Re: Re: First Computer That R
By: Dumas Walker to XERXES on Wed Feb 09 2022 04:21 pm

I have one of the "regular looking" emachines in my old PC collection.
Used to be my sister's. It was a pretty good performer until the version
of Windows on it got old.

i know we are off topic here. i should move it someplace else..
but....

i loved those computers that had the sticker with all the features and then it said "THIS IS THE LAST COMPUTER YOU WILL EVER HAVE TO OWN" or something like that.
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i know we are off topic here. i should move it someplace else..
but....

i loved those computers that had the sticker with all the features and then it
aid "THIS IS THE LAST COMPUTER YOU WILL EVER HAVE TO OWN" or something like th

Yes, I think I remember that. I just went and looked. The one I have says "NEVER OBSOLETE" on the front. :)


* SLMR 2.1a * "The Metric System is the tool of the Devil!" - Granpa S

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This would have been in 1994, which was before the iMac (I think). These were more "boringly" packaged units in plain beige cases. I think I also remember those PCs that looked like they were knocking off the look of th
iMac, but don't think I ever saw one firsthand. I wonder who made them?

No, it wasn't 1994. It was in the late 90s, when Apple had started making the
ewer translucent iMacs. As someone else mentioned, it was eMachines. I looke
it up, and it was the eMachines eOne, which they were selling in 1999: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMachines_eOne

The ones I saw, in the boring cases from Dell or Digital, were in 1994.
These were before the iMac knock-offs you mentioned that came later.


* SLMR 2.1a * "Television! Teacher, Mother, Secret Lover..." - Homer

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Re: Re: First Computer That R
By: Dumas Walker to MRO on Thu Feb 10 2022 04:21 pm

Yes, I think I remember that. I just went and looked. The one I have says "NEVER OBSOLETE" on the front. :)

I remember those. I don't remember which brand those were (Gateway? Packard Bell?). I think the idea was that you'd be able to have them periodically send you a new replacement computer for a minimal fee or something?

Nightfox

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Re: Re: First Computer That R
By: Nightfox to Dumas Walker on Thu Feb 10 2022 03:27 pm

Re: Re: First Computer That R
By: Dumas Walker to MRO on Thu Feb 10 2022 04:21 pm

Yes, I think I remember that. I just went and looked. The one I have says "NEVER OBSOLETE" on the front. :)

I remember those. I don't remember which brand those were (Gateway?
Packard Bell?). I think the idea was that you'd be able to have them periodically send you a new replacement computer for a minimal fee or something?

Nightfox

i never heard of that.
it certainly would not be minimal fee.
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Re: Re: First Computer That R
By: MRO to Nightfox on Fri Feb 11 2022 08:44 am

Yes, I think I remember that. I just went and looked. The one I
have says "NEVER OBSOLETE" on the front. :)

I remember those. I don't remember which brand those were (Gateway?
Packard Bell?). I think the idea was that you'd be able to have them
periodically send you a new replacement computer for a minimal fee or
something?

i never heard of that.
it certainly would not be minimal fee.

You said something about seeing computers with a sticker that said "this is the last computer you will ever have to own" or something. I thought it might have been the same thing as the ones with "never obsolete". The whole idea about that was that they had an upgrade program for people who bought those computers.

Nightfox

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Re: Re: First Computer That R
By: Nightfox to Dumas Walker on Thu Feb 10 2022 03:27 pm

I remember those. I don't remember which brand those were (Gateway?
Packard Bell?). I think the idea was that you'd be able to have them periodically send you a new replacement computer for a minimal fee or something?

I recall in the late 90s and early 00s where a lot of OEMs were selling their computers under the premise that the internet was "the next big thing" and that your computer would be able to handle every need you could imagine. The marketing was sound--seeing that they knew technology is ever evolving and their customer base will replace their "never needing replacement" computers every three to four years.

