Should a computer require learning or just be an appliance

[Belial6]

You think you are arguing against me, but in fact, you help make my point.  You describe what I said was required for the population to call it a computer, and then say that it is a computer, and you say that if it isn't that, it is a 'smart' appliance.

So, by definition, a computer cannot be an appliance, because as soon as it is, it isn't a computer.  If it can be, then they are all over.

We have computing devices that run from incredibly simple clocks to mainframes, and everything in between.  There is a point in the shades of gray that we draw a line and say that anything on one side of it is a "computer", and anything on the other is an "appliance".

Is a laptop running an ARM processor with a display screen and keypad a computer?  What about a cell phone that is running an ARM processor with a display screen and no keypad?  What about a desk phone running an ARM processor with a display screen and a keypad?

[agami]

The poll could have used a few more choices. I went with 'Other'.

My view is that 'Personal Computers' are meant to be, and in the 21st century should be appliances. Something for the masses.

Though a computer, something more like a 'Workstation' is something aimed at the developers, be it applications, CAD/CAM industrial uses, or professional content creation. After all, somebody has to design and build the Personal Computer, the applications, and the content consumed by the masses.

In reality, most computers (Workstations) outside the corporate landscape, spend a majority of their time performing Personal Computer tasks.

[persia]

It really depends on how you define appliance.  One of the most common definitions is "The act of applying; application; An implement, an instrument or apparatus designed (or at least used) as a means to a specific end (often specified);"

For most people then a computer is an appliance and has been for more than a decade.  It's a device that accesses the internet or does word processing or spreadsheets.  It's not a general purpose device, you can't open a sardine tin with it, it won't physically take you places.  

I know this flies in the face of aOS 4.x but it has a purpose beyond loading your favourite GUI.  In fact most people don't even have a favourite GUI, they just want to read Facebook, or type a paper.  Computers exist to do something with.  Organise your photos, find information, etc.  Computers are the dam most useful appliance I've ever seen.  The are a means to an end, not the end itself.

[Amiga_Nut]

The OS should never hinder what you are trying to do, simple as that really.

But it should also be a tool you can do advanced things with and not over simplified and isolate the user from its functionality.

'other'

[kedawa]

The problem is that making things easy for the average person usually translates to obfuscating and hiding things that are very useful to someone who is technically savvy.
That could be anything from hiding file extensions to locking the user out of admin level privileges.
There is no one size fits all approach that makes sense anymore.  The average user wants something that they can't mess up, which means those who want to tinker and customize have to circumvent the protections that are there to keep the average user out of trouble.
Personal computers as they exist today are perfect for what I want to do with them, but they have never been ideal for the average consumer.  Since the early nineties, people have been fooled by the computer industry into buying personal workstations that have far more complexity and versatility than they actually need, both in terms of hardware and software.

[persia]

Unfortunately every OS will hinder you somewhere.  Actually I take that back, Unix systems don't hinder.  A fellow in my office wanted to uninstall something and his Linux box asked him whether he wanted to uninstall the dependencies.  He said yes and it promptly remove X and much of the rest of his system....

Sometimes a little hindering might be good

The OS should never hinder what you are trying to do, simple as that really.

But it should also be a tool you can do advanced things with and not over simplified and isolate the user from its functionality.

'other'