25 Years: What a Ride!
Yesterday, Darcy and I were testing something together and we had a chat box open. I can’t remember the last time Darcy and I “chatted”, but it’s been a long, long time. When we were chatting she said, something like, “we’ve kept Cloudeight going for 25 years, you know”. I guess, someplace deep inside I knew it was 25 years, but it still shocked me.
Darcy and I have seen the internet change so much in our 25 years of working together online. People used to make fun of us for being on the internet so much – but I can tell you this, neither Darcy nor I could stay away. I used to have to leave for my day job at 5:00 AM, so I’d be up at 3:00 AM to get on the internet. My best friend at the time, Jeff, (God rest his humorous soul), called me “Captain Internet”.
And I can still hear the squeals of the dial-up connecting and feel the anticipation of whether it would ever connect or not… and the satisfaction that came with my Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator browser FINALLY opening my home page – back then it was “Dave Central” a software download site where everything was free. I was up at 3:00 AM looking at all the new freeware Dave posted each day. Then I’ll tell Darcy all about it. I think she got a big kick out of my excitement of finding new, good, free stuff.
The internet was 99% free back then. Amazon was just starting to sell books and Yahoo was the web’s biggest (and worst) search engine. There were dozens of other search engines including Alta Vista (my favorite at the time), DogPile (really!), Ask Jeeves, and dozens more. Dozens were needed because none of them were very good. Back in those days, you had to know how to use more than one search engine or you’d never find what you were looking for.
Then Google eventually came along – becoming not only a search engine but a verb too.
Anyway, Darcy and I were chatting in a little chat box and that little chat box became a Niagara Falls of memories. Memories are wonderful things – but they can be painful too, especially when you factor in the “what ifs”. Twenty-five years ago Darcy met in a chatroom – one that Darcy and an erstwhile friend had created. Darcy was the boss – (and still thinks she is :))
Anyway, I don’t remember how I stumbled into that chatroom but I did and I was a troublemaker, and Darcy being the boss, gave me a lecture. But I think she liked my know-it-all, condescending attitude because she didn’t kick me out. Actually, she took me under her wing.
She had been on the internet longer than me, by then, in 1997 she had more than 3 years of exploring the web, compared to a year for me. I didn’t get my first Windows computer until 1996. It was Windows 95. And for all you folks who think Windows 10 or Windows 11 aren’t very good, I wish I could take you back to 1997 and let you sit in front of my Windows 95 computer with its 16 KB (KILOBYTES) of RAM and its internet connection of about 16 Kbps (Kilobits per second). And remind you of how I had to format it every two months or it wouldn’t boot. And then trying to get that rascal connected to the Internet after the format would take days… until I found a freeware program on Dave Central that would automatically configure the arcane Windows 95 internet settings.
Most of you who have been with us for more than a few years know the history of Cloudeight Stationery. But most of you don’t know is that Cloudeight was around before Cloudeight Stationery was born. We never started out to make money on the internet. We were just having fun and learning each day.
Darcy taught me a lot of things. She taught me how to use PaintShop Pro to make graphics, she taught me how to build websites. She even spent hours and hours of her time, making a complete website for one of my sons. She was the teacher and I was the student and sometimes her frustration and inspiration too, I think.
Darcy use to call me the “King of Search”. She would get frustrated when she couldn’t find something on the internet so she’d ask me to help; Little did she know that I had an armada of search engines bookmarked. I would spend hours and hours searching until I came up with whatever she was looking for.
In the autumn of 1997, we created the first Cloudeight site – but not under the name of Cloudeight – it was under the name of Thundercloud & Eightball then. Christmas Graphics. Little did we know where it would lead.
We’re not going to bore you with the details of the rise and fall of Cloudeight. At one time we were among the top 100 websites and had a newsletter with over a quarter-million subscribers. We were making stationery using the artwork of some of the world’s best contemporary artists – and with the artists’ permission, something the other stationery never did.
We rose to the top and who knows where we might have ended up if Microsoft, in 2007, removed Outlook Express/Windows Mail from Windows and made all our scrolling, musical stationery, useless. We were decimated, our newsletters subscription base shrunk, and the income we worked so hard for dwindled.
Luckily, during our stationery heyday. back in 2001, we introduced our Cloudeight InfoAve computer tips & tricks newsletter and many of you who subscribe to our Daily and Weekly InfoAve newsletters came from our stationery newsletter -all those years ago.
In 2011 we started Cloudeight Direct Computer Care – a remote computer care service that many of you have used. The sales of a couple of products and other services have helped to keep us going.
But really, the biggest source of income that has helped us keep the metaphorical doors open and lights on is your generosity and friendship. The individual gifts you give and the gifts from those of you who have signed up to help us monthly are the reason we’re still Cloudeight.
And because of your gifts, we have changed our policy of answering only the computer questions you send in that we intend to use in the newsletter – we answer every single question you send in. And if we can’t answer it, we’ll point you to someone who can. Instead of trying to sell you a Cloudeight Direct Computer Care repair key, we try to help you by answering your questions by email free of charge. We spend around 4 hours a day answering your questions and making screenshots, writing tutorials to help you with your computer.
