Fun post. The only one I would challenge...if only to a small degree...is: “There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in his home.” – -Ken Olson
Back in 1977 that was true. Until the software was created to go with it that people could use, there was no reason to have a computer at home.
No it was not true - I had a Tandy TRS-80 in 1977 which I used to learn to code and to compile statistics for my professional association - which data later went on to be used in international negotiations. We wrote our only software.
I used to live in Maynard. Ken Olson was not a visionary.
But until enough people had computers, there was no reason to create the software.
“Back in 1977 that was true. Until the software was created to go with it that people could use, there was no reason to have a computer at home.”
True, but I had one and a video terminal anyway. It took a lot of my money and all of the skills that I had at the time to build it.
Supposedly, Ben Franklin asked what use was a newborn baby or words to that effect when watching a manned balloon flight when he was asked if it was practical.
Home computers didn’t really take off until there was an Internet to connect them to.
What do people mainly use their computers for? Facebook, youtube, looking up recipes, etc.