Casio FP-200 ... I still hope that all family members of the thieve got cancer....

Another computer that has certain significant in my life was a handle computer called called Casio FP-200. It is significant not because of what I did with the computer, but because of what I DID NOT get to do with it.

I brought it back when I was in Form 3 (about the level of junior high school in US) and it was mainly because of my fetish with portable computer, but also because of my low self-esteem and craving to get some attention my carrying something seemingly high-tech, expansive and complicate.

I didn't own my FP-200 for too long because it was being stolen after I left it as the corner of a model story in Hong Kong. Back then there was a policy to leave bag's at the corner of the store to avoid teenagers stealing models from the store. Now that I looked back, there was a few obvious reason why that handheld computer was being stolen:

• I had the word "FP-200" marked outside of the carrying bag I used to hold the computer.
• I took it out a few times while I was holding it walking towards to model store.

Anyway, my friends took me to the police station to report the incidence. As most case like this in Hong Kong, the stolen computer was never recovered. And after a few days of mourning with sorrow and pain, I negotiated with my elder brother, and brought his Shape PC-1500 computer through a monthly payment plan.

That incidence has certain impact on my life, for instance:

• I started to see people around me as thieves.
• I became more angry about ... pretty much most of the stuff I saw
  

Man, I even start feeling anger right now. There... there .. breathe ... I am better now.

I did, thought, write some simple basic software with the FP-200. I really love coding something on a portable device, and that kind of passion still carries all the way to nowadays, being the main driving force for me spend time with the iPhone SDK. I always fascinate of coding stuff that I can use by carrying it around. That gives me a sense of satisfaction, and gives me a nerdy of self-actualizing by showing off my application, and then say "I wrote this".

Comparing with today's technology, FP-200 is pathetically low power and low in feature, but at least it has very low barrel of entry regarding to programming. The screen was reasonably large comparing with other hand held computer back then, like PC-1500, FX-720P. Of course, compare with those REAL business class hand held computer like PC-8201 and Epson HC-20. But hell, FP-200 was what I could afford back then, and to that I was contended.

I was thankful for having that device even thought it was a short period of time. Memories are better when they are mixed with sweet and sorrow.