This is really more of a nostalgic post of remembering the older, first
Internet Service Providers (ISPs). I'll but turning 28 this year, so
I'm exactly old enough to have experienced computers both pre and post
Internet. Back then things were very different than today. I was very
fornunate to have a family that got me my first computer when I first
eight. We'll get into all details of old computers another day, for now
let us discus the Internet.
Well back then there was no Windows, I know thats crazy to think of a world with no Windows. I was using a IBM with MS-DOS and my family had just suscribed to Prodigy Online.
Prodigy Online
Prodigy Online was actually the second internet service provider and made its debut in 1991. CompuServe was the first provider and made their appearance in 1979, however it was much different and not directed torwards home users (no graphical interface). Of course this would be the begining of me using my Dad's phone line and the loud
screaching
modem noises. Thinking back Prodigy was a lot like AOL today, of course
there was no such thing as 'web pages', but the software allowed you to
access different parts of the Prodigy network, including forums (where
I traded comic books online) and even games. I remember a very basic
game where you were in some sort of a labrinyth and you had to try and
get out. Each command would present a choice and the wrong choice would
of course mean death. Prodigy also had weather, news, other boring
features a kid would not be interested in. Well Prodigy was great no
doubt about that, but times were changing it was almost 1994 and I was
almost 14 and then came something no one was ready for, the World Wide
Web.
Prodigy was too late on this front and before you know it Windows 3.1 was out and a rival competitor came along and crushed my beloved Prodigy, we all know them and now I hate them but it was 1994 then and welcome America Online.
To be continued? Yes I will continue.
Well back then there was no Windows, I know thats crazy to think of a world with no Windows. I was using a IBM with MS-DOS and my family had just suscribed to Prodigy Online.
Prodigy Online
Prodigy Online was actually the second internet service provider and made its debut in 1991. CompuServe was the first provider and made their appearance in 1979, however it was much different and not directed torwards home users (no graphical interface). Of course this would be the begining of me using my Dad's phone line and the loud
screaching
modem noises. Thinking back Prodigy was a lot like AOL today, of course
there was no such thing as 'web pages', but the software allowed you to
access different parts of the Prodigy network, including forums (where
I traded comic books online) and even games. I remember a very basic
game where you were in some sort of a labrinyth and you had to try and
get out. Each command would present a choice and the wrong choice would
of course mean death. Prodigy also had weather, news, other boring
features a kid would not be interested in. Well Prodigy was great no
doubt about that, but times were changing it was almost 1994 and I was
almost 14 and then came something no one was ready for, the World Wide
Web. Prodigy was too late on this front and before you know it Windows 3.1 was out and a rival competitor came along and crushed my beloved Prodigy, we all know them and now I hate them but it was 1994 then and welcome America Online.
To be continued? Yes I will continue.
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