Get Started On Your Oric
Hartnell and Shaw
1983
Submitter: This gem comes from 1983 and it’s great to know what type of technology this library was using when I was just 3 years old. Unlike the Oric 1 that I am sure was replaced 35 years ago, this book seemed to dodge that fate until today.
Holly: What the heck is an Oric?
(Which is exactly the point…your patrons don’t know or care either!)
Where’s the screen ?
In those days, you would hook it up to your television. Computers did not come with a screen and there were no dedicated “monitors” for home use.
I had no idea that was the case! I remember the first computer I saw was the Apple IIe back in 1983 or 1984 at school. Even that ancient thing had a monitor.
I saw an Apple II in 1979 or 1980 in school, and it had a monitor. And lived in a tiny room by itself for which you had to be known to the math/computer department to get the key to, for no more than an hour at a time.
Apple and others did make monitors, but for home use it was supported and expected you would use the “monitor” (TV) you most likely already had. (Story of that HBJ software goes here.)
I had my own proper home computer with floppy discs (not cassettes, how old-fashioned) in 1983, plus an Atari, and a ZX-81, and even I have no idea what an Oric is.
Does the same library have any books on the Tandy/Radio Shack TRS-80?
“Oric, teleport!”
My thought too, Dave. Wobbly sets, grumpy freedom fighters, and this book was after that aired.
(At a con, I was assigned to help out “Servalan”. Delightful lady IRL.)
I’ll take my wobbly sets and grumpy fighters, of whatever type, from Hartnell through to McCoy.
I forwarded this to my tech guru/electronics historian/video game collector, and he rightly observed:
“Is this a British library? Because, as bad as keeping such an obsolete book is just on principle, those things were never even sold in the USA! Though, it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve seen an archive keep something that doesn’t apply here–like keeping a repair manual for an East German Trabant or something……”
Yeah, definitely British, the “realise” spelling gives it away
My first computer was a Tandy hooked up to the TV and programs came on cassette tapes. Wow, am I old!!!
OMG, did two commenters make a Blake’s 7 reference? (“Oric, teleport”) For the uninitiated, Blake’s 7 was a British SF TV show that aired in the U.S. in the 1970s and 80s. Nice to know it hasn’t been forgotten — but this book sure should be!