1995 Survival Ideas for Now

1) used Windows 95
merged MS-DOS and Windows, plug/play 32bit took advantage of more memory and larger hard disks

2) used the Netscape Navigator browser
dominant browser till 1994

3) used one of the first personal digital assistants PDAs
features later incorporated into smart phones

4) could write simple web pages in HyperText Markup Language
expanded greatly with introduction of Javascript and later CMS

5) used an early digital camera
stored simple images on a floppy disk, but good enough for web pages, which had to remain small because of limited modem speeds

6) watched a space shuttle launch, return, etc. this was before the Challenger disaster and closing down of the shuttle program except for military

7) did early email on a POP3 email server
annoying, text only, command line based, but worked and faster than the mail

8) used an early GPS
limited to military and researchers at first. later accuracy would get the the 1/2" level

9) got on the Internet using a 2400 baud modem, even at work
dial up Internet (think AOL online), eventually 9600 baud, (started at 300 baud). forced websites to be compact and minimal

10) still exchanged data/code/programs with a floppy disk
we called it 'sneaker net' meaning someone had to physically move or mail the information to another in need

11) used one the first monochrome laser printer
much quieter, faster and higher quality than a dot matrix

12) remembered using: CP/M MS-DOS and GEM/3
the 'good old days' for early personal computer users. supplanted by Microsoft and Apple

13) used Turbo Pascal, Quick Basic, C, Java to write your own code
especially at first there was not a lot of good commercial software specific to your needs.

14) heard "Gangsta's Paradise" on radio for the first time
was #1 on pop charts in 1995 and still popular among some

15) saw highest grossing film, "Die Hard with a Vengeance" in theater
this was pre DVD rentals and streaming on Amazon, etc.

16) knew people affected by HIV/AIDS
it was certain death at the time

17) saw the news about Oklahoma City bombing where 168 people died
the official beginning of domestic terrorism

18) bought tech at Radio Shack
for 'nerds' it was the official go to store for tech needs

19) saw PBS Kids
hard to believe it is 30 years old

20) used a Bulletin Board system for social media
no Myspace or Facebook, much less Instagram or Tik-Tok. we did have a LOT more free time though, hmmm

21) drove or rode in a Chrysler Neon car
not everyone could afford the Spyder and this car worked well

22) endured the "sexy school girl" time
now people go on social media to get 'attention', but back then you needed to do it in person

23) power dressing was the norm for women in the workplace
trying to prove to the men that women were just as professional as they were (see above, which did not help)

24) men were casual, grunge, flannel
men went the other direction. not sure it worked.

25) going to college, preppy students wore khaki slacks, canvas, boat shoes
college was a very HEAVY push still

26) listening and dancing to hip-hop
not my thing, but was important to a lot of people

27) knew or dressed "Goth"
a response to the 'sexy' and 'casual' look mentioned above

28) felt that somehow our tech took a wrong turn and cos-played steam punk
the belief that all this tech was actually not the correct path and we missed something from the past, hmmm

29) were amazed by the first blue LEDS
red/IR LEDs were now old school, white and color LEDs came a year later

30) visited a video arcade to play video games
home computers were just not fast enough if you were a 'real' player

31) CD-ROMs disks were common (700MB)
much better than the 1.22MB floppies, but could not be reused. later DVDs allowed 4.7GB which was great for archiving purposes

32) used a cheap DOT Matrix printer for routine output
laser printers were expensive and not needed for routine work

33) barcodes and QR codes came on the scene
and have never left. yes thet are THAT OLD!

34) 2G mobile phones first appeared and the age of texting began
slow, no camera, voice and text only. some could text without looking at their screens

35) pagers, still used in restaurants to tell you when your table or meal was ready
some locations send a text to your phone now at least

36) used a fountain pen to do assignments for school, because it was cool to be retro
still use them myself. just like the 'feel' of writing with one. of course knowing cursive is a hidden code now