A lot has happened since 1998, when Insite was founded. Television was still consumed primarily through something called "cable" and "antenna" projected into a big, heavy box, and before reality TV really took off and while people's conception of artificial intelligence went by the name "Skynet," most programming consisted of shows that boasted "writers."
(Thankfully, "quotation marks" have been around for a long time, and we will continue to "embrace" them until it starts getting "weird." Ok. We're done.)
It may come as a surprise to many of our readers (and even some in our team) that it's been over 20 years since Segway was supposed to revolutionize walking, or that social media consisted of the nightclub and the Rotary Club, which of course sent out a quarterly newsletter that included recipes for various kinds of fluffy pastries.
Chain letters were slowly digitized as more and more people learned that they could accomplish the same result without investing in a stamp, and Nigeria apparently was flush with princes who needed to relocate cash for anyone willing to share some banking information with them.
(Just kidding, Grandma. That isn't real. Do NOT respond to that email.)
We have indeed seen interesting times. Feeling a little nostalgic, we asked our team what was going on in their lives 25 years ago. Curious what your favorite Insiter was doing? Here's your chance to find out.
As we celebrate our 25-year journey in the digital industry, a curious question crossed our minds: "What were we up to 25 years ago?" It's a reflection that stirred deep thoughts. We're well aware of how technology has transformed in every conceivable way, but how exactly were we harnessing it two and a half decades ago? So, we decided to chat with some of our team members, and their responses whisked us away on a delightful trip down memory lane.
Aaron Fickes
What was your favorite tech 25 years ago? Home built PC to play games, getting an ISDN connection to the internet.
Were you playing with any gadgets back then? Video games? If so, what? Gadgets—Handspring or PalmPilot PDA. Video Games—Playing Quake and Half-Life with people across the World.
How did you use the internet 25 years ago? Work used it, playing online games, keeping in touch with friends.
What did you spend most of your time doing in 1998? Graduating college, planning then having a wedding, learning everything about telecom and engineering (first professional job)
What were you watching? Stargate SG-1
What CDs were you buying in 1998? Cake, Beastie Boys, Foo Fighters
What was the first thing the internet taught you? Only trust those you personally know. It was still the wild west.
Do you remember your first computer? What was it? Home Built
What do you miss about the internet and/or technology back then? Anonymous, no tracking, you had to know where to go, search was either AoL or Yahoo. No email spam.
Abbie DeBlank
What was your favorite tech 25 years ago? My "digital personal organizer," aka electronic rolodex
How did you use the internet 25 years ago? Dial up
What did you spend most of your time doing in 1998? Hanging out with my neighbors that are now some of my very best friends, $1 schooners at Lone Star Oyster Bar, brunch at Blue Goose, renting movies at Blockbuster
What were you watching? Will and Grace, King of Queens, Seinfeld, Friends
What CDs were you buying in 1998? Dixie Chicks, Jo Dee Messina, Smashing Pumpkins, Toadies
What was the first thing the internet taught you? How to play solitaire
Do you remember your first computer? What was it? IBM Aptiva, my one and only PC
Brian Young
What was your favorite tech 25 years ago? asp.net, Microsoft SQL Server, Site Server Commerce Server 3.0
Were you playing with any gadgets back then? Video games? If so, what? Unreal Tournament
How did you use the internet 25 years ago? Building websites, learning about technology and gaming
What did you spend most of your time doing in 1998? College
What was the first thing the internet taught you? How to communicate via bulletin boards
Do you remember your first computer? What was it? 486. I went to 3rd Saturday at the infomart to get a math coprocessor to make it faster.
What do you miss about the internet and/or technology back then? Not everyone was on it. :) Noobs!!!!
What was the best thing about Windows 98? It is no longer in use today. :)
Cam Beck
What was your favorite tech 25 years ago? Computers. I liked building them for myself and my friends, and getting them connected to the Internet (or each other, in the case of work), which at the time was a little more difficult than it is today.
Were you playing with any gadgets back then? Video games? If so, what? I can't remember if I had a cell phone by then or if I was still using a pager. My favorite video game was Sid Meier's Civilization II.
How did you use the internet 25 years ago? Research, learning how to write HTML, email, using PowWow chat and other chat forums. I did a lot of online debating back then.
What did you spend most of your time doing in 1998? Working, reading, school, bowling
What were you watching? I did not own a TV, but I did go to the movies a lot. My favorites from that year were Saving Private Ryan, Armageddon, and Blade.
What CDs were you buying in 1998? I wasn't buying many CDs in 1998. My Dodge Neon did not have a CD player at the time.
What was the first thing the internet taught you? I was impressed with the Internet's ability to connect people. But one thing I learned early is how difficult it was to connect using dial-up, and that someone would have to improve the backbone (not a word I would have used at the time) if it were to become a more serious tool for work or entertainment.
