Why were computers relevant or irrelevant in the 70s and 80s?

Microcomputers were/are relevant. They weren’t ground breaking revolutionary technology but like all things they were a stepping stone to bigger and better things. Melanie Swalwell states in her article that in the late 70s and 80s, cheap computers (compared to their counterparts IBM and Apple) were embraced by hobbyists and households. The TRS and System 80s, the Commodores, the Spectrum and the Sega SC3000 were the new potentials of computing. Micro-computers simply plugged into television sets. One of the reasons why the microcomputer was doubted is because it was expensive. Yes, compared to the mini-computers they were cheaper but it was still a large sum to spend. Another reason they were doubted by critics was because there was a lack of software. However, one thing they were useful for was gaming. Later on in the 80s, this would lead to gaming enthusiasts creating their own software and games (Swalwell, 2012). Initially they were pitched as being useful for saving recipes, maintaining household budgets, keeping track of auto maintenance and ‘keeping up’ with the times. After the mid-80s professionally developed software changed the usefulness of the computer. Ultimately, the microcomputers demand for better software contributed to the development of better software and computing.

Swalwell, Melanie 2012, Questions about the Usefulness of Microcomputers in 1980s Australia, Media International Australia, 143, pg 63-77