I have a desktop computer I bought 12 years ago this month that I am finally getting around to recycling. I was checking through the documentation (to see if there was any personal stuff) and noticed the technical specs.
RAM: 48MB
CPU: 66MHz
Cache: 32KB
HD : 6GB
Modem speed: Up to 56kbps
Graphic memory: 4MB
Windows 95
By comparison, my newest computer, bought two years ago this month has:
RAM: 4GB (83X)
CPU: 2.4GHz (36X)
Cache: 3MB (94X)
HD : 200GB (33X)
Modem: Wireless 802.11n Up to 300Mbps (5357X)
Graphic memory: 256MB (64X)
The newer computer was cheaper, too.
Ken, that must have been a Pentium machine, right (judging by the clock speed)? I bought a Pentium system from Micron (!) for college in 1997, with very similar specs. I still have the CPU (the actual chip an cooler) at home in New Mexico.
It’s a Pentium II.
My favorite old fart story about technology is this: about 10 years ago I was building a cutting-edge digital editing suite for a cable network. We planned to cut whole shows on the Mac-based system, which was unusual at the time. Digital stuff was more often used for commercials than shows. Because of this, we needed huge storage, enough to keep hours of raw video on.
We bought the biggest, fastest hard drive we could find. It was the size of a shoebox, cost $6,000 and held 9 gigs. The two-year service contract cost us another grand.
I recently purchased a 4 gig thumb drive for $20. I can carry more data around in my purse than my first couple desktop computers held combined, with lots of room to spare.