On Thu, 22 Apr 1999, Richard Erlacher wrote:
> One aspect of this matter I'm already seeing ignored is the COST. That
> so-called FIRST personal computer which cost $300 in the early '50's, for
> example, cost quite a lot of money. In the '50's, it was unusual for anyone
> to earn $100 a week. A mid-priced Chevrolet cost less than $2000 and $10 a
> week was plenty for a week's groceries for a family of 4.
That cost was estimated. The computer was only sold as a plan. The buyer
had to find the pieces to make it go and assemble it themselves. So its
conceivable this machine could have been built for free, providing one
could find all the pieces salvaged from old equipment.
Regardless, it was still a computer that one could very easily have owned
in the 50s, which is more than you can say about a Univac or IBM 70x
series machine.
> Not even DEC's so-called personal computers were competitive enough to
> interest an industry professional. The DEC mini's weren't even a good buy
> as they became obsolete. I doubt DEC equipment was EVER used where there
> wasn't a third party present who profited from its use. That doesn't mean
> they weren't appropriate and suitable for a wide range of uses, but it
> certainly doesn't characterize a personal computer.
Huh?
> Just to put things into perspective, a week's groceries, these days, for a
> family of four, cost about $150, a decent mid-priced car costs $15000, and a
> farily well equipped and appropriately designated personal computer with a
> 400MHz pentium, 8GB HDD, 64MB of RAM, OS installed, all the multimedia
> features, plus a current-generation modem (V.90) costs $400 less the monitor
> with monitors costing $139 for a 15" and $300 for a 20" type. These prices
> are from Best-Buy's ad in last Sunday's paper. You can probably do better
> if you shop.
These prices are also based on technology that has had 50 years to mature,
and therefore the comparison is entirely invalid.
Sellam Alternate e-mail: dastar_at_siconic.com
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Received on Thu Apr 22 1999 - 20:05:49 BST