Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

Thirty years later, the $50 computer is back. I think that is a good thing.

In the early 1980s (yes, I am that old), we had the Sinclair Research made by Timex ZX81. It was a computer you could buy for $50. No, it wasn’t powerful, but it was a programmable computer.

Recently, Amazon introduced a $50 Fire tablet. I haven’t figured out how to program it, but it is a computer.

I have read a number of reviews of the Amazon $50 tablet. I agree with the reviews in that:

• the tablet works
• the Fire operating system is the biggest limiting factor

Why sell a $50 computer? Why not. Put more computers in the hands of more people. Put more paint brushes in the hands of more people. Put more musical instruments in the hands of more people.

Who know what wonderful things might happen.