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gleep gloop posted:Are really bad content filters for public computers still a thing? I remember the one in my old high-school pissing off the girls in home ec because if a page said breast it was blocked and you got an automatic detention for trying to access a blocked page. Looking up a chicken breast recipe for class? lol sorry bitch see you from three to five on friday! I figured out how to beat it - upon Windows starting up, I opened the task manager with Ctrl+Alt+Del, and found it that it was a simple executable being run at startup. I killed the process and renamed the executable - woot, free use of the computer! There was no such thing as filtering or anything back then though. Also, in related context: When the librarian of said high school library retired in the year 2000, someone had composed a song for her that we sang in the atrium to say goodbye. It contained a line going something like "such and such, and search on Google...". My friend and I were like "haha, WTF is 'google'?" to eachother. I believe I used https://www.hotbot.com/text back then.
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Aug 12, 2013 10:38
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Pilsner posted:
Maybe not at your school, but... Sorry, Bess can't go there! ...was a common thing to see in my high school.
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Aug 12, 2013 11:10
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Ah, but did you try searching for stuff in Spanish?
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Aug 12, 2013 11:29
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Not really internet filter related, but the discussion reminded me - I remember there was some system - I can't remember what it was called - that locked down the Macs at my middle school so we couldn't install stuff or have much fun with them at all. ... which could be shut down or otherwise avoided using the command line tool in Hypercard.  [Hypercard was incredibly awesome too, I borrowed the massive Hypercard guide from the library so much, never did get very good with it though] e. AtEase! That was the system. It was an alternative interface over the top of Mac OS.
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Aug 12, 2013 21:18
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Code Jockey posted:Not really internet filter related, but the discussion reminded me - I remember there was some system - I can't remember what it was called - that locked down the Macs at my middle school so we couldn't install stuff or have much fun with them at all.  My school district used At Ease for a while, but it wasn't very effective (you could use the built-in debugger to quit to the Finder). The school district's computer guy ended up writing his own program to keep us from screwing up the computers. He later quit his job at the district and started a company to sell the software, which was named FoolProof. It was reasonably effective, though you could still get files onto the hard disk if you could find a program that would save files there without using the standard file dialogs. Microsoft Works had a modem package where you could establish a connection between the computer and itself and then "send" a file to get it to save to the hard drive. cowtown has a new favorite as of 21:42 on Aug 12, 2013 |
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Aug 12, 2013 21:40
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Pilsner posted:My high school (1997-2000) library had two regular computers with internet access. On them was a custom program installed that wiped all sorts of installed and personal files upon the computer booting, meaning you couldn't save settings or bookmarks from visit to visit. It kinda "reset" Windows on each boot. We just used to use proxies to get around it. But this was around 03-07, so things were a little different. We probably got tons of viruses through that, though. I seemed to remember that certain proxies let things through. We didn't care, we were little shits that just had to check their gaia.
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Aug 12, 2013 21:53
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Oh man oh man, as soon as I saw this, enormous nostalgia rush. Felt like I was back at my old library, trying to remember the trick to killing it off. :P And holy poo poo, Word Perfect. I haven't used that in 16-17 years, if that.
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Aug 12, 2013 22:02
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And don't forget to turn the volume down if the computer was connected to speakers, or when you push the button the *CLICK!* sound would kill you.
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Aug 12, 2013 22:06
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Ah yes, AtEase. I remember using this at school for several years. Later they got rid of it when they switched to these I can't be the only one who tried out all the colors Internet Explorer had for its toolbar. I think ruby or sage were my favorite. It's too bad old Mac emulation is such a pain, they were cool (even though by today's standards they're borderline unusable.)
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Aug 12, 2013 22:07
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Websites for channels on IRC. Every channel, be it a little one with one or two people, or big channels for cities and games and what not, had their own websites with channel rules, info about the users and what not. I made a couple of those myself back in the day, but I haven't seen one in years. None of the channels I frequent have one, and most people have no idea what I'm talking about either.
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Aug 12, 2013 22:51
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carry on then posted:Ah yes, AtEase. I remember using this at school for several years. Later they got rid of it when they switched to these Old mac emulation is pretty painless, actually. Sheepshaver for System 7 — OS 9 is pretty easy to set up, and then you can do dumb things like run old Windows 95 emulators within that! (I always picked the IE color that best matched my system theme. Gotta keep everything the same color, y'know?) That and if you can track down an old copy of Word (or any text program that'll do rtf or plaintext if you don't need formatting), they're a great too for writing papers and memos. You can use a more modern computer to keep all your reference info open, and it's pretty hard to get distracted by internet junk when even the most modern browser available for OS9 is a slow slog to update Wamcom to a vaguely modern mozilla. But now I have a question: a few pages back, before batterygeddon happened, you all were talking about "chicklet keys" on keyboards. Which ones did you mean, though? The keys you get on every modern mac laptop:  These normal-rear end laptop keys:  Or these hateful little bastards:  As an aside, that Psion sure belongs here. I remember it was cool as hell back in the day — like a palm pilot, only with a keyboard! Now it sits sad and alone, because of an idiotically designed ribbon cable connecting the screen. Still works though! Hell, I even have a stunningly fast 56k modem for it!
