westerm@ecn-aa.UUCP (Richard P Westerman) (08/25/85)
Last weekend I had the chance to go back home and visit with all
my relations & relatives (it was my baby brother's wedding -- poor
sucker ;-). Anyway, being as my family is one of those "uppie" types
of families (I can't call them "yuppies" as some, such as my father
and uncle, aren't young anymore), they are "into" buying and talking
about computers. I found some of their views interesting:
1) My sister just bought a Fat Mac (on her credit card) and has now
turned into a software pirate. Her reason? (and I quote) "Well,
I thought it had everything included". She now finds out that it
doesn't, that software costs money, and starts ripping off companies
right and left. I don't know what this means. Do I have an dumb sister,
or is computer advertising (especially for the Mac) such a come-on that they
never tell the buyer what else is needed?
2) I had brought my Commodore monitor (which I use as a "tv" for my
VCR) along for my father to look at. He has a 64 and Vic (he wants
to "start small") and uses an old B&W TV -- a rather lousy
combination for fun computing; I wanted to show him what a good color
monitor could do for him. I was able to hook up the 64 ok
but not the Vic (it turns out that the Vic uses video/audio two
plug output vs. the 64's RGB output -- I didn't have the proper
cable for the Vic). Along comes my uncle who, after looking my
efforts, sniffs and says, "Well, I'd use an IBM and not have those
problems" (I point out that he currently doesn't own a personal
computer). No mention of how incompatible the Jr. is with the PC,
or the problems of PC/AT software. Or that the Commodores are
many $$$ cheaper than even a Jr. Strike up another one for those
three letters.
Well, that's the news from the home front. Thought you might be
interested in some non-computer jocks' views on computers.
Ta. Ta.
Whom: Rick Westerman Phone: +1-317-494-8344
UUCP: {decvax, ihnp4, seismo, ucbvax}!pur-ee!westerm
USPS: Ag Data Network, Purdue University, West Lafayette IN 47907
P.S. I don't know why none of them ever consult *me* on computers. Maybe
they consider me a "duppie" (downwardly ...) because at the age of
30 I still hold an univeristy (non-faculty) job ... and you know how
much those pay :-).