Re: Computing Editorial (please read)

[pausch@saaf.se (Paul Schlyter)]

In article <3E304543.85E@earthlink.net>,
Lee Hart  <leeahart@earthlink.net> wrote:
 
>> For 95% of users, a PC is now just another appliance/entertainment
>> device.
> 
> Exactly. Computers have become an appliance. Nobody cares how they work,
> or seeks to improve them.
> 
> We lived through a golden age in computing, when the average person got
> really interested in them, and really could build them, understand them,
> and extend their performance and capabilities. And there are *millions*
> of average people! Rather than the technology crawling ahead at the pace
> dictated by a few dedicated professionals, it *leaped* ahead!
 
Of course, today's appliance computers have performance and
capabilites far beyond what those home hobbyists could produce back
then.  So if the capabilities and performance are what's important,
then today's situation makes you a winner: today you get much more
for a much lower price.
 
But if the capabilities and performance is unimportant and the
important thing is to construct something yourself - then why not go
ahead and do it?  It's not cutting edge technology, but so what?  The
capabilities and performance were unimportant anyway -- the important
thin is that you enjoy what your'e doing.
 
There are plenty of home construction projects you could undertake.
You could get into e.g. model railroading, ham radio station
construction, telescope construction including mirror grinding, house
building.  And even computer construction: you could for instance
build your own Apple II -- the schematics are available, and the
components are standard components.  Yes, it will be more expensive
and have much less performance and capabilities than a modern home
computer -- but you will have built it yourself!
 
The age of home construction isn't gone - you can still do it, if you
want to.
 
-- 
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