Some may call that financially stupid. But we call it Cloudeight. And we’ve been around 25 years now and mostly because of your generosity and support. So to all of you who donate to help us, to all of you who have signed up for automatic monthly donations, thank you so much. Without you, we would not have been able to say…
25 Years: What a Wild Ride!
Please Wait! Before you go…
Every week we help dozens of people with their computers without charge or any expectation of payment. And we have helped many folks who have fallen for tech support scams or other scams designed to steal their money.
And we now depend more on readers like you to help keep us going. Your donation helps us to help more people with their computers and helps us keep everyone safer online.
Please help support our small business and help us to keep on helping you.
CONGRATULATIONS ON 25 YEARS OF ‘SERVICE” cause that’s what it truly is. SERVICE to your followers. I’ve been with you for most of the ride you’ve described. I’ll add that your Smileycons are 100% better (imaginative and entertaining) than the emoji’s around the planet today. And the user-friendly small utilities you created along the way were invaluable at the time. Looking back over the years of evolution and lack of integrity that has taken over so many others, what I’m most grateful for is that you opened a door of assistance, advice, wisdom and expertise that is always open and available to anyone. I could go on and on, but I see you’re blushing now so I won’t. Be proud of yourselves for what I believe has turned out to be, “taking the higher ground” at every crossroad in your business.
Now let’s get down to the “meat and potatoes”. I’m already a booster with a monthly donation. You guys deserve a raise for sure. But, when you consider what’s going on in the world today for most of us, now more than ever, you probably NEED one. I, selfishly, need you to be around for us for many more years, so I’m challenging everyone who can, to help ensure that you will be. I want to increase the amount of my donation (small as it is) but not sure how your software at Paypal wants me to do that. For new donors and one-time donations, it couldn’t be easier, https://thundercloud.net/donation.htm but for adjustments like mine will be, I’m not sure how. Let us know please.
Keep on keepin’ on.
Muriel
Muriel, thanks so much for all your help in the past – remember when you had to slog through all my grammatical errors in the “Raincrows and Other Essays” ebook. What a project – thanks so much for every.
As far as changing your monthly gift – this is the official word from PayPal.
Again, Muriel, thanks for everything.
Thanks for passing on the PayPal info. I cancelled my existing donation, and signed up again with the increased amount.
Sounds simple doesn’t it? Well it wasn’t for me, so I’ll pass on what took me a long time to learn, in an effort to help somebody else. Paypal wants you to download their app so you have to dig deep and experiment on their website to bypass app instructions and get to website instruction,
Nowhere on the website landing page will you find anything saying “my account” or “profile”. You need to find the gear icon in the upper right corner. Clicking on that gear gets you to your “profile” (which has the personal info you joined with Paypal with). Then if you look at the top of that profile page, find the label “payments” and click on it. Then click on “manage automatic payments”. On the left of that page is a list of vendors, donation recipients, etc. that you send automatic payments to. When you click on the recipient you want, there’s an option to cancel if that’s what you want to do. By the way, the’ only way I found a “search” window was to click on HELP. Those pages will really make your head spin. Also, in Paypal language, “”automatic payments” and “recurring payments” mean two entirely different things. For CloudEight Internet you need to get to “Automatic payments” on the PayPal site.
Hi Muriel, I’m so sorry you had to go through all of this. If I had any power beyond my measly capacity aa Darcy’s assistant 🙂 there would be heads rolling at PayPal. But alas, I can’t even get Darcy to do what I want her to do, but we are always here to help you with what we can help with, control the things we can’t with, and have the wisdom to know the difference. Hey, that sounds familiar. Anyway, we are both sorry you had to go through that maze just in order to change your donation amount… but we certainly do appreciate it more than you know Muriel. And thanks for giving others a heads up on how to do it.
EEEEEEKKK!!!! I have been with you since the beginning, and does this mean I am 25 YEARS OLDER??? I have t-shirts and such with your logo, You “healed” my PC not once, but twice, You taught me how to use a computer, and all sorts of things PC related. To my mind You two are the greatest!! by the way, I remember the “old” stuff, my first PC was in 1989 and a monster, too. Anyway, keep doing the stuff you do so wonderfully Kudos to you both and your ‘helpers’ if any. renahawes
Hi Lorena…thanks so much. And yes, you’re 25 years older, but then again, we were no spring chickens when we started this ride… we’re bordering on decrepit… at least Darcy is… TC has found the fountain of youth. (Ouch! Quit slapping me, Darcy!)
as always you guys are the greatest what a wonderful article 25 years what a ride I started on windows 95
that was something with a matrix printer sooo big congrats at the good job you both have done and how far you have come……I donate to you with happiness cause you both do so much good
Thanks so much for your kind words and your financial support. We appreciate them both!
Love you guys. Congrats on 25 years. If your way of doing business is stupid, I wish more companies would do business your way. You have shown for 25 years you care about people more than money and that is a blessing. Keep up the great work. You can count on my help.
