24 Nov
2025
24 Nov
'25
12:57 a.m.
On Mon, Nov 24, 2025 at 3:11 AM Murray McCullough via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
One of the greatest joys of classic computing was running what you wanted
on your own computer. What has happened in the intervening years? Have
‘software walls’ created a computing environment that benefits software
gate-keepers(owners of computing technology) by monopolizing creativity,
freedom to program and establishing a defacto ‘true ownership’. Will the
future be this or will it be more like the earliest years of
microcomputing?
Even without manufacturers making things difficult, I've pointed out that :
When I started out in computing, the typical home micros (PET, TRS-80,
Apple ][, and later BBC micro, Spectrum, and also the original IBM PC,
XT, AT) machines were simple enough that even I could understand them.
I could program them and interface them to do what _I_ wanted.
I now have 2 classes of machines here. The majority are like the
above. Some are more complicated (PDP11s, PERQs, etc) but
none-the-less they do what I want. I can understand every last logic
gate in an HP9830 or PERQ.
The other class of machines here contains 1 machine. A modern-ish
laptop. I do not understand it. I have installed gcc and have written
some simple programs to run from a command line (which is better than
not programming it at all). But USB is a horrible interface to design
for. I cannot interface it to my own circuitry. I do not understand
how it works. Yes, it gets me on the internet, lets me looks at
downloaded service manuals, data sheets and the like (which is the
only reason I have it) but it's doing what the manufacturers intend,
not what _I_ want.
I am not convinced that this is progress.
-tony
Murray 🙂