Learning Computers the Hard Way

Learning Computers the Hard Way Interview with Ward Smyth “In 1987, any small building company, even just getting started, can afford and probably should buy a small computer.” Ward Smyth, of Salmon Creek Builders, in Salisbury, Conn., is a custom builder and remodeler. He works largely in the second-home market in northwestern Conn. His 1986 volume was about $1.15 million, which he hopes to double in 1987. Smyth’s involvement with computers started in the pre-PC days of 1979 with a $32,000 monster that “sat in the corner and hummed.” We interviewed Smyth in early April. NEB: How’d you get started in construction? Smyth: I’ve always been in the building business-mostly on the management side. I started in high