Mike Ramsey's Computer Business
My first computer experience was in Boy Scouts in 1971, where I
attended a class at East Texas State University, earning my
Computing Merit Badge. There, I learned the Hollerith Code,
and how hexadecimal numbers applied to the punch cards used
for input/output in mainframe computers.
In high school, I was one of three students who took a computer
programming class, where we used a Teletype machine to run
our programs written in Basic on the Bell Labs computer. This
was long before desktop computers, and even before Bill Gates
started Microsoft.
In my first job after college with the Bell System, I drew flowcharts
with a template by hand, converted them to training manuals,
again by hand, and then had them typed by the steno pool on
Wang word processors. What took at least two people and as
much as 200 labor hours to complete back then, I can now do on
a personal computer in about thirty minutes.
No wonder U.S. productivity numbers have skyrocketed.
attended a class at East Texas State University, earning my
Computing Merit Badge. There, I learned the Hollerith Code,
and how hexadecimal numbers applied to the punch cards used
for input/output in mainframe computers.
In high school, I was one of three students who took a computer
programming class, where we used a Teletype machine to run
our programs written in Basic on the Bell Labs computer. This
was long before desktop computers, and even before Bill Gates
started Microsoft.
In my first job after college with the Bell System, I drew flowcharts
with a template by hand, converted them to training manuals,
again by hand, and then had them typed by the steno pool on
Wang word processors. What took at least two people and as
much as 200 labor hours to complete back then, I can now do on
a personal computer in about thirty minutes.
No wonder U.S. productivity numbers have skyrocketed.
Just as the personal computer revolution was beginning, my job at the phone company was what
we would now call Project Manager. I oversaw the conversion of the workstations in the DFW
area from microfiche readers to computers linked to the main computers.
Fast forward to the personal computer era.
we would now call Project Manager. I oversaw the conversion of the workstations in the DFW
area from microfiche readers to computers linked to the main computers.
Fast forward to the personal computer era.
When I started my retail business, like most entrepreneurs, I had to do everything, including
figuring out technology. I taught myself how to use all of the popular applications, both DOS and
Windows. I tore apart my own computers to replace parts and figure out why stuff wouldn't work.
As the retail stores neared the end of the business model, I began looking around for what I
would do next. SMU's Networking Technologies class was to be the first step in my computer
business path.
figuring out technology. I taught myself how to use all of the popular applications, both DOS and
Windows. I tore apart my own computers to replace parts and figure out why stuff wouldn't work.
As the retail stores neared the end of the business model, I began looking around for what I
would do next. SMU's Networking Technologies class was to be the first step in my computer
business path.
Today, my day job is as the technology guy at a high
school. I get to put my practical experience gained from
figuring stuff out on my own computers, to troubleshooting
hardware and software problems on a network of several
hundred machines.
The down side is, now that everybody knows that I work
on computers, I have to charge people for helping them,
just to get some free time.
If you would like to learn more about how to keep your
home computer safe, or just need tech help,
visit safehomecomputers.com
or email safehomecomputers@mikeramsey.net
school. I get to put my practical experience gained from
figuring stuff out on my own computers, to troubleshooting
hardware and software problems on a network of several
hundred machines.
The down side is, now that everybody knows that I work
on computers, I have to charge people for helping them,
just to get some free time.
If you would like to learn more about how to keep your
home computer safe, or just need tech help,
visit safehomecomputers.com
or email safehomecomputers@mikeramsey.net
Mike Ramsey's Computer Business