Mr. Jenkins stopped bringing over his slow computer last year

In my experience, the way people ask for tech help has really changed. I remember neighbors knocking on my door with desktop towers under their arms. One guy, Mr. Jenkins, would come by every few months with a slow computer. Now, he just uses a streaming stick and doesn't bother with a PC at all. My family used to call me weekly about software issues or printer jams. These days, they text me questions about phone apps or smart home gadgets. It's interesting to see how the focus has shifted from computers to other devices.

4 comments

4 Comments

allen.kai1mo ago

When @emmahayes says the idea of a computer got simpler, that's not totally right. The streaming stick IS a computer, it's just a different and more focused kind. The change is more about what we use them for than making them simple.

emmahayes1mo ago

I used to think everyone needed a proper computer too, but seeing people like Mr. Jenkins just use a streaming stick really changed my mind. The whole idea of what a computer is just got simpler.

daniel1401mo ago

Yeah, the whole simpler computer thing is real. My friend's aunt just uses a streaming box now and says it's all she needs.

the_jana18d ago

But that's the thing, isn't it? If a streaming stick is a computer, then what's a "proper" one anymore? When @daniel140 mentioned his friend's aunt, it made me wonder. Is the change just about needing less, or is the actual job of a computer different now? For someone like Mr. Jenkins, a computer's job is just to get Netflix and maybe check email. It's not for making spreadsheets. So maybe the idea didn't get simpler, it just got split into different tools for different people.