From what I understand, the pre-WWW Internet was actually commercially available in the late 80s, definitely by 1989. And you had BBS which was essentially an early version of the Net. Did anyone here actually use online services in the eighties?

My friends grandmother was way into commodore in the 80's. She had a Vic-20 and then later a C-64. I remember on the C-64 she had a modem and could dial into severs. It was VERY basic from what I recall. Mostly text, although those computers had built in graphics you could display. Mainly blocks and other geometric shapes that could be used to create primitive graphics. Kind of how people make pictures out of text, you could use those built in graphics. I can recall her showing us a server you could log into and get the latest news stories. Seems to me there was a stock market one, a movie review one, a servers where you could post in discussions, kind of like how we are doing now, but it was all much more primitive and slow!! 

That was really cool to see back in the day. I was impressed for sure. I was probably still in grade school when we would go visit his grandmother, so it would have been around 1982 or 1983 I'd guess.

My first memory is at a government job in which I was required to tap into nationwide security databases ('80-'82).  I found it amazing that I could type on the computer and have my queries go to faraway places.  However these were closed networks, so I don't regard them as internet-like.  But it opened my mind up to more possibilities.

A couple years later ('84-'85), while working at a commercial computer company, I found myself able to tap into a nationwide bulletin board system (one of my coworkers showed it to me).  My participation in this was generally for fun.  As this system was open, it was much more internet-like.  And I loved it!  I recall there was a trivia message board I used to post on during my breaks - fun!  This network helped me envision the possibility of an "open" nationwide system for anybody to transmit data on.  8)

My friends grandmother was way into commodore in the 80's. She had a Vic-20 and then later a C-64. I remember on the C-64 she had a modem and could dial into severs. It was VERY basic from what I recall.

Like you, a good buddy of mine had a Commodore 64 and a modem and could dial to a University or Toronto server. He communicated by email to some and had access to other things, I just don't remember what they were. I'm trying to narrow down the year within the mid 1980s, I'm afraid I forgot the year. I'm certain it was after 1983 and before 1988.

I remember something in school with the Commodore 64 also. My first Internet was with the Sega Saturn and Netlink modem. it was around 1996 or 1997.

The internet during my time didn't exist yet.

Only if you belonged to the military...

I don't remember the internet being around in the 80's.  ???

I don't remember the internet being around in the 80's.  ???
History of the Internet http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet

Like you, a good buddy of mine had a Commodore 64 and a modem and could dial to a University or Toronto server. He communicated by email to some and had access to other things, I just don't remember what they were. I'm trying to narrow down the year within the mid 1980s, I'm afraid I forgot the year. I'm certain it was after 1983 and before 1988.


My brother had a Commodore in 1983. I remember playing Jeoprady on it.  We had Mac's in college, but I only ever accessed the word processor on them, don't remember internet. 

I don't remember using the internet during the 1980's, I think it was an old Commodore or some other brand.

A 1985 episode of Silver Spoons covered internet chat dating. Even mentions a modem!

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Robert Tappan Morris, the American computer scientist and entrepreneur, certainly was using the Internet back in the 80s for he is best known for creating the Morris Worm in 1988, considered the first computer worm on the Internet.

I don't remember using the internet during the 80's, I think I used a regular computer but without the internet.

I don't remember using the internet during the 80's, I think I used a regular computer but without the internet.
It was the same for me.

It was this day March 15th in 1985, that the first Internet domain name is registered (symbolics.com).

Nope, never even heard of it nor did my parents did. I'd imagine many people though did use it but at the time weren't aware of its name until the 90s.

It was this day March 15th in 1985, that the first Internet domain name is registered (symbolics.com).


What did someone do for internet radio at that time?

What did someone do for internet radio at that time?
Just listened to analogue radio

Just listened to analogue radio


or Sony Walkmans.