About Us

I bought my first computer, a Commodore Pet, in 1978 at an electronics store after watching a young kid making things happen on the demo unit in the store. I moved to a Radio Shack Model II Level 1 and used it until purchasing an Osborne Computer in 1982. I joined the Tampa Bay Osborne User Group and was amazed at how computer users helped each other.

This was my first experience with a User Group and learned so much from the meetings and other members, that I enjoyed sharing information and helping others. After I moved to an AT&T PC6300, my first PC, I joined the Tampa Bay Computer Society. I started my first BBS (Bulletin Board Service) about 1986 using an older IBM-PC and served the Tampa Bay area as the FABulous BBS. The FAB was short for Food and Beverages, which was the industry that I was in to pay the bills.

My employer transferred me to the Orlando area, and I moved my BBS there. It grew to 3 telephone lines and I added a CD player to grow my BBS to one of the largest in available downloads. After going into the computer business, the focus changed to Finance and Business, so I kept the same name. FABulous BBS and Treasures BBS shared the same room at our business. FAB grew to 8 CDs of shareware and freeware as well as the RIME messaging network.

With the advent of the Internet, I wanted to learn how to create websites, so I started Hewie’s Favorite’s, first as a free site on my ISP’s server and eventually as its own domain, where it still resides.

Hewie Poplock joined the Central Florida Computer Society in 1987 and is a 4-time Past President and currently is the APCUG Rep and the Windows SIG (Special Interest Group) Chair. I have always enjoyed sharing my computer knowledge and information, and this website has been a good vehicle to do so. In 2014, we moved to Bradenton, Fl. I joined the Sarasota Technology User Group (STUG). I was elected to the STUG Board of Directors and was appointed the APCUG Rep for STUG. I also continue my roles with CFCS and have conducted the WinSIG remotely since moving to the Florida west coast.

The website first went online in 1995 and a complete update went live in August 2010. The 2010 version was developed with Drupal 6. The 2016 update was developed using WordPress 4.4. The current version was developed with GoDaddy's Website Development Tools in 2021. I hope that you enjoy the site and find interesting and helpful information.