Post by Ahem A Rivet's ShotOn 3 Feb 2023 14:58:53 GMT
Post by greymausTo init a question, why were the `Micros' so much fun (say the Lorraine)
and the modern lapto[p so boring?.
The early micros were limited, very varied and more than a bit rough
around the edges and as such were only really suitable for people
who were excited about the idea of having a computer of their own to
play with instead of grubbing for time and privileges (at best) on a
shared machine. A lot of the fun came from learning about them in
detail (because you had to), exploring the capabilities and working
round the limitations.
The modern laptop is a polished consumer product designed for the
most inattentive student to be able to use productively (if badly)
with a minimum of effort and knowledge. they're pretty much all the
same, it's either Windows or a Mac and that's it unless you're a
geek. It's *designed* to be boring and doesn't reward detailed
exploration with anything more than a severe headache and a deep
sense of disgust.
[Not snipped because Mr. Shot is exactly right.]
I feel myself very fortunate to have spent 5 years with a flock of
Osborne I. Upgrading to double-density floppies and to 80-col
display, Z80 assembler, learning to talk to the serial port directly/
Figuring out how C worked when compiled, how the interrupts and stack
worked. All understandable, much of it documented.
So now, of course, there are a vast number of new complexities --
multi-core CPUs, CPU cache, pre-execution of code among many, many
others -- that I will never fully understand as well as both hardware
and kernel advances that I'm too old and stupid to beat up. But I
have a basic grasp of how computers work that I never would have
acquired had my first computer been something newer than a Windoes 95
laptop or even the 1st gen Mac.
That said, I cling doggedly to the fading notion that I can understand
what's going on in the box by running Slackware exclusively on several
machines. Intermittently a frustrating struggle but so far I remain
undefeated. I just bought a new pair of Redwing work boots. By the
time they're worn out, I'll probably be too old to wear work boots
anyhow. I can segue to bedroom slippers at the same time that I give
up trying to master Slackware Linux.
Post by Ahem A Rivet's ShotIn much the same way I expect the Model T Ford was a lot more fun
than the latest Mondeo but I know which I'd rather drive across the
country in.
I spent enough years as a foreign car mechanic (back when "foreign
car" meant something) to achieve something like wizard status. Now I
have no idea how to maintain good operation of my own Toyota but, as
AAR'sS opines, I don't have to as all that stuff I don't understand
makes reliaility and durability orders of magnitude better than a 1965
VW, 1975 Land Rover or 1985 Ford.
--
Mike Spencer Nova Scotia, Canada