Really??? Have you browsed the Internet lately and seen the amount of software & mods out there, and the just wild and crazy things that people are doing with their PCs? Seems to me there are a heck of a lot *more* people writing utilities, improving stuff etc. today, and far more complex and sophisticated stuff at that (especially since there's so much more room for improvement ;-). Perhaps the *percentage* of computer owners who dug into the hard/software was higher then, but most of the time you *had to*, whereas today most of it is done for fun and enjoyment, as well as pride of accomplishment. And I think you're ignoring the business users of then and now; for them and probably for most people computers are after all just a tool to do some specific task(s). Although many of us like Tony are interested in and enjoy poking around in the innards of cameras, clocks, computers etc., most "normal" people just want to take pictures, know the time and send an e-mail or two. m