icedowl - 7:19 am on Mar 2, 2006 (gmt 0)

I've been in IT since 1972, with on-the-job training, running a DEC PDP11/20, followed by a DEC PDP11/40, then Datapoint, Sperry-Univac, Xerox Sigma VII, further DEC machines, and IBM AS/400's. Bought my first PC, a PC's Limited (now Dell), in 1985. Morphed that PC into a Pentium 90 around 1990. Later bought a dud of a PC that self destructed, then another Dell. The Pentium 90 still runs but is little used - it's the only PC I have that will read a 5-1/4 inch floppy if I ever decide to dig them out of boxes in the garage for kicks (loads of cool, old games on them).

Worked as an RPG III/IV programmer for several years, although I had schooling in Cobol. Programming bored me to tears so I'm now back in Operations which I find much more entertaining. A "Computer Systems Technician" is what it is called these days, rather than the old "Computer Operator".

As for websites - I'm self taught. It's been my major hobby since 1998. My first sites were more of a learning experience than anything that could be of use to anyone other than myself, unless someone would want to know what not to do. Launched my oldest site in 2000 using free hosting for a couple of years before getting a domain name for it and 'real' hosting. I prefer to use a WYSIWYG editor as hand coding a page, although I can do it, takes me absolutely forever since I lose my train of thought when I switch between coding and content.

I have never ever so much as touched a Mac. Not sure if I've even seen one in person. Always thought they were toys.