Date   : Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:42:24 +0100
From   : dw@... (David Warrington)
Subject: Beeb articles on BBC Online

> Surely it's stupid to assert that the BBC Micro was the one and only 
> machine
> that inspired a generation of computer users? Surely it was the combined
> effect of all the early home computers, and I would have thought the much
> more affordable and bigger-selling Spectrum, Dragon or maybe even C64 
> would
> have played a bigger role?
>

If one had to generalize, then I'd say the BBC Micro inspired a lot of 
computer enthusiasts, whereas the Spectrum and C64 created a market for 
playing computer games.

Think about the following statistics, answers unknown:

1./ % time BBC owner played games vs. hacked and programmed with the 
microcomputer
2./ % time Sinclair owner played games vs. hacked and programmed with the 
home computer

Then consider the typical School-goer entering the workplace:

1./ % of BBC owners who could adapt/modify their experience to workplace 
computer use (80386 and Dos and Windows 3.0 then WfW)
2./ % of Sinclair owners who could adapt/modify their experience to 
workplace computer use (80386 and Dos and Windows 3.0 then WfW)

So I think that while the exact wording of the quoted text isnt truely 
correct, I think the sentiment behind those words is very defendable.