Apple typewriter memo (2020)

I would argue there is a glaring problem with the memo: it is basically written from the perspective of someone who writes memos. Computers were fantastic replacements for many uses of typewriters back then, allowing people to do much more with greater ease. Yet they were not universal replacements for typewriters.

The article pointed out one glaring problem, one that was present with the Apple II (along with other microcomputers of the era): it could only display uppercase text. It got around that by displaying capital letters in inverse. A related problem was the limited display width. While a typed page is roughly 80 characters wide, the Apple II could only display 40 characters per line. Thankfully the Apple II was expandable. 80 column cards and cards that displayed lowercase text were created, but Apple didn't introduce such capabilities themselves until the Apple IIe. Even then you needed to buy their 80 column card (but at least that standardized things).

Another hitch was actually typing lowercase letters. You needed to do a shift-key modification for applications to register the shift-key being pressed when a letter was typed. Again, Apple didn't standardize this until the Apple IIe.

Of course, those weren't the only issues. Computerization may have been taking over the world, but so were reams of paper. While most of those additional reams of paper were being generated by computers, much of that paperwork existed before. Forms, in particular, almost necessitated the use of a typewriter. While I would hate to line up forms in a typewriter, such feats were nearly impossible with printers.

So I guess you're right in some circumstances: computers were not a good experience. That doesn't negate the times when they offered a far better experience. Whether you're writing memos or novels, the ability to go back and edit text outweighs the drawbacks (never mind all of the advancements that were just around the corner). But a blanket ban on typewriters was myopic.

Last time I saw one (working and in real life, rather than TV or a museum) was the late 80s or early 90s. And even then, it was in a second-hand charity sale.

Typewriters typically are not connected to the internet. I.e. nobody can hack them, remotely sabotage them, or hoover up every word you type. It's not completely outside the realm of possibility that we'll come to appreciate those features again within our lifetimes.

I’ve seen a lot of “distraction-free” writing apps up to even e-ink screens glued to mechanical keyboards. There’s still plenty of typewriters out there—they’re just paper-free now.

I have not seen a physical fax machine in over a decade; haven’t sent a fax in at least 4 years.

Yet they are still around and not obsolete.

They are but they aren't.

Excepting niche cases (like filling out carbons in triplicate at car dealerships and such) typewriters are pretty anachronistic. It is, however, amusing that over the past decade as things have digitized fewer people seem to own printers. Without a printer a computer fails at the simple task that a typewriter is inherently designed for - putting words to paper. Anecdotally <50% of my friends have a printer in their home... I wonder how that compares to typewriter ownership 50 years ago?

Regardless it's pretty clear that the author of the site is a big typewriter fan hence their statement. I find it contrived, but hey, it takes all kinds to make the world go 'round.

I am going to guess that most fax machines are not dedicated machines but a part of combination of printer scanner fax. It wouldn’t be obvious

How do you know it was typed on a typewriter?

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Typewriters are not connected to the outer world. If you would use your Macbook as a typewriter, typing documents and copying them PDFs over USB flash stick, it wouldn't be obsolete in 5 years. Although it wouldn't survive 100 years for sure, but I'd expect an average computer to survive 15-25 years.

Computers, especially computers connected to the Internet, are too specific entities, so analogies often are faulty. Gadgets become obsolete not because Apple is evil, but because world is changing too fast. New websites are too heavy for old CPUs. Software evolves too fast, so it costs quite a bit to keep old hardware drivers up-to-date. Malware risks are real, so the option of not updating is unsafe.

Weird comparison.

Yes some typewriters from a century ago are still working, because their owners have put in the time and money to keep them working. They arent magic machines. They need parts to be replaced, cleaning, lubrication, obscure ribbons, gears, keys.

Similarly there are plenty of computers from the 50s and 60s still working, for the same reason.

True, but the article was first with that comic it ends with.

My Macbook Pro had to have the motherboard replaced 8 times in 3 years after purchase. I had to sue Apple in a class action along with a lot of other people, and we won. And they replaced it with an Intel mac that was forced to be obsolete, now the thing can't be updated and some software has stopped working because it can't be updated.