I started out as one of those rocker guys, claiming that techno was lame and all sounds the same...OOPS! I started listening to MarkD broadcasting from the ROXY (Houston) in about 2000 and I haven't looked back! I put my first decks on layaway a couple of months later. Gemini XL500II with a cheesy battle mixer. Thats all I needed. I ran those Gemini's into the ground and a while later scored a pair of Technics from a Pawnshop, only to find out the days of vinyl were basically numbered at least as far as going to a shop and buying some... Took me a couple of years of mixing on and off to finally get some online sources for fresh tracks, and the barebones beginner toolchain for mixing here on my computer.
I am running Sony Acid-because I learned it in 2000 and its price point fit my budget! on a Vaio. I am going to migrate everything to my new Toshiba laptop.