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Back when everything was new for the first time.

• kjs3 5y ago
  The only thing new about those tools was they were available on an affordable, personal platform. Wang, among others, had Wordstar-like computer-based word processing for years at that point. Pascal was old hat. Visicalc was new and revolutionary, but the idea of using computers to simplify computation was primordial. I get that there's a certain mentality that thinks nothing happened in computer productivity until 2010 or so (date marching forward as new grads enter the workforce), but when you don't bury your word processor or spreadsheet under a metric ton of useless UI candy and 'features' that less than 1% of your users actually use, you get some pretty lean, useful tools.
  • Sunspark 5y ago
    Oh absolutely, well said. I miss those days when time spent at the screen was intent time. For a long while now for me, it's basically just been a TV replacement.
  • LeFantome 5y ago
    Your main point is valid but 2010 is maybe 25 years too late for the example programs listed.
    • kjs3 5y ago
      You missed the point.