I have a very difficult time trying to imagine or "picture" what most first-generation PC owners went through --- it must have been very frustrating, and a huge test of their patience.
I would not have survived!

Not many people know that we after thoughts (2nd gen'ers & on) owe thanks to you 1st gen'ers, for funding the movement.
Thank you.

When I started working with PCs (just shy of a decade):
- the Pentium was already in to the second part of the third generation (PIII Tualatin etc), and slot one boards were virtually extinct.
- Windows 98 S/E OEM was just released and ME (more like EW) was on its way.
Also, 128MB@133Mhz memory, 17" monitors, 10GB drives spinning @ 5400RPM, 52x CDRoms, ATX Power supplies, 32MB video cards, and 10MB NICs were all the "standard".
Better was out and available.

One of my co-workers TRIED giving me a rotten Apple (IIe) and some RadioShack system that I've never heard of.
They said they'd make a good firewall.
Me, I was thinking more along the lines of a doorstopper.