My first computer was the one that everyone returned: Coleco ADAM
I'm almost positive it was Christmas of 1984 when my brother and I got a Coleco ADAM computer as our BIG gift. We didn't know what to make of it, so shortly after, it went into storage. This was strange in hindsight as I was always fascinated with computers. I was using them back in 1982 in my elementary school, I must have been in first or second grade. So it sat alone, in the basement, in a box, in the dark until I saw a movie on VHS called WarGames. My adolescent self was fascinated by what David's computer was capable of doing.
And then it occurred to me, "I have a computer in the basement!" And down I went, lugging the incredibly large & heavy box up to my bedroom. I went through the manual, hooked the ADAM up to my small television, and went straight to playing a Buck Rogers game that was on a cassette tape (officially called Digital Data Packs).
It was time to hack into another computer, but that was beyond my expertise. Besides, I didn't have a modem for the ADAM. It wasn't until about 2007 when I finally got one!
I mention in the title that these computers were returned after being purchased. Turns out that most of them had a glitch that would cause an electromagnetic surge to wipe out the data on the cassettes when the computer was powered on. However, if you turned the computer on THEN insert the digital data pack, there would be no issue. Though some complained that the drives, which spun faster than any cassette player I have ever seen, would chew up the tape, but that rarely happened for me.
This computer would eventually become my favorite which is usually the case for many "firsts." Though I can safely say my first girlfriend was not my favorite, but I digress.
The Coleco ADAM only stayed in the market for a couple years and has mostly been forgotten, but I feel that as time goes on, people in the vintage computer hobby have embraced this computer's place in history, whether good or bad, and many are discovering it today with wide-eyed curiosity. While it was still in production, a 5.25 inch disk drive became available. Over the years, third parties made hardware add-ons and plenty of software. There are folks still making accessories for the ADAM like hard drives and SD card readers. Still waiting to see a flatbed image scanner for the ADAM hehe
You know, there is something that I haven't mentioned that made the ADAM better than most personal computers of 1983 (the year it was released); it had a ColecoVision built-in. Not only could you play ColecoVision Super Game Packs, but the cartridges as well. AND it had an expansion port like the ColecoVision console which means you can use the Expansion Modules including the one that allowed you to play Atari 2600 video games! This thing was a beast!
If you want to read more about the Coleco ADAM computer, check out my blog, aptly called The Coleco ADAM blog.
Here's a video I made showing how easy it is to load software on the ADAM:
I feel fortunate in that my first computer was a Commodore 64 (I see from the picture you have one too). I didn't get mine until about 1986 though. I even had a modem for mine probably by 1989...
Sweet! Funny, even though you got the 64 late, it was (in my opinion) on par with the NES. I didn't get a modem and go online until 1990 when I got an IBM PS/1 and Prodigy.
While I eventually got a modem for my Commodore. I didn't really start spending significant time online until 1993 when I got my first PC (a 486 DX2-66 from Gateway). That was near the height of the BBS but also getting close to the end. In a few years, everybody would be getting on the internet and BBSes would mostly disappear.
Great article!