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[westrim]

I just realized that so far as we know, none of the more monied characters has an AnthroPC. The three we know to have them are: Marten, definitely not rich, Hanners, who's income is unknown, but probably more than comfortable, and Marigold, who- come to think of it, where does she get money? None of them are wealthy, except maybeHanners. But none of the outright wealthy characters have them; not, Sven, Marten's Mom, Hanners Mom, or Natasha, the rich bitch Amir's old girlfriend. Granted, we don't see all but one of their homes, but there's no indication that they do have one, and Sven almost certainly doesn't.

So, basically: why do the poor people have the cool tech?

[JD]

It was a gift.

[JD]

or they know someone

[Is it cold in here?]

Rich people can afford the top of the line AnthroPC models that have the decency to stay out of the way.

(Grr. I should be able to come up with something better. Like AnthroPC purchases are subsidized by a Cash For Computers program the benefits of which are phased out above a certain income level).

AnthroPCs are down to earth and despise snobbery and bad hygiene, so they avoid people like Hannermom and Natasha.

AnthroPCs are no longer valued by the rich now that they've gone down the cost curve and anybody can own one.

AnthroPCs are surveillance tools of the sinister forces that covertly rule society, and only the rich have the power to avoid being issued one. Faye's apartment was burned down to force her to move in with Pintsize. Sven has paid for Dora's exemption.

[Delirium]

Because anthroPCs have a reputation for frequently being more trouble than they're worth (though cases like Pintsize are likely rare, they still seem to have some approximation of free will), and so use other technologies that do what they want with fewer drawbacks. Like actual computers.

[Mr_Rose]

Because none of the people who don't have one in the strip would want to own one even if they could afford it: Sven still uses paper to write his songs; Ms. Vance is probably old enough that they are still a frivolous novelty to her mind; Hannermom doubly so, plus can you imagine here taking care of a pet that wasn't a long-haired white cat? Didn't think so; and Natasha doesn't seem like the sort of person who would stick with one project long enough to get any decent use out of an AnthroPC.

P.S. Hanners is, according to Faye, "richer then the average Saudi prince" which makes a kind of sense given that here principal expenditures are food, cleaning products and rent, and here primary income is a skilled and nearly unique artisan craft that maybe three other people in the entire country would want/be able to do.

[Spluff]

It's obvious. AnthroPC's are hipster junk.

[Carl-E]

They're all the rage in Japan, where the models are much more advanced (like Momo), but they never really caught on in this country, especially due to the clunkiness and bugginess of the Windows models (Pintsize).  And so few people can afford the Apple version (like Winslow).  Only the highest eschelon of computer nerddom have the Linux versions (beardy), with homemade chassies (chassis?  chasses?  chassillies?). 

But there are enough in North Hampton to throw a decent party on occasion! 

[LTK]

They're more widely used as kids' toys, and also regarded as such. While operating systems are inexpensive, the majority is tailored to babies and toddlers because these net the most profit. Because of this, systems for adults are generally only developed by independent programmers. As a rule, no two systems have the same personality, to prevent counterfeits. This means they take a long time to produce, making them so rare that even ones with personality glitches (Pintsize) are put on the market. Owning one also means a large amount of indie cred, of course.

[Kugai]

AnthroPC's are all the offspring of the HAL9000's that really run the world

[giant_bug]

Marten has an Anthro PC because he's a lonely nerd.
Marigold has one because she's a lonely nerd.
Hannelore has one because she's a lonely obsessive who needs a friend who doesn't object to being sprayed down with disinfectant every 20 minutes.

Dora has a pussy for company.
Sven has pussy for company.  Oh and he has a cat, too.

Faye is under a consent decree based on the Androids Rights Act of 1978 not to own/destroy any more than she already has.
Steve wouldn't see the point of one unless it was an 'H' model and why bother when there's plenty of free tail out there for the asking.

[jwhouk]

AnthroPC's were probably originally marketed as a "high-end" Tamagoutchi. They were popular for maybe a few years or so, then their "issues" started coming to the forefront (occasional disregard for the Three Laws of Robotics and all).

Then, when one of the first showcase models of the Apple version nearly lopped off Steve Jobs' ear, things went downhill from there. It didn't help when an AnthroPC nearly burned down Bill Gates' summer home in the Hamptons.

I think in the most recent version of the Patriot Act, which made the further sale of AnthroPC's illegal in the US and its possessions. That's where the "illegal to sell on eBay" thing came about.

[Blackjoker]

My actual guess is that the really expensive ones might not be allowed out (fear of them being stolen and dismantled for parts). Most of the time they, more or less, they act as companions and annoyances to their owners. I figure they're also relatively new technology, Marten probably bought one in the first place because he felt lonely when he moved out here and his girlfriend dumped him. He figured the Anthro-PC could keep him company and also work as a computer, he was proven wrong but it might explain why he has pintsize in the first place. I am also wondering how durable the anthro-pcs are since it seems a big part of Pintsize's survivability is based entirely around that military chasis he has.

[Is it cold in here?]

Rich people have servants to play with their AnthroPCs just as they hire people to walk their dogs.

[MrMonk]

Rich people have considered AnthroPC's to be hopelessly bourgeois since their early, canine forms, which were once the rage in Trenton, NJ.

[Carl-E]

Just flashed on the old Dr. Who's K-9.