Computer sensory experiences

[r00tb33r]

Anybody miss or have any favorite sensory experiences associated with computers?  It was sensory ASMR for me when I was younger.

 

In the industry there is a term "off-gas", chemical vapors that come off a product for some time after manufacturing.  Back in the 90s I remember the distinct computer smell, fresh beige ABS plastic shells of CRT monitors giving off the odors as the CRTs heated, and the feeling of the rising heat from the vents.  ...Often mixed with cigarette smoke, as back then people smoked in offices.  Is there such thing as a new computer smell anymore?

 

Or the distinct tones of the spinup of each hard drive model.  Some are more lovely than others.  I still hunt for the sounds of the one from my childhood.

 

The sounds of FDD seek, or FDD in operation, each having its own distinct tone.

 

I remember the sounds and vibrations of optical drives, but not sure there's a favorite.

 

Or the softer tone of a real PC speaker driver (not a piezo buzzer) giving a single beep on successful POST.

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

Remember when those IDE HDDs were loud enough to know if a PC was still on? Back when the loudest thing in a system wasn't the fans, even though they were always those little whiny ones. 

 

Keep this playing in the background. Could be your version of lofi. 

 

[r00tb33r]

7 minutes ago, BlueChinchillaEatingDorito said:

Remember when those IDE HDDs were loud enough to know if a PC was still on? Back when the loudest thing in a system wasn't the fans, even though they were always those little whiny ones. 

 

Keep this playing in the background. Could be your version of lofi. 

 

That's a Quantum BigFoot, I actually have a 2GB one, should still be working.  I last used it in my home webserver in the early 2000s.

 

My favorite is actually a 2.5" hard drive from a Laser (Vtech) 386 laptop.  Wish I knew the model of the drive.  It had a very gentle but pronounced spinup tone.

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

Just now, r00tb33r said:

That's a Quantum BigFoot, I actually have a 2GB one, should still be working.  I last used it in my home webserver in the early 2000s.

That's before my time but I still have a Quantum Fireball kicking around somewhere. Equally as loud. 

[Kilrah]

I have modern drives that are quite noisy so I don't miss it

Bit of a different seek sound though, but there have always been a lot of very different ones

 

Also I have a bunch of old machines, so can get them sounds when I want

 

   

 

 

[r00tb33r]

9 minutes ago, Kilrah said:

I have modern drives that are quite noisy so I don't miss it

Bit of a different seek sound though, but there have always been a lot of very different ones

 

 

Also I have a bunch of old machines, so can get them sounds when I want

 

 

   

 

 

That first clip has some bowel associations at times, but admittedly it's not as harsh as my others.  I don't mind.

 

Ironically in my retro rig I have a rather quiet drive.

[Blqckqut]

i may not be over 20 but ive had my fair share of experience with older pcs

 

i miss the drive sound when you start the pc that sounds like a sci fi rifle charging up

 

and then the buzz of the drive

[Stahlmann]

Most of these things i simply didn't notice or appreciate when i was younger. And now i don't miss any of these sounds. I wouldn't have spent hundreds of EUR to make my PC inaudible otherwise.

 

The closest thing to a memorable sensory experience was probably the first time i experienced really good HDR from a 1000+ nit monitor.

[seanondemand]

Different drive sound - when you'd put the CD-ROM for your game in and the drive would spin up. Such anticipation

[r00tb33r]

8 minutes ago, seanondemand said:

Different drive sound - when you'd put the CD-ROM for your game in and the drive would spin up. Such anticipation

I hadn't considered the nostalgia of the tray experience.  Excitement and anticipation indeed.