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I am trying to figure out the difference between those three sentences.

> はじめにコンピューターを使った。

~ Initially, I used a computer.

> はじめはコンピューターを使った。

~ In the beginning I used a computer. (e.g. but now I use something else)

> はじめてコンピューターを使った。

~ First time I used a computer.

Is there a clear difference in meaning between the first and the second
sentence here?
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2020-08-17T08:29:03.360
80195
2020-08-17T14:53:10.077
2020-08-17T08:34:26.200
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question
grammar translation phrases
The difference between はじめに and はじめて and はじめは
> はじめにコンピューターを使った。

Your translations seem correct to me, except I'd translate it "I used a
computer first." for more clearness.

To use or not to use は is a deep question, partially because it is seldom
reflected in form in European languages. Anyway the usage of は is usually not
relevant to the sentence that contains itself, but other sentences around it.
In this case, when you just want to say it as a part of "Firstly...,
secondly..., finally..." you don't use it, but you should when "At first...,
but / on the other hand...".

What can be surely said is that if you start with はじめは, it implies that it
becomes no more in some point.

> はじめに言葉があった。 _In the beginning was the word._

doesn't mean the word disappeared when the God did something, but

> はじめは言葉があった。

does.
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2020-08-17T14:53:10.077
80202
2020-08-17T14:53:10.077
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80195
answer