On the other hand, I'm much more effective at the things I actually wanted to do with the computer in phase 3. I think there's roughly two tracks for people who got into computers early: people who enjoyed fiddling with computers and people who fiddled with computers to get to what they wanted.
I just wanted to play Wing Commander. The range of things I want to do has expanded, but none of them involve working under the hood (software or hardware).
> I'm much more effective at the things I actually wanted to do with the computer in phase 3
I agree, that's what I meant with "more convenient".
p.s. Also, yeah, I guess I mostly just enjoyed the fiddling to get the damn machine to do crazy things at my bidding just because I found the right incantations to make it so.
1st phase: You must do everything by yourself.
2nd phase: You can do everything by yourself.
3rd phase: You must do everything through the OS.
The third phase is much more safe and more convenient, but also much less exciting.
* in the wider meaning, not necessarily only IBM clone