On May 1, 2005, at 11:57 PM, Russell McMahon wrote:

>> The Timex Sinclair 1000, with the optional
>> 16K RAM Pack accessory is a concept computer with the power and
>> high-performance capacity you are likely to need for personal use."
>
>> The last phrase really amuses me :-) Why do we need a P4 when we have 
>> a Z81 :-)
>
> The operative word is "need".  All the rest is window dressing.
>
I think the operative word is "computer"; the average personal computer 
does
very little of what used to be considered 'computing' (and for which a 
Z80
may indeed be plenty.)  Instead, it does communications, file 
management of
vast amounts of data, display manipulation, text and document 
processing, and
so on.  Arguably, by the definitions of THOSE time, todays average 
computer does
NO "computing", since it tends to lack user-accessible programming 
language.
In those days, special purpose devices (not CALLED computers) handled
"non-computing" tasks like word processings, music editing and 
playback, video,
data archiving (microfiche, anyone), file management ("secretaries" 
:-;), etc.

BillW
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