[vcf-midatlantic] OT: people don't understand computers anymore

[chrisjpf33 at gmail.com]

On Jun 7, 2016, at 1:45 PM, Dan Roganti via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic at lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:

On Tue, Jun 7, 2016 at 12:21 PM, Herb Johnson via vcf-midatlantic <
vcf-midatlantic at lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:

> As it's quiet on the maillist, I'll ask about something on the edges of
> vintage computing. People today - I use the phrase "in the 21st century" -
> don't seem to know anything about how computers work, anymore. I'd like a
> little feedback, not a huge discussion (and not a gripe session), about how
> common that ignorance is, what we as vintage computer owners should do -
> once I clarify what I mean, and provide an example.

​[snip]

Herb,
It sounds like you're referring to the consumer market and I don't think
this is unique to the 21st century
I think this really began with the advent of the appliance home computers
in 1977
When the consumer market was introduced to the 3 amigo's from those
competing companies, Apple, Radio Shack and Commodore
Those 3 computers enabled the consumer market, and didn't require you to
know the internals of the software or hardware.
All else before that was strictly made for the hobbyist market, those which
required some knowledge, even some made later did too of course.
Not everyone needed to how to change the engine oil or rebuild an engine,
much less so how to add memory or install a printer, etc, back then.
So sprang the consumer computer market into action from that point on,
allowing ordinary people to use these new productivity tools.
Just as with TV's, stereos, and any other appliance which you didn't build
from Heathkit :)
Dan


Dan, I respectfully disagree. I am typing a response of my experience after that time period that may elaborate.

Chris