you're so right sweetpea if people don't grok the idea what a computer might be used all for they'll never be using it for anything.
I got my 1st (386SX-16 1MB Ram 40 MB HD) as my ma once after not finding a fitting new kitchen she tought of buying spontaneously said "let's forget that we'll get a comp for you, might be usefull for school and in general" a VGA CRT and 24pin printer went with it. I was fresh and clueless (and shocked too
) so i actually started reading trying and installing all from scratch. my 2nd was a P90 so I am wery aware of power differences.
because I really began at some point worth to be called a beginning I came to an idea quite fast: "a computer is a kind of swiss army knife for the brain." a multitool for non-manual tasks. this allowed me to try things out and not only learn how to operate it (my 2nd idea was "you either figure how to make it do the things you want or 'll end up pushing keys when it says push here."
Your ma-in-law HAD an idea too and went her road for it.
Nowdays there's the problem that:
- people can't really see how much power is in there - backdays you saw it always when hittin' the limits
- comps are "common" and people buy them mindless don't respect the tech.
- the too shiny UIs suggest them that they are easy so people don't even get the idea learning might be required - they think a glimpse at some kind of quickstart leaf is sufficient.
- they are mentally overpowered with a comp's general approach or (coming back to my swiss army tool metaphor) they don't grok the need to stick the right bits in and start tinkering.
they start loosing initiative getting used to automation - just like Asimov predicted...