The computer revolution is over: computers are already everywhere—they have won! The secret weapon that secured their victory is not truly hidden in their electronic microcircuits or in their intrinsic usefulness; it is rather the propaganda with which they have been carefully wrapped.
We are told that the computer is destined to become part of our way of life not only at the bank or for calculating your taxes, but at home in every imaginable form, even for doing the ironing. Certainly that day will come, since computers improve all the faster as each person invests more money in taming this new conqueror. Sooner or later, it will therefore reach the level of "intelligence" that was dangled before us but which would be illusory to expect just yet.
Few Experts
Micro-computers have been on the market for more than five years now, and several thousand Quebecers have purchased one. What did they want to do with them? What are they actually doing with them? And what becomes of them (computers and users) after a certain period?
There is nothing like visiting a micro-computer club to find out. Indeed, buyers quickly discovered that their costly "marvel" was not so easily tamed, and that pooling efforts was necessary if only to understand and supplement the manufacturers' documentation. There are now about thirty major clubs, in addition to all those formed within the CEGEPs and high schools of the province.
Now that these clubs have existed for a few years, one might expect them to be teeming with experts who know their micro-computer inside and out. One might also expect to find an abundance of software created by so many enthusiasts. Unfortunately, the reality is quite different. The proportion of experts does not exceed 10%. And even then, they are rarely "ordinary" users. They are almost always engineers and IT professionals. If they were not at the outset, they generally became so afterward.
If You Stay at Home...
What level of mastery of their device can someone realistically hope to achieve if they do not even belong to a club and simply stay home, reading manuals with the family? The reality, in this regard, is quite sad. Anyone who walks into one of the countless micro-computer retailers will often be dazzled by all the graphics, games, accounting software, and so on that are demonstrated.
What they will never be told is that it took an experienced programmer several months (or years) of work to create that software—even a simple game. From the very start, everyone must resign themselves to being a perpetual consumer of programs designed by others unless they have the courage to devote all their evenings, weekends, and vacations to finally producing an original piece of software capable of doing a little more than simple addition.
If you do not enjoy arithmetic (or have already forgotten it), if you are not an avid reader of serious material, and if you have no intention of taking courses to make sense of it all, your computer has a good chance of never living up to your expectations! If, on the other hand, you belong to that fortunate minority with endless free time, and are blessed with great tinkering talent to boot, the computer can do a great deal for you. (Another solution is to be wealthy enough to hire a consultant, or to have a friend who can do everything for you, for free.)
Wonders as Options
You can get a glimpse of all these wonders at retailers. You can also buy a specialized magazine (preferably printed in the USA, since local publications are rare due to the limited Quebec market). Let us first distinguish two broad categories of "wonders" (which are never part of the base equipment you purchase):
First, there is software—that is, programs. If they meet your needs exactly, you are a fortunate soul. If not, and you are not an expert, it is better to be philosophical... and adjust your needs.
There are also peripherals. These are all the additional "options" that will allow you to give your micro-computer sight, speech, the ability to control your lighting or household appliances, and so on. There, the possibilities are endless, well beyond your desires. All you need then is the imagination and time to write the software that will make all these devices work together. Unfortunately, you will often face all kinds of incompatibilities when you have the audacity to connect several devices together. This means you will often need the junior electronics tinkerer's kit: oscilloscope, and so on.
Tomorrow...
A genuine revolution is taking place in this field right now. To be honest, it has already begun, but its effects will only be felt gradually. Yet vendors have been promising it for some time. Micro-computer manufacturers are announcing a device capable of communicating, which anyone will be able to program naively.
It will be able to carry out increasingly complex tasks in a flash, and all peripherals will be integrated leading to a major surprise: the culmination of this evolution will be the micro-computer you can address by voice, as you would a person, and which will respond like a servant. Will this solve all problems? Don't we always have communication difficulties, even with the people around us?
Should We Wait?
It is not obvious that the best solution is to always wait for the perfect machine that will answer our most secret dreams. Ten years ago, I bought a pocket calculator for $600. It wasn't even programmable! Today, I have a micro-computer for the same price. Should I have waited? I firmly believe: NO.
The computer field evolves very rapidly. If a buyer has a real need, one certainly cannot recommend putting off the decision. The purchasing criteria are the same as for any other consumer product: you must assess your immediate and future needs, verify whether the model you have in mind is capable of meeting them, and examine the purchase price including peripherals. (Various manufacturers sell micro-computers at a loss, but beware the price of accessories.)
Maintenance costs should not be overlooked either. Inexpensive copies of the most popular micro-computers exist. They are often of lesser quality and service is nearly nonexistent. This option should therefore only tempt skilled tinkerers. Finally, it is of the utmost importance to assess the quantity of software available for the machine of your dreams. Unless you want to write all your own software, you will depend on others. Better to have choices, then. Some micros have a library of more than 10,000 programs; others have none at all.
Friendly Advice
Be careful not to choose based on name or advertising. Some micro-computers sell well not for their capabilities, but because the name attached to them is prestigious. Also beware of fantastic discounts: some micro-computers have seen their price drop from $1,000 to under $100 in two years. Yet they do not sell any better. Ask yourself why...
You probably own a car—maybe even two. Yet only a tiny fraction of drivers do their own repairs. Just as few make modifications. Most people prefer to leave it to a specialist. Replace "car" with "computer"... and you will have a good idea of what awaits you. The buyer must therefore familiarize themselves in advance with what they are purchasing, in order to know what they can expect in terms of comfort, performance, and so on. Better to think it through before buying than to end up needing a tow truck for every tank of gas!