A Little About Me

by  John Calhoun

By trade, I am a union Sheet Metal Worker, since 1970, currently in the air conditioning (AC) division.  I have done both installation and fabrication, but I prefer working in the shop, doing the fabrication of the AC duct systems.  As a Sheet Metal Worker, I've also done ornamental, decking, lagging, sidewall, and general sheet metal.

I've been into computers since 1985.  Most of my initial experience was with the Commodore 128, but my very first computer was a 5k RAM "Aquarius" computer from Mattel.  I got it free as an incentive for listening to a sales pitch for time-share property.  When they found out I really wasn't interested in buying into their program, they ushered me out in about 15 minutes! My second computer was a Commodore Vic 20, which also had a huge 5k RAM memory, with a 22 column display using a TV set.  I got that one free too, for listening to a sales pitch for a solar powered water heater.  I had to sit and listen to that one for 3 full hours! I went from there straight to the Commodore C128, which was capable of running Commodore 64 software, as well as Commodore 128 and CP/M software.  In C-64 mode (1 MHz), it runs in 40 columns only.  In 128 mode (1 MHz), running C128 specific software only, it can use 40 or 80 columns.  In CP/M mode (2 MHz), it can run in 40 or 80 columns as well.  I used the C128 exclusively for the next 7 or 8 years.  It currently has four external disk drives, a 2400 baud modem, 256k printer buffer, and a 16 MB RAM disk attached to it.  I still use it once-in-a-while.  .  .  .  With a self-contained OS, and a RAM-disk, it's much faster than my 850Mhz PC, believe it or not! My current system is a Systemax 2.5MHz Pentium 4.

I used to run a computer club that supported the "Commodore 128" computer exclusively.  It was called "C128 West User Group".  It was founded in Santa Monica, California, by Don Campbell, who eventually quit and upgraded to the new Commodore Amiga.  We expanded with another meeting in Covina, CA.  But it quickly got to be too much to handle, running both meetings, so I ran the Covina meeting, and one of the Santa Monica regulars ran that meeting.  Both meetings eventually dissolved and the group disbanded, due to lack of interest and volunteers to help run the club.

Then one day, I saw an IBM-clone computer (it was a Leading Edge 8088) in the Penny Saver for $50, including the monitor.  I just COULDN'T pass that up, even though the uninformed lady advertised it as an 80286.  I found out later that it didn't even have a hard-drive, which was my fault, since I didn't know that much about IBM-type computers.  But I still had fun discovering how it worked and what I could do with it.  I've been fiddling around with clones ever since.  I am not an expert by any means, but I do get by.  .  .  I've learned how to assemble a computer from scratch, but I have no programming knowledge whatsoever: at least, as far as IBM clones.  When I used the C128, I did a little bit of minor program 'hacking', but I never got good enough to write my own programs.  This was mostly because I never developed an interest in writing my own programs.

I now belong to two IBM clone user groups, both of which are mentioned on this site.  And, I still use the Commodore 128 now-and-then...  Believe it or not!

John Calhoun, Webmaster

SAGATUG President