=== Overview

"Computers" -- an astoundingly popular collection of new products? Yes.

"Changes everything"? No.

Computer are new and popular? Yes, and at one time in the US so were tacos.

New and popular is not nearly the same as changing everything.

=== Use a Computer?
Could I use a computer to buy write a novel? Yes.

Would I? Very definitely, no!

Why not?

(1) If the media is a floppy disk instead of a piece of paper, no thanks.

Why? Because with a piece of paper and a sheet of carbon copy, I get to keep a copy of the relevant pages I type. And I very much want to keep that data for the future.

(2) Want to keep those copies of pages on a computing device? Not a chance.

Why? Because for such data, I want my typewriter with its hardware and paper. I want the special correction ribbons, my editor his many years of experience, and my means of finding things in the file cabinet.

My typewriter also gives me a good keyboard, a good (and built in) printer, a mechanical freedom from power (I don't want to keep close to power outlets -- in fact, my writing desk is not even close to any outlets), ability for anyone with a pair of eyes to read/write on my work without needing a whole computer of their own, backup via Xerox and offsite backup via fax, etc.

Do I want to backup to tape? Not a chance. I backup to local acid free archival quality paper.

Why? Because for tape backup, money, a new hardware, power concerns, spooks, and technicians could get involved.

=== Business

My business is a writing books. I'm developing them on my typewriter, and each page goes live as soon as I finish the page.

PC readers of my books? Sure: My pages will look and work exactly the same on any pair of eyes, even with a pair glasses hundreds of years old.

=== New Business for Microsoft et al.

It sounds like Microsoft likes computers because for millions of businesses MS-DOS will run their first computer and it's new and popular.

Okay, then, Microsoft, here's another business you should like -- coffee. Also, of course, just from the OP, paperclips. No way should we forget -- salt. Okay, of course -- sugar. Sure, one more -- toilet paper. Naw, got to have one more, plastic knives, forks, spoons, and drinking cups.
Not to forget -- sell them service level agreements for their computers. Maybe even backup word processing software for their computers!

Especially for Microsoft, got to have one more -- sure, Kool Aid.

=== Summary

A means to write is the most important tool in my life. Currently my typewriter is my means of writing.

A computer most definitely does not replace my typewriter.
Actually, at present I have no use for a computer, a radio, or a television and, so, have none.

Actually some years ago a friend gave me a computer. Once I turned it on, and some complicated dialog came up about my reading some End User License Agreement and sending my first born child to someone named Steve. I turned the thing off and haven't turned it back on since.

Or, my typewriter has a network effect: It has made all my writing and means of entering, storing, processing, communicating, and viewing data, universal to any literate sighted person. A computer cannot be that one place, and, due to the network effect, I don't want to split off some of my data into a immobile silo, tethered to a power socket and only able to communicate with people who have also sent their first born to Steve (if they sent their first born to Bill instead - no deal).

=== Denouement

This post was written, spell checked, etc. with my favorite mechanical typewriter, using my favorite spell checker (The OED, hardback) on my writing desk, and no way would I have wanted to have done this post on a computer and then try to figure out how to plug it into the power and the phone socket.

Instead the page went live on the notice board of my local library where people from all walks of life can easily view it.