a C128).  At primary level, it was also a C64 (and a Franklin).

Quit complaining. All we had were old PC's with monochrome monitors - and a teacher who decided that we had to input all the students of the school into his own database that he had developed. I remember spending a lot of time typing in people in this system.....
I think he thought this database system was something he could sell. I remember a group of people coming to see his demonstration. I don't think it went that well though.

[AMSDOS]

I'm glad we didn't have CPCs at our school. Kids at the School(s) I went to were ruthless and the computer(s) got it tough, an Amstrad wouldn't have a chance. But it was sad to see vandals get stuck into Apple ][e's & Macs    Yes they were tough solid computers, but a vandal is a vandal.

[CraigsBar]

I am going to be showing my age here, Whilst I was in school the computer department had a major change in the computing department.


When I started (and for the first couple of years) they had a room full of BBC Model B machines with 5.25 inch drives. I used to love these and FRAK is still a brilliant game. I was initially upset that my parents bought a CPC 464 and not a BBC, however as soon as I started playing the CPC games I realised I was onto a winner at home LOL.


When the school decided the BBC's were past it they replaced them all with a collection of far less fun RM Nimbus machines
http://www.theoldcomputer.com/roms/index.php?folder=Research-Machines-RM/Nimbus-PC-186/Utilities
Better for education I am sure, but no fun at all.


The only saving grace was that at the same time as the nimbus machines they school library took delivery of a domesday machine, an expanded BBC Master and Laserdisc drive. BBC Domesday Project - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


That was something I'd have loved to have on the CPC!


Craig

[steve]

When I went to school, microcomputers had not been invented yet. 

[CraigsBar]

When I went to school, microcomputers had not been invented yet. 

Now I feel young again, Thanks 

[martw80888]

I was a bit late to the CPC party, got my 6128 in about 1990/91 at the age of 10. My parents bought it for me second-hand with a load of games after I'd been bugging them for a computer for about 3 years and grabbing every chance I could to play on various BBCs, Spectrums and CPCs that my friends owned.

Earliest memory - getting up very early the following morning so I could play on it before school, and then couldn't figure out how to load a game! My sister came along and showed me that you had to type "|TAPE" before hitting Control+Enter. I remember being very excited waiting for Treasure Island Dizzy to load (still love the tune from that game, really takes me back whenever I hear it), only to find myself with no idea what to do - of course I immediately went right and drowned in the water - Game Over

(I did eventually beat that game after plenty of tips from my 464-owning mate down the road, although whoever decided that you only get one life needs stringing up IMO  )

[Trebmint]

My earliest memory of the CPC was 64k

[CraigsBar]

My earliest memory of the CPC was 64k

Ditto

[joska]

My first memory of the CPC was from 1984. I had a Sharp MZ 700 at that time, and when I read about the new CPC in a Norwegian computer magazine called Hjemmedata ("Home computer") I thought it was the coolest thing ever. But I never bought one.

Then, a year or so later I saw a 6128 in a local bookstore. Yes, they were selling books and computers. It was an amazing computer. I had never used a computer with a floppy drive before and this thing looked like something from the future. Unfortunately it was also four times as expensive as the MSX (SVI 728 with datarecorder) I ended up buying the following year.

After that I never saw another CPC until 2012 when I found a 464 in a recycling bin.

[Trebmint]

It was 1984 and I'd written two type-ins for my speccy 48k so I had £100, my nan gave me £100 and I reckoned my mate was gonna buy my speccy and games for £100. That meant I had enough to buy one of these computers that looked straight like they came from the future... that was the Elan Enterprise. But my dream computer never came out.... and the CPC had the same colour keys so I got that instead.


Weird how things happen, but I'm glad I didnt end stuck with a dead machine like the Enterprise even if it still look uber cool

[Token]

I can't remember the year, 84-85. I saw a 464 in a french listings magazine.


I was like amazed with the shape (like a heater) and color of the huge case. A tank. Looking very Armyish. Some friends had computers like Z81, Oric Atmos, Spectrum 48k. They looked all the same. Small and cute.
I never though Amstrad would be a phenomena. It was a very cheap advertising in that crappy TV magazine. And there was no crocodile.


