Re: Apple II: Second Best Tech Product of All Time!

[Charlie Springer <RAM@regnirps.com>]

On Tue, 3 Apr 2007 12:12:59 -0700, Paul Schlyter wrote
(in article <euu8q8$1sn6$1@merope.saaf.se>):

> - the telegraph and the telephone
> - the train and the automobile
> - the aeroplane
> - the refrigerator
> - mining (without that, no metals, and no computers!)
> - the boat (quite old, true, but didn't we say "of all time"?)
> - agriculture (also very old, but didn't we say "of all time"?)
> - taming fire (even older, but didn't we say "of all time"?)
> - and, of course: the wheel !!!!

I think I would start with

Fire
The pointed stick
The meat grinder (no burgers without this one!)
The Halter Top (anyone in college in the 70's?)
Language (Does this qualify? Leads to great advances like "OK, you poke it 
and I'll be right behind you." or "You all go hunting. I'll stay and protect 
the women.")

The transistor and smokeless powder should have been pretty near the top.
Biggest effect on the last century? The M1 Garand. Most influential person of 
the 20th century? I think I can nail that hands down. John Browning.

-- Charlie Springer