The Atlantic | July 1982 | Living With a Computer | Fallows

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the author's experience with using a personal computer for writing and other tasks, including the benefits, challenges, and evolution of computer technology over time.

🙋 Q&A

[01] "Inside the Leviathan" and Other Articles

1. What are the key insights from the articles "Inside the Leviathan", "Flying Upside Down", and "The Ultimate Toy"?

• "Inside the Leviathan" provides a short and stimulating look at Microsoft's corporate culture.
• "Flying Upside Down" and "The Ultimate Toy" are a two-part article that was later expanded into the Pulitzer Prize-winning book "The Soul of a New Flying Machine" by Tracy Kidder.

2. What is the main point of the article "The Culture of Martyrdom"? The article argues that despite the "computer craze" of the 1950s and 1960s, computers have not replaced the human brain, and we must still think for ourselves.

[02] Living with a Computer

1. What were the key challenges the author faced before getting a computer? The author struggled with retyping long articles multiple times to produce a legible final draft, and had a poor experience hiring a temporary secretary who typed very slowly.

2. How did the author's computer system work, and what were the key benefits it provided? The author's computer system included a Processor Technology SOL-20 computer, a monitor, external storage devices, and a printer. Key benefits included:

• Faster and more efficient writing process with instant deletion and movement of text
• Ability to store and easily revise long documents
• Faster printing of documents compared to manual retyping

3. What were some of the challenges and downsides the author experienced with using the computer?

• Vulnerability to power surges and lightning strikes that could damage the computer
• Distortion of the author's sense of time, as he became impatient with slow data loading from tape recorders
• Addiction to using the computer, leading to neglect of other responsibilities

4. What advice does the author provide for selecting the right computer hardware and software? The author advises:

• Avoiding outdated or incompatible hardware and software, and choosing systems compatible with industry standards like CP/M
• Investing in adequate data storage capacity with multiple disk drives
• Choosing a high-quality letter-quality printer over a cheaper dot matrix printer
• Considering both general-purpose computers and dedicated word processors, depending on needs
• Selecting word processing software that balances simplicity and advanced formatting features

5. What are the author's final thoughts on his computer and the future of personal computing? The author is frustrated that his outdated computer system cannot run newer software, but is also wary of becoming too dependent on more advanced computers. He hopes his sons will have better computers than he did, but plans to continue using his trusty SOL-20 and Electric Pencil software.