The unspoken statement here is “what do you want the computer to do?” A typewriter or gun both have very narrow application. Any computer can do what any other computer can do provided the right software, data, and time. An Apple I can be built with discrete components pretty easily. But what utility does having an Apple I give you?
Right on. A “computer I own” seems to presuppose that this computer does all these millions of things, many of which (I fear) can’t be provided practically for less than a compromise in ownership.
You can build (and own) the Apple I but you can’t reasonably write a Chrome-compatible browser for it, if Google aren’t interested.
Thus I find asking for a “computer you own, like any other tool” is a bit nonchalant wrt. the scope of the request.
