[ethbr0]

Call-out: we're also talking about mostly un-networked computers here.

1989 is the very beginning of "the Internet might be useful for general purposes by non-scientists." And incidentally, the same year BGP was dreamed up. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World_(internet_service_...

So most computers were running boxed retail software with extremely limited hard drive data space (if present at all).

[loloquwowndueo]

Computers were networking years before the rise of the Internet. BBSes were a thing in the 80s.

[ethbr0]

We're talking about mass market adoption. Most people (by which I mean not-HN) weren't using acoustic-coupled modems over device-specific ports to dial into BBSs over long distance lines.

Computer control of modems using standardized Hayes(+) command sets over RS-232 serial ports (1981), the Bell breakup (1984) and subsequent competition, and increased modem manufacturer competition breaking price-per-baud standards and increasing affordability (~1988) were required enablers to take it mass market.

It took until the early 90s that you could (a) buy a PC at a reasonable price, (b) buy a modem at a reasonable price (that was guaranteed to work with your PC), (c) dial into an ISP's local number... from anywhere in the US.

Yes, some people lived in NYC, Chicago, SF, etc. and had access to knowledge and BBS infrastructure at local rates earlier than that, but most people didn't.