[khedoros]

My computer certainly does more than the one 27 years ago did, in the senses of operations it performs in a second, capacity of data storage, increased intercommunication options, increased selection of devices that I can interface with it, and so on. Some of these are just a change in magnitude, and the changes in the software are just as important as changes in the hardware.

There are more parts of the computer (again, both hardware and software) that are undocumented. Taken as a whole, the system is more capable, but closed hardware and software makes me wonder about capabilities in my computer that serve someone that isn't me.

[drvdevd]

Personally, I like to occasionally remember that there's not a single computing device in my life I really own. It can be either a comforting piece of knowledge or a frightening one depending on your perspective. I like to take the former perspective.

[27182818284]

Ehhh. In a sense sure, but lots of people consider they've owned a loaf of bread without knowing Wonder's recipe.

[drvdevd]

I see what you mean, but also no one ever owned a loaf of bread that could be cut, toasted and buttered remotely by a totally unknown 3rd party either...

[24gttghh]

Unless you go to the local diner for breakfast and don't know the line-cook...

[drvdevd]

Good point. You walk into the diner implicitly trusting the line cook and the bread baker and so on. Very similar to the chain of trust implicit in the tech we use. Only I believe the chain of trust in the tech to be much longer and proven to have been repeatedly broken in recent decades. Also, line cooks have the luxury of tossing out loafs of bread that have moulded over.

[24gttghh]

:) They can even cut off the mouldy bits, preserving the rest of the breakfast.