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by digi_owl 3858 days ago
Thats because the computer as a mix of hardware and software is something fairly new. The home/personal computer didn't really happen until the 80s. Before then every device had a defined purpose, and if there was any software it was living as "firmware" inside the hardware.

Damn it, i still recall when people got hot and bothered about getting updates for their Nokia Series 40 phones over the air. Before than you only got it done if it was obviously broken, and to do so you brought it to the service desk of a nearby store or some such.