While hard drives were certainly a welcome advance, I feel strongly that
neither they, NOR CERTAINLY "16 bit"!, were critical thresholds for the
inevitable advance of personal computers. The uses, both office
(word-processing and spreadhseets) and home (games), worked quite
adequately with floppies.
(although admittedly, where would we be right now if our documents were
saved on Exatron Stringy Floppies?)
--
Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin at
xenosoft.com