Do you remember your first computer? What was it? The first computer my parents had and I got to use as a kid from home was a Commodore 64. I played Prince of Persia on it whenever I could. The first big thing that is still very much on the current PC road was an "IBM-Compatible" computer that ran MS-DOS. The first one had 1 MB of "extended" RAM, and I played many hours of Sierra's Hero's Quest on it. The first computer I actually purchased myself as an adult was an IBM. I think it was a 386, and its hard drive was 1GB, which I thought I would NEVER fill up. Spoiler: It actually filled up pretty quickly.
What do you miss about the internet and/or technology back then? I miss the absence of people trying to get fame and fortune on the Internet by "pwning" strangers through what they think is clever snark and flippancy.
What was the best thing about Windows 98? It was easy enough to use for me to become proficient with it that I could provide some aid to my friends in setting it up, upgrading it, and connecting them to the Internet.
Harlan Bowling
What was your favorite tech 25 years ago? I got my first computer around then. Otherwise, my whole tech life was video games.
Were you playing with any gadgets back then? Video games? If so, what? Just video games! I probably was fully engrossed in Goldeneye on Nintendo 64.
How did you use the internet 25 years ago? I was 15. AOL chat rooms and probably up to no good.
What did you spend most of your time doing in 1998? I played a lot of sports in JHS and HS. Between it and school…not a whole lot else.
What were you watching? Sports and lots of movies!
What CDs were you buying in 1998? Nothing but grunge and alternative.
What was the first thing the internet taught you? The world was smaller than we thought.
Do you remember your first computer? What was it? Acer Aspire with the expanded 3GB hard drive.
What do you miss about the internet and/or technology back then? It felt a bit more innocent back then. We were just trying to gobble up information before it became overwhelming.
What was the best thing about Windows 98? Solitaire!
Nicki Purcell
What was your favorite tech 25 years ago? I got my Motorola Razr flip phone as my first cell phone in 1996 and prob kept it at least two years and was using it in '98. I loved how cool and compact it seemed. It was my first mobile phone.
How did you use the internet 25 years ago? I was working in my first "career" job after college in public relations and utilized the Internet as a distribution channel for press releases I was writing and getting media coverage.
What were you watching? I started "appointment viewing" for Friends and ER in college but in 1998 I was transitioning to watching the same shows but without my besties all around me on my apartment floor. Monday Night Football was also in the top 5 most watched on TV and being newly married to a football coach, it dominated the start of our weeks.
Do you remember your first computer? What was it? My first computer was one provided at my first job. I don't remember the model. However, it was a desktop and included a keyboard—no mouse. All current "mouse" functionality happened via Function keys. It seems crazy now, but was completely normal then.
What do you miss about the internet and/or technology back then? In 1998 while the Internet was 'always on,' I didn't feel always on. It was something I accessed when needed instead of everything being pushed to me. The smartphone changed that forever and created with it an unparallelled access for remote problem solving, but also an incredibly difficult path for separation.
Tanner Grimes
As we travel back in time to celebrate Insite's remarkable 25-year journey, we stumble upon a unique and extraordinary story — the tale of Tanner Grimes, who, 25 years ago, had yet to take his first breath.
In the grand tapestry of our company's history, Tanner wasn't merely absent; he was a beacon of potential waiting to unfold. While others were navigating new technologies and the world, Tanner was blissfully unaware, poised on the brink of yet-to-be-discovered dreams.
Fast forward to the present, and behold Tanner's journey with us! Starting as an intern at 15 years old, he is now a full-time developer, and a huge asset to our team and clients. As we save the best for last, we witness the art of what can be—a story written in the ink of dedication, passion, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.
As we consider this story, we celebrate not just 25 years of Insite's success, but also the unfolding chapters of years to come, with limitless potential. Tanner has crafted his own narrative—a testament to the boundless possibilities that lie ahead for Insite.
Here's to the past, present, and the limitless future we continue to shape together. Cheers to Tanner, a living testament to the art of what can be!
Whitney Phinyawatana
What was your favorite tech 25 years ago? The computer—it was huge and boxy and blew my mind! Especially the cool colorful iMacs
Were you playing with any gadgets back then? Video games? If so, what? The grip my Tamagotchi had on me is slightly embarrassing…
How did you use the internet 25 years ago? To chat with my friends on AOL Instant Messenger
What did you spend most of your time doing in 1998? School, socializing in person and on AOL instant messenger
What CDs were you buying in 1998? LeAnne Rimes, Dixie Chicks, Goo Goo Dolls
What was the first thing the internet taught you? I desperately wanted to add a colored background and colored font to my AOL profile, and the internet taught me how to do that with html
Do you remember your first computer? What was it? I'm not sure what it was—I just know it was massive and the entire family wanted to use it all at the same time.
What do you miss about the internet and/or technology back then? It was simple.
What was the best thing about Windows 98? Solitaire, baby!