Thanks for all you for so many of us.
Beth Adams
Thanks so much, Beth. We appreciate your nice comments.
I remember well the early days. My husband was computer literate in those days and he passed away approx 25 years ago. It took me a few months to try it out and one day I was doing my thing as I call it and up popped your Thunderbird & Eightball page with a few helpful hints. I studied it for a while and thought that this is what I am looking for somebody who shares helpful hints that I can understand. Occasionally I did get stumped so to speak and one day I thought that it would be far better to talk to somebody rather than become frustrated and out of sorts because I was unable to work it out so I took the bull by the horns and rang America and spoke with T.C. I remember it well I think that he was pleased to terminate our call as in those days I certainly was not computer literate at all and perhaps not very much better today although I do try hopefully brownie points for that. I think that TC very likely would think the same today. I loved the XP days with your wonderful stationery and music embedded into the email. I even tried to create some stationery of my own which I still have on my computer and loved being able to send pretty emails to friends and relations which I must admit are now sadly few and far between. I have certainly enjoyed the journey that I have had with Cloudeight and thank you so much for sharing so much with your avid followers who I am sure thank you most sincerely also for being there and being our rock. May you have many more years to come and I wish both yourself and Darcy all the very best for 2022 and beyond.
Kindest regards,
Maggie (N.Z. ) One of the little birds with no wings.
Aw thanks for the kind words, Maggie!
I extend my best wishes and congratulations to both of you for 25 years of excellent service to people throughout the world–including me. (Chase)
Thanks, Chase!
Ahh thanks for the memories. You mentioned so much that I had forgotten, the sites and the headaches and the fun of the beginning of the internet! I absolutely loved it all. Your stationery, your emoji’s being the first ever, I think! Lol. My sister and I used to use it all the time.
And congratulations for the 25 years helping people wade through all the things computer wise! We would be lost without the 2 of you. Cheers and looking forward to another 25. Yup I am 80 but I am going to make another 25 years.
Congratulations – wow 25 years. I remember the squeak and squcking of the first computer I had to try and get on line with a telephone line. ha ha. Had to learn DOS. I still have a few notes. Im so thankful I found you back then. Windows 95, wow. I wouldn’t still be on the computer if it wasn’t for all your help. I tell everyone about the wonderful work you both do. Some listen some don’t. Their loss. Thank you for being such a great site we can count on. I try and send help when I can, which I will do today. I’m gong to be 80 in August and truly depend on you to keep my computer up and running. Thank you for all your help. I can’t thank you enough.
Congratulations on 25 years! WOW, can it really be that long! I remember and used your beautiful stationery with its music on many. I have been with you since almost your beginnings, and I am sane today at 77 because of you both. I, too, love the computer, and you both keep me on track and loving it not only with your knowledge, but with your kindness and patience with me following my concussion and resulting deficits. You both know I trust you explicitly. Thank You for not only all of your help but also with your friendship!
Wow, I have been with you since you started! You have helped me so much over the years, even when I did stupid Things.
When I started out, I was using a DOS 3.1 computer & now it’s archaic!
I’ve learned so much from both of you, but will never have the knowledge both of you do. Thank you for all of your help, hints & newsletters!
I am so glad you wandered into that chat room, TC. You both have helped me immensely over the years. I got my first computer in 1999 and became hooked. I’m still not a computer genius by any means but if I were younger I might try to be one. I love it and I love that you’re both here to help everyone. You put your knowledge to good use unlike all the scammers, etc. Here’s to another 25! Congratulations!
Thanks so very much for all the years you guys have helped me…..must be over 10 years by now!… Bye the way, don’t see or hear much of Darci these days. Is TC doing most of the work now? I notice there’s been a change, not that it matters. You both have been the greatest….I’m 85 yrs old now so slowing down quite a bit with the computer. Just the essentials interest me these days… All the very best, Pierre
Where has the time gone? Beginning in 2008, I stumbled upon your pages and shortly after, discovered NotOverTheHill website. I’m still enjoying that site tremendously. Have made a lot of wonderful friendships. Each person there unique in their own way. Have learned much, as I stumbled onto the internet knowing basically nothing around the end of 1995. Fast forward to now, and I can’t believe it’s been 25 years y’all came aboard to help so many. I enjoy your newsletter so much. Y’all are the best.
You quoted at the end of your page today to please tell your friends about us. Goes without saying for the last approx 25 years I have been a spokesperson for in the early day’s Thunderbird & eightball and as the years progressed also Cloudeight without a doubt. I am a strong believer that word of mouth is the best advertiser and as my daughters always accuse me of being a little magpie and as I do not socialize a lot they do say I make up for it when I get the opportunity. So believe me while I am able I shall be singing the praises of Cloudeight and what went before and especially for your survival over many trying times. I am a great believer in good things happening to good people and now is the time to enjoy the accolade and appreciation from so many of your numerous loyal customers over the years. Good luck, take care and stay safe in these troubled times.
Regards,
Maggie.