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

[Dan Roganti]

On Tue, Jun 7, 2016 at 1:55 PM, chrisjpf33--- via vcf-midatlantic <
vcf-midatlantic at lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:

> 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
>
>
ok, but ​I'm curious​ about which aspect you disagree
People are not experts in everything
And computers were appliances that early
Dan