On 16 Apr 99 at 19:29, Tony Duell wrote:
> > The advantage we have is that we are not intimidated by the technology and
> > can fix them. I am heartened by some of the examples listed which get these
>
> I can see 2 points of view here.
>
> Firstly we know that useful work can be done on old machines. I could
> still write a perfectly respectable letter using Scripsit on my old Tandy
> model 4 and print it out on a daisywheel printer. My BBC micro will still
> play interesting games (if that's what you're into).
>
> But, we also know that these machines won't run the latest version of
> Windows. It doesn't matter to us - we can find the software we need to
> run under other operating systems.
>
> However, for people starting out, getting their first computer, they are
> going to want to be able to use the software from the local PC shop.
> They're going to want to be able to use the 'learn to use your home
> computer' type magazines. And, unfortuantely, you can't use a PDPx or a
> PERQ or a TRS-80 or an Apple ][ or a PET or a BBC or a ... for any of
> that. Sure _we_ can get these machines to do useful work, but probably
> others can't.
>
But we were talking about trashing 386 and 486 s . Most people could use those
for "surfing the web" or most of the tasks that home computers are used for by
the vast majority of people despite being urged by the "Big Sell" to be on the
bleeding edge.
> For somebody who wants to learn how a computer works, or who wants to
> learn to program (in assembly language, even), then these old machine are
> great, though. Pity more people don't want to do this.
>
> > machines out to people who can use them, especially the one that used them
> > for teaching kids how to repair and then keep their machines.
> > A lot of the disposable societies glut is because the majority of people
> > haven't got a clue as to how their convenience machine works. If it stops
> > fuctioning toss it and buy another. I'm amazed at what I find in the garbage.
> > A good percentage of the time, it's just a faulty power cord.
>
> I'm even more amazed by the amount of test equipment that I've been given
> as 'beyond repair' that's had trivial faults. It's one thing that the
> little-old-lady can't fix the TV (even if the only fault is a wire off in
> the plug), but an electronic engineer who can't find an blown fuse in
> some expensive piece of equipment? What is this world coming to?
>
> > I don't use MS Word myself nor for that matter code-bloated Windblows 9x
> > and don't find myself at any disadvantage except for some of the newer programs
> > that demand 32 bit. I can do without them. There are plenty of programs
> > available in the various archives to do my tasks.
>
> Sure, you can do without said programs. So can I. OK, I do like Linux
> (which means I need a 386 or above, but nothing more). But this doesn't
> mean that j-random-public doesn't want (or thinks he wants) the latest M$
> offering.
>
> -tony
>
But of course we are urged to "want" all sorts of things. I'd love to be able
to afford a Lamborgini. But if you don't have a TV a B&W is a step up. And for
many out there unable to afford a computer, a 386 is a luxury even if it isn't
on the bleeding edge despite the "need for speed" of so many computer
advocates and the encoragement of Software companies looking to sell new
product. Reminds me of the Auto companies High Horsepower sell untill it
became non-viable in the 70s as a selling point, or the earlier ever-changing
new model fin-size. Our local Freenet has stayed with Lynx just because many
of the members don't have a GUI machine. This enables most to get on the
internet. Which is becoming the class distinction of our era.
ciao larry
lwalker_at_interlog.com
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Received on Fri Apr 16 1999 - 23:23:47 BST