[Coco] KIDS REACT TO OLD COMPUTERS

[Frank Swygert]

I think it's a funny video. I've dealt with various antiques over the 
years, and there are lots of things from the early 19th century that 
many of us here simply wouldn't know a thing about, or how to get it 
going. One of the old farm use "hit an miss" engines is a prime example. 
Most would recognize that it's a motor and has a big pulley, so 
obviously drove something from that, but starting it and getting it to 
run is.... well.... different than anything else. Simple once you know 
how (like sticking the floppy in and cutting the computer on).

The whole thing reminded me of the Star Trek movie (went back in time to 
get a whale) where Scottie first tries talking to the computer, then 
picks up the mouse (it was a Mac of some kind) and tries to use it as a 
microphone.

As for the Apple/Mas debate... Well, most computers use a GUI with a 
mouse now. Apple started it for the masses (didn't the idea come out of 
PARC labs, or AT&T labs in some "flavor" of UNIX??), and it caught on as 
an easy way to navigate. Hey, it's even on the CoCo -- though Deskmate 
didn't work all that great because more computing power is needed for a 
really effective GUI. So just about every computer has some type of 
"point and click" interface now. Yeah, the "dumbed-down" description is 
pretty accurate -- assuming you mean you don't need to know anything 
about how the computer operates to use it. But from a user standpoint 
(and most people are users of everything!) that's a good thing. For you 
guys who program, most of you use an ICE of some sort, or some other GUI 
operated programming aides. I know some of you, especially CoCo guys, 
still do it the old fashioned "direct input" way, but most don't. That 
"dumbed-down" GUI means more time programming and less time running the 
computer. Cars have been dumbed down -- there is no spark control on the 
steering column any more!! How many of you have no idea what I' even 
talking about???

I'm mostly a Linux user now -- Mint is great and easy to setup and use, 
much easier than Windows and I would even say a Mac! It took a good GUI 
with all the little things like codecs already packaged with it to make 
it easy, and for me to make the switch. For me personally a good DTP 
package was required (Pagestream -- commercial, but fair priced and real 
good!),  but that's just me. I do like the fact that it's easy to get 
into the OS to make tweaks if I need/want to, though all I can do is 
follow instructions. Windows is increasingly hard to make even minor 
tweaks and settings changes, the guys in Redmond are trying to 
effectively lock the user out, which I don't like. I don't know how hard 
it is to get into the Mac OS, but the "closed box" hardware and 
programming method was outdated many years ago. As long as it's 
profitable they will keep using it, but that's what has held more 
general acceptance back and prices up. I know they figure as long as 
they (Apple) are the ones making the money it's just fine, and I can't 
disagree with that thinking.