4 ms·

When did we become okay with people selling something other than a general-purpose computer and calling it a "computer?"

rootusrootus 6y ago
When we let regular people buy computers. Only enthusiasts want computers they tinker around with, the vast majority of consumers just want it to work. They won't be installing alternative operating systems, they want to push a button and get to work/play/etc.
- randrews 6y ago
  Then call it a phone, or a console, or something. Words have meanings and if you sell something as a "computer" then the buyer can expect to be able to do general-purpose computation on it.
  - wernercd 6y ago
    but it's not simply a "phone" anymore... it's a super computer that happens to make phone calls. And what about making phone calls from computers now? I guess we shouldn't call THAT a computer anymore because it's used to make phone calls? It's a desk-phone?
  - Google234 6y ago
    You can still do general propose computing though. There’s millions of applications and you can make your own work a programming language of your choice.
  - rootusrootus 6y ago
    This battle gets fought and lost repeatedly. Words mean what the majority want them to mean. Hacker used to mean programmer, but not any more. Computer means that thing you sit down at with a keyboard, mouse, and big screen, and do word processing/e-mail/etc with. Saying that the only real 'computers' are generic beige boxes that can run any old OS is just gatekeeping, and basically irrelevant. That's not what the word computer means to most people.
    - randrews 6y ago
      "I'd like to buy a drill." "Here you go!" "This is... A board with a hole in it? I want a drill." "This is better for regular people: the hole already exists, you can screw things right to it." "Yes, but I want to drill several holes in my wall. I don't want a brand new board with a single hole, I want a drill to make holes." "Most people, when they say they want a drill, really actually mean they want a hole. So we call these hole-boards drills now." "But it's not what it means. I want an actual drill." "Ugh, why all the gatekeeping, it's irrelevant, just buy this 'drill.'"

rootusrootus 6y ago

When we let regular people buy computers. Only enthusiasts want computers they tinker around with, the vast majority of consumers just want it to work. They won't be installing alternative operating systems, they want to push a button and get to work/play/etc.

randrews 6y ago
Then call it a phone, or a console, or something. Words have meanings and if you sell something as a "computer" then the buyer can expect to be able to do general-purpose computation on it.
- wernercd 6y ago
  but it's not simply a "phone" anymore... it's a super computer that happens to make phone calls. And what about making phone calls from computers now? I guess we shouldn't call THAT a computer anymore because it's used to make phone calls? It's a desk-phone?
- Google234 6y ago
  You can still do general propose computing though. There’s millions of applications and you can make your own work a programming language of your choice.
- rootusrootus 6y ago
  This battle gets fought and lost repeatedly. Words mean what the majority want them to mean. Hacker used to mean programmer, but not any more. Computer means that thing you sit down at with a keyboard, mouse, and big screen, and do word processing/e-mail/etc with. Saying that the only real 'computers' are generic beige boxes that can run any old OS is just gatekeeping, and basically irrelevant. That's not what the word computer means to most people.
  - randrews 6y ago
    "I'd like to buy a drill." "Here you go!" "This is... A board with a hole in it? I want a drill." "This is better for regular people: the hole already exists, you can screw things right to it." "Yes, but I want to drill several holes in my wall. I don't want a brand new board with a single hole, I want a drill to make holes." "Most people, when they say they want a drill, really actually mean they want a hole. So we call these hole-boards drills now." "But it's not what it means. I want an actual drill." "Ugh, why all the gatekeeping, it's irrelevant, just buy this 'drill.'"