[Leica] Re: Cheap computers and software

[jhnichols at bellsouth.net (Jim Nichols)]

David,
Thanks for the nostalgia.  My first computer at work was a Xerox CPM machine 
that ran on two 8-inch floppy drives.
Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Rodgers" <drodgers@casefarms.com>
To: "Leica Users Group" <lug@leica-users.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 2:06 PM
Subject: RE: [Leica] Re: Cheap computers and software


> Larry,
>
> My Zenith Heathkit CPM machine just rolled over in its grave.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lawrence Zeitlin [mailto:lrzeitlin@optonline.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 12:20 PM
> To: lug@leica-users.org
> Subject: [Leica] Re: Cheap computers and software
>
> David,
>
> The answer to both questions is YES. Computers are now expendable
> tools. US Income tax law amortizes them over a three year period. The
> price of computer hardware has plummeted in the last 20 years. So
> much so that for equivalent capability systems, current prices are
> only about 5% of those of two decades ago. I'm writing this on a Mac
> iBook with a 2 Gz chip, a gigabyte of RAM, an 80 Gb disc and an
> excellent color screen that cost about $1000 new. The iBook came with
> a full suite of included software including an excellent operating
> system, the full iLife package, Appleworks, GraphicConverter and a
> lot of other stuff. In 1985 I bought a Mac with 128kb RAM, a 16 Mz
> processor, floppy disc storage and a 9" B&W screen for $2500. And
> that's when dollars were real dollars. The included software was
> MacWrite and MacDraw. My handheld pocket calculator has more and
> faster capabilities than that old Mac. In that same period of time
> Leica film camera prices rose 300%. The new M8 body costs twice as
> much as the blazing new four core Mac Pro fitted out with all the
> bells and whistles.
>
> In the same sense, the prices of software have declined. First there
> is a huge stock of downloadable freeware and shareware for any
> function. Some of it is trash but some is of exceptional quality. You
> can duplicate almost any function of the high priced software like MS
> Office or Photoshop by software which is free or almost free. For
> image processors using the Mac, GraphicConverter is unsurpassed and
> is available for pennies.
>
> So if you find a computer or a package that will do what you want,
> the cost burden of switching to new hardware and software is small
> compared with the utility.
>
> Larry Z
>
>
>
>
>
>
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