Subj : Re: computers
To   : Nigel Reed
From : k9zw
Date : Tue Jul 16 2024 16:33:55

On 16 Jul 2024, Nigel Reed said the following...
 
 NR> Would have been about 1986. I got a subscription to Prestel, a UK
 NR> service that I've talked about before. One of their information
 NR> providers, Micronet 800, was giving away a free modem for BBC, Spectrum
 NR> and CBM64 users, and maybe a few more, if you subscribed to their
 NR> service.

I had used modems before, but I too was on Prestel using the Bank of Scotland's HOBS (Home and Office Banking System) when it came out in 1985.  Excellent system for the times, and I used it until I took a job stateside and moved later in the 1980s.  

I admired the Prestel/Teletext concept of a look-up table locally reducing the actual amount of data needed to be transmitted.  

Order books, booked train tickets, bought groceries and more.

Also had my own Telex number and was able to do early FidoNet.  

All from my own kit, rather than something at a Uni or at work.  I liked that it was "mine!"

--- Steve K9ZW via SPOT BBS 

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 2022/07/15 (Linux/64)
 * Origin: SPOT BBS / k9zw (21:1/224)

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