I often think back to the first computer we had at home. It was the 1980s, and we had a Macintosh, the same kind that was in schools at the time. The only reason we had one was because my dad was one of those people who went around teaching teachers how to use them. It was bulky, slow by today’s standards, and had a very basic interface, but back then, it felt like magic.
My own first piece of personal technology wasn’t actually a computer at all. It was an electronic typewriter in the 1990s. It had a tiny screen—only about five centimetres deep—so I could only see a few lines of text at a time. It was incredibly heavy and clunky, but at the time, it was revolutionary for me. I could type, print directly from it, and have something that felt a little more advanced than just pen and paper.
Then came my first proper laptop in 2005—a Dell. I had it for several years, and it was truly incredible. It was solid, reliable, and built to last, like those early Motorola or Nokia phones that you could drop hundreds of times, and they would still work.
The Cruise Ship & the Laptop That Could Survive Anything
When I worked on cruise ships, I took my Dell laptop with me everywhere. It became a lifeline for emails, work, and keeping in touch with the world outside. But one memory will always stick with me.
After dry dock (when a ship goes in for maintenance), something happened in the laundry room. Every time the washing machines went into a spin cycle, the entire ship shook. And I mean, really shook. One day, I had my laptop sitting on the side in the spa, where I was working at the time. The shaking from the laundry was so intense that my laptop literally jumped off the counter and onto the floor.
I was sure it was broken, but no—it was still in perfect working order. That computer was indestructible, unlike today’s sleek, fragile machines.
From Laptops to Phones: A Whole New World
Now, when I think about what I use for work, writing, and communication, I don’t even own a laptop anymore. Instead, I have a smartphone that is more powerful than anything I could have imagined back then.
Back in the 80s and 90s, I could never have predicted that one day, I’d be running a blog, writing books, and creating social media content all from something that fits in my pocket. A tiny device that can do everything—from video calls across the world to running entire businesses.
I feel incredibly privileged to have witnessed this journey of technology. I went from an era of clunky, slow devices to a world where I can work from anywhere with just my phone. It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come—and how lucky we are to live in an age where the entire world is at our fingertips.
What Are Your First Tech Memories?
I’d love to hear your stories! What was the first computer or piece of technology you remember using? And how does it compare to what you use today?
Let me know in the comments—and don’t forget to like and subscribe for more nostalgic reflections on life, parenting, and the world around us!
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