Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83 based; site houxs.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!houxm!houxs!ksb From: ksb@houxs.UUCP (K.BANDES) Newsgroups: net.micro Subject: RE: what's needed for a home computer (A Use) Message-ID: <308@houxs.UUCP> Date: Thu, 3-Oct-85 15:32:43 EDT Article-I.D.: houxs.308 Posted: Thu Oct 3 15:32:43 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 4-Oct-85 05:48:56 EDT Organization: AT&T Information Systems, Holmdel NJ Lines: 44 What's needed for a home pc is a USE! Let's get real, folks, who cares what features it has if there's nothing you can do with it to justify the cost. Let's look at the usual ideas: Recipes: mostly cut out of newspapers & magazines anyway and filed as is - why type them over into a computer? People who try this generally give up almost immediately. Record Keeping: of what? Do you really keep records? I keep receipts, bill stubs, copies of tax returns, etc. - nothing I can put on my hard drive. Word Processing: If you're a writer, this is a legitimate use. How much typing do you actually do? Do you dream of being a writer? If so, you are either writing or you aren't, and a computer won't make the difference. Home Banking: this might be good for active investors, but for Joe Average who deposits a paycheck and pays the rent, a pc is worth a lot of stamps and envelopes. Appliance Control: I never understood what this stuff was for anyway, let alone why you need a computer to do it. If you want to turn your lights on and off automatically, there are inexpensive timers. Programming: good for programmers. I'm one, and I just bought a 6300, but I've survived all this time without one. As for non-programmers who think learning BASIC will enhance their career potential, that's nothing but a cruel joke. Some people actually need these things. Some other people, like me, don't but want them anyway. Most people need the money more, and want a VCR more. That's why the computer business is what it is these days, with warehouses full of solutions looking for problems. Ken Bandes (on contract at) AT&T IS ...!ihnp4!houxs!ksb These opinions are probably not those of my client, AT&T. Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com