And, what can I say about Media?

Back in 1972, when we lived on Long Island, New York, I worked for the "old" United Press International. As far as I know, they were one of first companies to install a computer system. We had training on those IBM machines. Learning how to type, edit, correct and send stories to our editors. In those days, we had black screens with yellow characters on the screen. We could write stories...but that was about it. 

Then in the early '80's I bought a Commodore computer and "played" with it. I think that I wrote some music on it. And, soon grew tired of it and donated to my neighbor, a science teacher, for his students. 

1989 was the year of my first real computer: A MAC IICX. Mac's were easy to use. They were fun. I bought my first computer system, complete with an HP printer, and Apple software and Microsoft Office for the Mac for only $12,000. It cost as much as a car, and had to be paid in monthly installments. I took the boxes home and set the computer up...MYSELF. And, it worked. It was almost 'plug and play.' Luckily, this was in November, when our real estate market slows down, so I had time to learn how to use the computer. No classes then. I learned how to do TABLES in Word! And, that alone made my business life so much easier. I set up templates for labels for my monthly mailings. Those first labels were a pain as they'd end up sticking inside the printer. 

1992 I was in San Francisco for a real estate convention and I stayed with my sister. She had AOL. Wow, what fun and I signed up when there only 500,000 of us online.  Email was so much fun then.

!994 I bought an all-in-one printer. A fax machine, and a poor copy machine. But, again, it worked. And, now I was able to fax contracts directly and receive them. This was great and the machine, another HP, used "real" 8 1/2 x 11 white paper. 

1997 was the year of the Sony VAIO lap top. You just had to schlep a lap top with you. Found that it was too heavy and just too much effort was needed to type on its keyboard. Gifted it to eldest daughter. 

1998 was the digital camera: the Mavica, from Sony. What a camera. You put in a floppy and got back pictures. Some good, a few great...and the rest? Well, you can always delete 'em. And it's still working...even after having dropped it several times.

2000 I bought an aqua I-MAC. Self-contained, small footprint. And, it played my musical CD's. Of course, now, our MLS decided that they would only support a PC...so, I added a Dell desk top (still use it) to the mix.

And, now, in 2007...it doesn't matter what type of computer or smart phone you have. I get email on all my computers and my Blackberry. Our MLS is online, and it doesn't matter what type of OS you're using. 

My media purchases for the next 12 months will be a portable GSP. I keep on looking at the reviews. And, possibly another digital camera, although I have a very expensive Nikon sitting in the closet...which uses film. And, perhaps another MAC...an I-book? Then my kids can buy me an IPOD.

In the "old" days, buying a computer was so exciting. Today, it's a utility, just like my IBM Selectric. And as prices have come down so much, replacing these machines is not a budget problem.