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Aug 12, 2013 23:55
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I had an ~internet girlfriend~ when we still had dial-up so my dad installed a program similar to net nanny and limited my online time to something like 2 hours per day, before 6pm only. I found a way to make it freeze, which allowed me unlimited access until it fully crashed hours later.
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Aug 12, 2013 23:55
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Zenostein posted:Old mac emulation is pretty painless, actually. Sheepshaver for System 7 — OS 9 is pretty easy to set up, and then you can do dumb things like run old Windows 95 emulators within that! (I always picked the IE color that best matched my system theme. Gotta keep everything the same color, y'know?) quote:But now I have a question: a few pages back, before batterygeddon happened, you all were talking about "chicklet keys" on keyboards. Which ones did you mean, though? Generally chiclet keys refers to what all modern Macbooks have, the square keys with space between them. What I suspect the keyboardchat was actually about was scissor switches, which are under any type of laptop keyboard.
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Aug 13, 2013 00:01
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My tablet has chicklets too too [Asus Transformer Prime] and... ehhhh. They're fine for it, I guess, since I don't do a huge amount of typing on it, just meeting notes, SA posting and a little messing around with Python.
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Aug 13, 2013 00:09
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Death to Chiclet keyboards.
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Aug 13, 2013 01:03
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Never. edit: For actual content, anyone else use Yahooligans as a search engine as a kid? Back when it looked like this. double edit: oh my god 
carry on then has a new favorite as of 01:09 on Aug 13, 2013 |
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Aug 13, 2013 01:06
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Zenostein posted:That and if you can track down an old copy of Word (or any text program that'll do rtf or plaintext if you don't need formatting), they're a great too for writing papers and memos. You can use a more modern computer to keep all your reference info open, and it's pretty hard to get distracted by internet junk when even the most modern browser available for OS9 is a slow slog to update Wamcom to a vaguely modern mozilla.  Could not agree more. When you run a text editor inside a crippled virtual machine, in this case Word Perfect 5.1 for DOS inside DOSBox you are forced to do just that. You can go full screen for extra incentive. Plus since DOSBox does not use any kind of HDD image and just writes to a folder on the host, extracting data is easier than many VMs. Holy crap. It was like a to-do list.
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Aug 13, 2013 01:10
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Usually, when people talk about "chiclet" keyboards, they're talking about the original IBM PCjr.  Those keys sucked something terrible and were a nightmare to try to type on, especially for touch typists. Memories of them kept me from buying a newer MacBook for a long time. Incidentally, do they even sell Chiclet gum anymore?
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Aug 13, 2013 01:28
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einTier posted:Usually, when people talk about "chiclet" keyboards, they're talking about the original IBM PCjr. Damnit, I came here to post this. You laptop users are babies. Imagine trying to type on a cheap Chinese calculator, or a remote control. THAT is a chiclet keyboard. What you have now is a perfectly good keyboard that just doesn't wake the dead with every keystroke.
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Aug 13, 2013 01:36
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einTier posted:Usually, when people talk about "chiclet" keyboards, they're talking about the original IBM PCjr. Yes but you can only get assorted fruit, I don't think anybody makes the original peppermint flavor anymore.
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Aug 13, 2013 01:56
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Another example of a "chiclet" keyboard. The original TI99/4, before it became the TI99/4A.
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Aug 13, 2013 02:03
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If that's a chiclet keyboard, then what do you people call this?
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Aug 13, 2013 02:24
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that's a membrane keyboard.
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Aug 13, 2013 02:28
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Flipperwaldt posted:If that's a chiclet keyboard, then what do you people call this? That's awfully thoughtful of them to include both semaphore and a FAST button. Edit: Also I call it a Zee-Echs and you people call it a Zed Echs.
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Aug 13, 2013 02:36
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Flipperwaldt posted:If that's a chiclet keyboard, then what do you people call this? An utter nightmare if that is as totally flat and tactile-response-less as it looks to be
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Aug 13, 2013 02:36
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Code Jockey posted:An utter nightmare if that is as totally flat and tactile-response-less as it looks to be It is all that.
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Aug 13, 2013 02:38
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einTier posted:Usually, when people talk about "chiclet" keyboards, they're talking about the original IBM PCjr. I had a PCjr and I do not remember that keyboard. My mom worked for IBM so maybe she got an upgraded keyboard. Even with that it was still a piece of poo poo. The processor was only powerful enough to play Bill Gates' racing game or Infocom text adventures. Which is why I know we didn't have a lovely keyboard cause all I did on that was type. I remember desperately wanting a Nintendo and my mom saying we had to wait for this great new IBM computer that was coming out. To this day I've never played a Zelda game. 
