You wouldn’t guess it, but children can’t imagine computers without the mouse

May 26, 2014 13:53 GMT  ·  By

Benny and Rafi Fine, also known as The Fine Brothers, have released Kids React to Old Computers, their latest React video involving an Apple II computer from the ‘70s. The problems start right from the get-go, as even powering it on seems a challenge for these 2000s kids.

The Fine Brothers are online producers, writers, and directors. Best known for their successful React video series on YouTube, the brothers started this series around four years ago featuring clips like Kids React to Viral Videos, Kids React to Harlem Shake, and Kids React to Twilight.

As you’d imagine, the kids’ reaction to a clunky Apple II (video below) is not as vivid as it was for the aforementioned themes, but it’s priceless for those who are actually old enough to have used such a computer.

Some of the kids are dismayed that you have to push two buttons to actually power on the machine, as computers today automatically turn on their monitors or send them to sleep when switched off.

The floppy disk drive amazed some of the youngsters, while 11-year-old Jayka was baffled that such a huge piece of machinery lacked a hard drive.

Other funny remarks include: “Where’s the mouse?” “I don’t get it, and I also don’t get the 1970s.” “Person who used this [...] must’ve had a lot of codes right next to them.” “I don’t want to do this anymore.” “How would you look up your homework?” “It’s a CD” [referring to the floppy diskettes]. “I think it could be somebody’s last name” [referring to DOS]. “It doesn’t like suck it in” [referring to the floppy disk drive]. “I don’t like this computer. I really don’t” “You guys are crazy.” “At least it’s better than Flappy Bird.”

The Apple II was one of the first highly successful mass-produced “microcomputers” (if you can believe they actually called them that) designed by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.

According to Wikipedia, “In terms of ease of use, features and expandability the Apple II was a major technological advancement over its predecessor, the Apple I, a limited-production bare circuit board computer for electronics hobbyists that pioneered many features that made the Apple II a commercial success.”

“Introduced at the West Coast Computer Faire on April 16, 1977, the Apple II was among the first successful personal computers; it launched the Apple company into a successful business (and allowed several related companies to start). Throughout the years, a number of models were sold, with the most popular model remaining relatively little changed into the 1990s. While primarily an 8-bit computer, by mid-run a 16-bit model was introduced.”

In all fairness, the kids have no way of knowing this without a grownup forcing them to read this stuff off Wikipedia or some specialized Apple fanboy site. And with iDevices being hundreds of times more powerful than the Apple II was, few can even believe computers were so primitive back then.