6 months later I got my 464 with GT-64, Amstrad litterally invaded all the shopping centers.
I remember the awesome 664 with blue keys in a Darty shop (before I had my CPC) Kids after school were playing/copying games only on the numerous Amstrad. When I saw Boulderdash 1, I was sure I wanted a CPC.


I got my 464 at Auchan with some games (very nice bundle). I think I loaded 3D grand prix first. Probably Green Beret then. I had Pyjamarama and Manic Miner in Amsoft version, Jet set Willy 1, Cauldron and Sabre Wulf. Awesome tapes.

[arnoldemu]

I'm glad we didn't have CPCs at our school. Kids at the School(s) I went to were ruthless and the computer(s) got it tough, an Amstrad wouldn't have a chance. But it was sad to see vandals get stuck into Apple ][e's & Macs    Yes they were tough solid computers, but a vandal is a vandal.

the cpc's did alright at our school.

Sometimes computing came after P.E. this was often playing rugby and many  still had dirty hands.

The keyboards were not the cleanest. Computer lessons were wordprocessing and databases. I don't remember if there was any basic programming.

[AMSDOS]

the cpc's did alright at our school.

Sometimes computing came after P.E. this was often playing rugby and many  still had dirty hands.

The keyboards were not the cleanest. Computer lessons were wordprocessing and databases. I don't remember if there was any basic programming.

Hmm, interesting Hygiene rules, but then I guess it's safer to clean up after using the computer. 


The kids at the school I went to were demolishers and I wouldn't have been surprised if the Apple Technician guy was simply making a living off our school.

[Bryce]

When I went to school, microcomputers had not been invented yet. 

More or less the same here. I finished school in 1986. We had computers in the school from 1984, but I was too late to get to use them, only new students (and only those doing higher maths!) got to use them. They were CBM Pets and BBC Model B's as far as I can remember.

Bryce.

[AMSDOS]

More or less the same here. I finished school in 1986. We had computers in the school from 1984, but I was too late to get to use them, only new students (and only those doing higher maths!) got to use them. They were CBM Pets and BBC Model B's as far as I can remember.

Bryce.

My Life might of been slightly different had the Internet not become more accessible until after I completed my last year at school, instead I was downloading Amstrad Games, using someones memory dumper to extract the M/C & typing it back into my 6128! Had no idea about Emulation then, but then it didn't take long to catch on and these habits got in the way of my studies. Even though I enjoyed doing what I was doing! 

[steve]

More or less the same here. I finished school in 1986. We had computers in the school from 1984, but I was too late to get to use them, only new students (and only those doing higher maths!) got to use them. They were CBM Pets and BBC Model B's as far as I can remember.

Bryce.

Young'uns, tsk,tsk.
I left school in 1974, the dawn of the microcomputer age was heralded by the publication of an article on building your own microcomputer in jan '75. this machine was the MITS Altair 8800 based on the Intel 8080 microprocessor. Altair 8800 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There had been 2 or 3 earlier machines but they did not catch on like the Altair did.

[Bryce]

Ok, now you've even made ME feel young Thanks!

Bryce.

[steve]

Happy to be of service.

[joska]

Weird how things happen, but I'm glad I didnt end stuck with a dead machine like the Enterprise even if it still look uber cool

I would probably have traded my entire 8-bit collection for a working Enterprise...

[Trebmint]

I would probably have traded my entire 8-bit collection for a working Enterprise...

Yes, there have only been a few pieces of hardware I ever really really wanted. The Enterprise was the first. Then the Konix Multisystem and now the Oculus Rift

[Bryce]

Happy to be of service.

I'll offer you my seat on the bus next time

Bryce.

[Gryzor]

I would probably have traded my entire 8-bit collection for a working Enterprise...

Make me an offer

[Morri]

So I bet the games 1943 and Jet Set Willy and Slot Machine just throws you right back to your aunt's place, right? 

Yes, I can see myself there in the corner trying to use that horrible joystick with 1943. I could never stay long and it always left me wanting more.
Jet set Willy... was... just... weird...  I watched a longplay of it this weekend. I still don't know what's happening.

[joska]

Make me an offer

You have an Enterprise? 

[Gryzor]

You have an Enterprise? 

Yes, a boxed 64 one. Probably the best-looking machine I own...