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Cyhist Feb 14 1997 B
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Date: Fri, 14 Feb 1997 14:32:58 -0800
Reply-To: "CYHIST Community Memory: Discussion list on the History of
Cyberspace" <CYHIST@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU> Sender: "CYHIST Community Memory: Discussion list on the History of
Cyberspace" <CYHIST@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU> From: David Watson <watson@WINK.CORP.SGI.COM>
Subject: Old calculators
X-To: cyhist@SJUVM.stjohns.edu
______________________________________________________________________
Community Memory: Discussion List on the History of Cyberspace ______________________________________________________________________
I fondly remember my first calculator, a basic hand-held 4-function Berkey Keystone I bought in the fall of 1973 for $120. The keys had a superb, definite feel and the construction was better than any simple calculator could possibly provide for what they cost today.
Among the (15-year-old) circles I traveled in back then, a 4-function calculator was a real conversation piece!
That winter, someone threw a snowball through the open window of my dorm room and it landed right on top of my prized calculator, which promptly ceased functioning. I couldn't fix it myself, so I called the company and told them what happened... they shipped me another one right away!
I still have the power supply for the second Berkey, but to my grief, I lost the calculator itself many years ago. I'd still like to find another one if anyone knows where one might be found. Good quality and great customer service made me loyal for 24 years to a product that is technically quite obsolete. Is there a lesson in here somewhere?
-David.
______________________________________________________________________
Reply-To: "CYHIST Community Memory: Discussion list on the History of
Cyberspace" <CYHIST@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU> Sender: "CYHIST Community Memory: Discussion list on the History of
Cyberspace" <CYHIST@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU> From: David Watson <watson@WINK.CORP.SGI.COM>
Subject: Old calculators
X-To: cyhist@SJUVM.stjohns.edu
______________________________________________________________________
Community Memory: Discussion List on the History of Cyberspace ______________________________________________________________________
I fondly remember my first calculator, a basic hand-held 4-function Berkey Keystone I bought in the fall of 1973 for $120. The keys had a superb, definite feel and the construction was better than any simple calculator could possibly provide for what they cost today.
Among the (15-year-old) circles I traveled in back then, a 4-function calculator was a real conversation piece!
That winter, someone threw a snowball through the open window of my dorm room and it landed right on top of my prized calculator, which promptly ceased functioning. I couldn't fix it myself, so I called the company and told them what happened... they shipped me another one right away!
I still have the power supply for the second Berkey, but to my grief, I lost the calculator itself many years ago. I'd still like to find another one if anyone knows where one might be found. Good quality and great customer service made me loyal for 24 years to a product that is technically quite obsolete. Is there a lesson in here somewhere?
-David.
______________________________________________________________________
