Watching “Welcome to Macintosh” made me think of all the computers I’ve owned.

It all started with my Dad’s investment in an Apple ][+ in 1979, given my career since that was a pretty useful investment in my future. It was also the computer I had almost as long as any other. It lasted me from High School through beginning of University. We started out with a TV monitor, later added a green phosphorus monitor. It lasted me through many term papers, despite the fact it didn’t have the ability to do lower case type until we updated it with a special chip.

While in University I debated buying a newer Apple //gs or that new Macintosh. The colour of the //gs won the day and it lasted me through the balance of university and into my first job in Prince George.

When I came back to University to do my Master’s degree the //gs was getting long in the tooth. At that point the Macs were getting color desktops but also the first Powerbooks came out. Given that I had a very small apartment at the time the idea of a Powerbook 140 seemed to work well. I sold that on after a few years and bought my first real Mac desktop with the PowerMac 7100. It was color and I vested in a massive Radius Pivot Monitor which required as big a desk as I could find.

Then came the 90s with the quick succession of PowerMacs. The 7100 gave way to a 7600 which promptly got fried in a power outage. The early 90s also included a brief flirt with a 286-based PC running the pre-Windows versions of Microsoft’s OS. I also added a LaserWriter Select 360 which lasted the second half of the 90s and the early part of 2000s. It was replaced with a 8600 thanks to the insurance company. I also inherited a Powerbook 5300 (still monochrome) from my job. Acutally owning 2 Macintosh Computers. Almost unheard of among any of my geek friends. I also added a slightly used LCII from a friend to have 3 for a breif period. The 5300 and the LCII didn’t make my move to Victoria in 1999. The 8600 was purchased just as the G3-based machines were coming out.

As the 8600 lasted in to the new millenium, it finally gave way to a PowerMac G4 (which is still in use elsewhere in my family). At this point the big CRT monitor – now almost 10 years old – gave way to an Apple Cinema Display (with ADC connector) flat panel LCD. But shortly after I also got the first of several PowerBook G4s. This started with the Titanium model, the early part of 2000s included a breifly owned 17″ Powerbook before I sold it for my company owned-15″ Alumium Powerbook followed by a 12″ Powerbook while I worked at Apple, finally back to a 15″ Powerbook after I left Apple. I did pick up a Mac Mini as my Media Center machine connected to my living room TV and a backup to my laptops. Most of the 2000-2008 was laptops only. The Laserwriter had given way to a big bad Xerox 5400 printer, which actually cost more than any computer I ever bought.

I did have a breif interlude included a Athlon-powered Windows PC, before the move to an intel-based MacBook Pro (15″) that could do both my regular work and any Windows work I needed. That lasted for my days as a consultant working around town. On a whim in 2007, I added a 8-core Mac Pro which was deeply discounted on the Apple Refurbished products Store. After I went back to regular employment I sold the Macbook Pro on (again still used elsewhere in my family).That lasted for almost 2 years with no laptop until 2009 when I got a Macbook Pro 13″ (which I’m writing this on). So As 2009 ended I had a Mac Pro (8-core), a Macbook (13″), a Mac Mini (Core Duo), a Apple TV (bedroom TV), and an iPhone.

Interestingly I never really owned a iMac or non-Pro Macbook. These are the typical consumer devices but never made it into my house. Although if I had to do it again that new 27″ iMac really would have looked good in place of my Apple TV and my 26″ flat panel TV.