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Classic Letters to PC World: On PC Journalism, $10,000 PCs, and Windows

March 1983: As computers continue to transform our society, for PC World to concentrate only on the benefits of this technological revolution would be ... for you to miss half the story.

Computers have just as much potential for dehumanization and alienation. Decisions are now being made that will determine whether this will be a country of easy access and free information exchange, or one in which the information poor are controlled by the information rich.

Juan Nix, Trinidad, Colorado

December 1985: Several factors will contribute to [software piracy's demise]: software prices are dropping; the average new user will be technically less sophisticated than most current users; site-licensing is becoming more common; lawsuits against wayward corporations are gaining strength as a deterrent; and copy-protection schemes will be more sympathetic to the user and more effective in thwarting the hacker.

Joseph Curry, Ketchum, Idaho

February 1988: Multitasking is useless for a personal computer. In the history of operating systems, the primary reason for multitasking was not to allow a single user to exploit the processor more fully but to let many use the machine at once.

Microsoft seems fascinated with features--not with programs people really need.

Christopher Williams, Perrysburg, Ohio

May 1990: Who on earth would pay $10,000 for a 386 when they could get [the same machine for much less]? After reading [a February review of 33-MHz 386 systems], I called a local dealer about an Everex Step 386/33 that PC World listed at $10,215.... He gave me a price of $6752 to $6974 with a non-Everex monitor and graphics board.

Patrick Marshall, Washington, D.C.

November 1990: You chose to nitpick about the upgrade path [for IBM's PS/1]. How many home computer users will ever need to upgrade a system that already has a 10-MHz 80286 processor, VGA, 1.44MB floppy, 30MB hard disk, mouse, and internal 2400-bps modem, plus DOS in ROM?

Mitch Wright, Gurnee, Illinois

November 1992: I'm still trying to find out why Windows is supposed to be so great. Honestly, why are thousands of adults across the country dragging little pictures around the screen like third-grade kids [playing with their] coloring books?

Harold K. Farr, North Conway, New Hampshire

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