Have we forgotten anything?

It's the early days of desktop computers, and at a big regional bank, this pilot fish gets the word: It's time for the bank to go PC.

"The board of directors had reluctantly agreed to the PCs' use," says fish. "They weren't stingy and included new office space, staff, equipment and a decent number of systems.

"And the board wanted a hands-on demonstration of this new computer."

Fish's friend is in charge of this new group, and fish watches as he carefully crafts a 30-minute demonstration, right down to rehearsals with stand-ins for the board members.

Presentations are developed. Refreshments are ordered. Equipment is set up. Finally, the day arrives for his 30 minutes of magic.

The five-minute introduction, complete with a brief film and slides -- yes, a real film and real slides -- goes well. Then the 10 board members are escorted to individual PCs as the demonstration moves to the hands-on stage.

Each PC sits ready for the board members to create passwords for their new computer accounts.

"They were instructed to type in a secret password," fish says. "Ten senior executives, each with secretaries and staff, who had never used a typewriter. To them, a computer was the 20,000-square-foot glass house on the seventh floor filled with large cabinets, flashing lights and mystery. To them, a typewriter was a tool subordinates used.

"Ten 50-to-60-year-old gentlemen, each with an extended index finger and wrinkled brow, hunched over their keyboards and s-l-o-w-l-y pecked out a few characters.

"I watched my friend's face turn white as he realized the 30-minute demonstration had just turned into hours."

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