Despite the advances in computer hardware and software, many are still wooed by the simplicity of the applications of old.

There used to be a time when writing letters or documents on a word processor was not so complicated. The only word processing options for anybody back then who dared to snub the typewriter for a Mac or an XT is Bold, Italicize, Underline, or Indent. Life was sweet until Microsoft Word came along.

Many of those who grew up and fell in love with DOS, WordStar, or Lotus 123 had a hard time moving on and accepting the fact that the help guide of the current office applications are as complex and confusing as the nutrition facts written at the back of the burrito packs sold on a nearby 7 Eleven store. Even those whose first computer experience was with a Pentium 4 are now longing for a hardware or application that is simple and easy to use.

I hope computer and program makers would realize that what people want is not something which is faster and more powerful, but one which is simpler and more useful.

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Do you still have that very first PC of yours?

I was browsing through some of the sites on the Web for old computer parts for my prehistoric AMD K62 computer when I chanced upon the Computer History Museum’s Web page. Google may have already placed the K62 on its “ancient PCs” list as I saw words, such as “vintage” and “obsolete,” on the search results.

Old PCs are already practically useless. They can’t run most of the programs that are commonly being used today. Sure, you may still have old DOS programs on your shelves. But chances are, most of them are already corrupted or aren’t working properly anymore.

Some Web sites offer free downloads of old PC games and applications that might still run on old XTs. Call me a nostalgic weirdo, but the thought of being able to run WordStar or play Pacman on my old 286SX clone PC still gives me that static energy effect all over my body.

I hope that there will be more individuals or organizations that would sponsor exhibits involving old PCs. It would be fun to let generation X have a glimpse of what it was like when the typewriter was still seen as a threat to computers as far as word processing was concern.

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