Krispy Wafer has a new favorite as of 02:47 on Aug 13, 2013 |
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Aug 13, 2013 02:45
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Aug 13, 2013 02:59
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My first console/computer (only used it for games anyway). Atari 65XE. I remember that you'd have to rewind the tapes, and then play them, as the Atari would load the "blocks". Some games had like 600 blocks and they'd throw an error when only 1 block remained! Still, I loved the poo poo out of it.
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Aug 13, 2013 03:01
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The flicker reminded me that no one ever had the refresh rate of their CRTs set properly! Oh, the default 45 Hz Windows 98 sets it to? Yeah, I'm sure that's fine. Even a poo poo graphics card and monitor combo could do at least 60! The worst was when I'd point it out to someone, up it to 75 HZ or more if I could, and they 'd respond with, "I don't notice a difference." WHAT?! Are you blind!? 
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Aug 13, 2013 03:05
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It's weird how chiclet got re-used for what anyone who knows what chiclet keys are would not consider to be chiclet keys. I get similar angst when someone says they "played the 64" a lot as a kid, but are not talking about a Commodore 64.  To differentiate, the modern MacBook keyboards are often referred to as island-style.
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Aug 13, 2013 03:21
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Flipperwaldt posted:If that's a chiclet keyboard, then what do you people call this? If that's as tactile as the number pads on gas pumps, that must be loving miserable. Although it also reminds me of some sort of toy I had as a kid with keys like that. Hell if I can remember what, though. As for what are apparently "proper" chicklet keys: those remind me of the keys on old calculators — where they are pretty delightful. I can't imagine using them as a keyboard for any sort of significant text input, though. Anyway, I'm glad my Windows 3.1 experience was a) dicking around with progman in win 95, b) a typing program in middle school and c) [and related to my previous emulation comment] using a win. 3.1 emulator in os 9 because poo poo, why not? But Bouvenstein, you can see sub 60hz refresh rates? I mean, I can't recall the last time I used a CRT below 60hz, but I really don't remember being able to see the screen flicker like that unless it got caught in a photo or (in more modern times) when I try to take a picture of my desk with a digicam. But, in keeping with this thread, I now need to tear apart my parents house to find the disks that'll let me install a gimped OS9 on this iBook.
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Aug 13, 2013 03:33
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DrBouvenstein posted:The flicker reminded me that no one ever had the refresh rate of their CRTs set properly! Having to choose between 640x480 at 75hz or 800x600 at 60hz was Sophie's loving Choice.  Although I'm pretty sure no monitor ever defaulted to 45hz, even in Windows 3.1 days.
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Aug 13, 2013 03:43
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Zenostein posted:If that's as tactile as the number pads on gas pumps, that must be loving miserable. Although it also reminds me of some sort of toy I had as a kid with keys like that. Hell if I can remember what, though. Was it by any chance a Merlin? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY8K9s8tRpE
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Aug 13, 2013 03:53
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A Pinball Wizard posted:Having to choose between 640x480 at 75hz or 800x600 at 60hz was Sophie's loving Choice. Yeah, I think you're right. Still, keep the refresh rate up, up, up!
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Aug 13, 2013 03:53
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einTier posted:Incidentally, do they even sell Chiclet gum anymore? Well, they do sell them three for 25 cents at this little neighborhood store where I live, they are available on candy delivery sites that specialize in selling the candy you ate as a kid, and, according to Wikipedia, Algeria, Colombia, Argentina, Egypt, Canada, India, Lebanon, Mexico, Venezuela, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Dominican Republic and the United States still sell them in most places where candy and sweets can be found. So...yes, they do sell them. And the screenshots of Windows 3.1 and the old Mac screen with the folder is bringing back a lot of memories of fifth and sixth grade, when I thought those were the height of technology. Ah, to be young and naive again...
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Aug 13, 2013 04:39
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carry on then posted:Never.  When is this from? They were perfect.
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Aug 13, 2013 04:45
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Zenostein posted:If that's as tactile as the number pads on gas pumps, that must be loving miserable. It was. Third-party keyboards for the ZX81 were a thing that was advertised in computer magazines that I read back in those days. As well as RAM expansion modules that weren't quite as prone to wobble out of their socket and lose all the data as the official ones. (And you needed a RAM expansion module if you wanted to do very much since the computer itself came with one whole kilobyte of RAM.)
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Aug 13, 2013 08:08
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Endymion FRS MK1 posted:
2000. So while they were relatively safe bets of happening eventually, I don't think most would have expected it to be all of the above within 10 years.
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Aug 13, 2013 08:14
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DrBouvenstein posted:Yeah, I think you're right. The great thing about CRTs is they actually support multiple refresh rates (some LCDs just pretend to). Pro-tip: 60 Hz is for NTSC video, 72 Hz is for watching 24p video and 75 Hz is for PAL video. MPC can be set up to automatically switch resolutions depending on source FPS and a good CRT can match all video for buttery smooth playback.
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Aug 13, 2013 09:48
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