You are right! M$ claimed the 80's was terrible because of incompatability. That was BS, it was GREAT because of all the options and competition! Now M$ has a stranglehold on the desktop market, they want to control our content like big brother.
I agree, I remember when "Your Computer" magazine and similar others had reviews of upcoming machines EVERY month! It was brilliant... I used to love going into shops at looking at machines like the Memotech512, the Enterprise64, the Oric Atmos and so on...
The machine I had the most fun with was the Amstrad CPC6128, tbh even more fun than with the Amiga because you could get right in there and "do stuff", with 1 book you knew everything there was to know.... (etc. now where did I put that pesky ear trumpet and my walking frame?)
