Electronic Progress

Twenty-five years ago, a company called Amstrad launched an inexpensive word processor. The package was crude, each three-inch disk held only 157K RAM, though on both sides. The operating program had to be loaded every time it was switched on, and you still had to send your copy by post, or FAX.

Once, I arrived at Heathrow to fly to a car launch and I did not know anyone else in the party. We stood making small talk and then someone mentioned Amstrad. It became like a religious revival meeting as each of us testified how things had improved since Amstrad had entered our lives. A dozen strangers bonded.