Computer Column
by

Denton Croft

Happy New Year 2010!

Since January is the traditional month for predictions, I thought that I would present past predictions from knowledgeable people and then add some of my own.

'I think there is a world market for maybe five computers'

• Thomas Watson, Chairman of IBM, 1943

'While a calculator on the ENIAC is equipped with 10000 vacuum tubes and weighs 30 tons, computers of the future may have only 1000 vacuum tubes and weigh only 1.5 tons.'

• Popular mechanics, 1949

'I have traveled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won't last out the year'

• Editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall, 1957

'But what... is it good for?'

• Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems division of IBM, commenting on the microchip, 1968

'There is no reason why anyone would want a computer in the home'

• Ken Olson, Present, Chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corporation, 1977

'640K should be enough for anybody'

• Bill Gates, 1981

'I … predict that Windows 7 will be worth waiting for because it will fix [the problems with Vista]'

• Denton Croft, December, 2008. [I edited out the smart alack tone from last year]

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My prediction for 2010: I believe that 2010 will be a "recovery" year without any major computer advancement. I do feel that we will see a lot of advancement in devices that have computers built in such as GPS's, smart cell phones, digital cameras and television sets. Computers, however will languish. Will I have to eat those words at the end of 2010? Probably, we will see next December.

Computer Classes

January Schedule:

COMPUTER I
1/5 – 1/6 – 1/7
10:00 – 12:00 am

COMPUTER II
1/12 – 1/13 – 1/14
10:00 – 12:00 am

EMAIL BASICS
                     1/20                      
10:00 – 12:00 am

Cost of the 3-day, 6-hour course is $33.00 and includes a student manual. The one-day eMail Basics class is $11.00. Call (727) 847-1290 to inquire or register, or come to the front desk at CARES Elfers Center, 4136 Barker Drive, New Port Richey. Please note the new time of 10:00 am – 12:00 pm.

Picasa: The December class for this photo management program was so successful that we have decided to repeat it in February. Learn how to enhance and organize your holiday pictures. Please sign up at the front desk to give Denton an idea of the number of people interested.

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Answer to December's photo:
 

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