*2001 was a transition point from slow progress to the sort of performance-doubling progression you're thinking of.*
You are way off here. Lets check a contemporary source to understand the public sentiment at the time:
"My new computer's got the clocks, it rocks
But it was obsolete before I opened the box
You say you've had your desktop for over a week?
Throw that junk away, man, it's an antique
Your laptop is a month old? Well that's great
If you could use a nice, heavy paperweight"
Weird Al - 1999
You also are totally incorrect about internet connectivity adoption at that point.
I took the class as a freshman, taught by Matthias, and then was a grader/lab helper the following year. (Oh gosh, this is all 15 years ago now)
In my observation, it was those with previous java/c++ experience that couldn't let that go who struggled the most. Total newbies were a blank slate and more likely to 'get it', assuming they have the abilities needed to succeed in a CS program.
You are way off here. Lets check a contemporary source to understand the public sentiment at the time:
"My new computer's got the clocks, it rocks But it was obsolete before I opened the box You say you've had your desktop for over a week? Throw that junk away, man, it's an antique Your laptop is a month old? Well that's great If you could use a nice, heavy paperweight"
Weird Al - 1999
You also are totally incorrect about internet connectivity adoption at that point.