[11]                      Letter to the Editor

[Editor's note: Louis Dequesada suggested in a letter in our last issue 
that Apple, IBM and/or Compaq make an economy model computer for people of 
limited income. There were a few responses to Lou's suggestion. One 
response was that for the time being the Volkscomputer Lou called for is 
only available as a used 486 or 386 computer. Another response was that 
Lou had no reason for complaint since there are many computers for between 
$2000 and $3000 and surely there are no Americans who can't afford that. 
The following is Lou's response.]

Hello,
     Too bad my suggestion didn't catch on. I mean it's ok with me if they 
feel fine paying Apple, Compaq, IBM, etc. $2000-$3000 for a computer that's 
going to be obsolete in less than 6 months. But I am sorry, I don't pay 
that kind of money for something that cost them $250 to put together.

     It's amazing how this country has changed. I remember when Ford & 
Chevrolet used to be called "the poor man's cars", now a half ass Chevy 
will cost you $15,000 stripped, no frills. And some people seem to be 
happy with that. It won't last though. I think at some point in the near 
future, the "yuppies" will go out of style, in fact the process is all 
ready underway and they don't even know it.

Louis Dequesada
dequesa@library1.cpmc.columbia.edu
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     Reprinted from the Amateur Computerist Vol 7 no 2 Winter 1997
        available free via email from jrh@umcc.umich.edu and
                http://www.umcc.umich.edu/~jrh/acn
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