Using a Computer vs. Maintaining a Computer

To teach a person how to use a modern desktop computer (Apple or PC) really takes only about 1 hour to introduce a person to the fundamental basics of operation so they can use it - it is no harder than a person driving a car and talking on the phone (Wait! Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and the District of Columbia are "special": they take may take years to train them since those cities knows that people living there are incapable of driving and talking at the same time - give them a Commodore Vic 20 - that is the highest level of competence their city government thinks they can operate at!).

However, to MAINTAIN a computer, teach them how to organize the information that they store on it so that later on they can find it, and navigate the system (and the web) effectively is a whole different problem that many people just cannot - will not - ever be able to do. Harsh, yes, but it is true.

The PC is a tool, but it is a very complicated tool because it IS a general purpose tool which MAKES it more complicated than a dedicated narrow "vertical" computer tool.

What amazes me is the number of people who use a computer that do without problems - course these same people are the ones who are oblivious to the risks of their system becoming a zombie, spam generating, attack systems - because they look at it as a TOOL (and it has been promoted as such for 20+ years) and thus  - by design - sold it to operate like a car - turn it on and it works and you almost never have to do any maintenance on it - and what you do only needs to be done once in a great while by someone who specializes in that.

And PCs are NOT at that level yet - give it another 30 years - before it gets that. Look at cars - it was not until the 1970s that EVERY car in the US got rid of chokes and automatics overcame standard shifting. 70+ years after cars appeared.

The computer is still in the 1920s of the car era.

I really feel sorry for the people who use computers since it IS NOT easy at all to REALLY use a general purpose day in and day out effectively.