I think it was eMachines, Gateway (Gateway 2000), and even Dell made the claim that the computer you buy today will be the last computer you'll ever need to buy. They increased the price as a way to show "future proofing". Insufficient memory, CPU, disk, etc. Oh, well, people are finally learning. (actually, they aren't, but we can pretend)

Brian Klauss <-> Dream Master
Caught in a Dream | caughtinadream.com a Synchronet BBS

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Re: Re: First Computer That R
By: Dream Master to Nightfox on Fri Feb 11 2022 08:55 am

I think it was eMachines, Gateway (Gateway 2000), and even Dell made the claim that the computer you buy today will be the last computer you'll ever need to buy. They increased the price as a way to show "future proofing". Insufficient memory, CPU, disk, etc. Oh, well, people are finally learning. (actually, they aren't, but we can pretend)

I looked it up earlier. I'm not sure about Gateway or Dell or others, but specifically eMachines had the "never obsolete" deal where after buying the PC, you could pay $99 every 2 years to buy a newer PC from them.

Nightfox

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Yes, I think I remember that. I just went and looked. The one I have says
"NEVER OBSOLETE" on the front. :)

I remember those. I don't remember which brand those were (Gateway? Packard ll?). I think the idea was that you'd be able to have them periodically send u a new replacement computer for a minimal fee or something?

eMachines c2000 had that on a sticker on the front.


* SLMR 2.1a * You radiate cold shafts of broken glass!

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Re: Re: First Computer That R
By: Nightfox to MRO on Fri Feb 11 2022 09:10 am

You said something about seeing computers with a sticker that said "this is the last computer you will ever have to own" or something. I thought it might have been the same thing as the ones with "never obsolete". The whole idea about that was that they had an upgrade program for people who bought those computers.

no, the idea was that this computer was marketed as SO GOOD, that you would never need another one. ever.
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Re: Re: First Computer That R
By: MRO to Nightfox on Fri Feb 11 2022 04:55 pm

You said something about seeing computers with a sticker that said
"this is the last computer you will ever have to own" or something. I
thought it might have been the same thing as the ones with "never
obsolete". The whole idea about that was that they had an upgrade
program for people who bought those computers.

no, the idea was that this computer was marketed as SO GOOD, that you would never need another one. ever.

We may be talking about 2 different things. What I was referring to was that the eMachines "never obsolete" was a deal where if you signed up with AOL, you could buy a new computer from eMachines every 2 years for $99. This guy talks about it in this video (he mentions it starting at about 2:59):
https://youtu.be/pndX0YNA70s?t=179

Nightfox

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Re: Re: First Computer That R
By: Nightfox to MRO on Fri Feb 11 2022 07:03 pm

We may be talking about 2 different things. What I was referring to was that the eMachines "never obsolete" was a deal where if you signed up with AOL, you could buy a new computer from eMachines every 2 years for $99.
This guy talks about it in this video (he mentions it starting at about 2:59): https://youtu.be/pndX0YNA70s?t=179

that may be something that they talked about but never happened.
i doubt they would give you a new computer for 99 bucks
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Re: Re: First Computer That R
By: Nightfox to MRO on Fri Feb 11 2022 09:10 am

Re: Re: First Computer That R
By: MRO to Nightfox on Fri Feb 11 2022 08:44 am

Yes, I think I remember that. I just went and looked. The one I
have says "NEVER OBSOLETE" on the front. :)

I remember those. I don't remember which brand those were (Gateway?
Packard Bell?). I think the idea was that you'd be able to have them
periodically send you a new replacement computer for a minimal fee or
something?

i never heard of that.
it certainly would not be minimal fee.

You said something about seeing computers with a sticker that said "this is y had an upgrade program for people who bought those computers.

Nightfox

In the 286-386 transition era there were some systems with the cpu and cache o n a daughter board. You can buy a 286, then upgrade it to a 386sx. The
Amigas were also like that and cache and IIRC the clock crytal was also on
the daughterboard. The idea behhins was as you stated: buy buy a system intended to be upgradable, then hope they follow through. Zenith Data
Systems sold a planar system in large quantities to the US gov't in the late 80's-early 90's,and it was designed to wrork the same way. When it came time for the next gen cpu, swap out the board. By the time the 486 came out, the
16 bit ISA slots were the only thing useful to caryr over , so the
upgrade came in the computer on a card profile. The board contained the cpu, memory, I/O,video and drive controllers. All the discrete single purpose cards
could be removed and saved as spares for the other older boxes.

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NIGHTFOX wrote to DUMAS WALKER <=-

I remember those. I don't remember which brand those were (Gateway? Packard Bell?). I think the idea was that you'd be able to have them periodically send you a new replacement computer for a minimal fee or something?

It was a monthly subscription for dialup internet and the computer itself.



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