Recently I caught up on an older 32-Bit Cafe thread[1] that discussed the death of the power user in computing. The post linked by OP had some really strange ideas of what a power user looked like back in the day - really, power users used to understand DNS and IP routing? I think not - and was almost certainly written by AI, but it got me thinking about what I would consider characteristics of a power user in 2026.
Here are some ideas I have about different categories of users, ranging from the most basic to the most complex. I'll describe what "level ups" occur between each category, and then attempt to identify which level of user could be considered a power user in the 90's and in 2026.
I will say up front that I do feel that the bar for "power user" status is lower in 2026 than probably in any time in the past.
And, to be clear, it's good that tech has gotten more inclusive; however, a natural and necessary part of that is that most people just don't have the interest or curiosity to develop anything more than the most basic competency at using their devices. This is to be expected.
On to the levels...
A level 0 is the most basic type of user that can use the most user-friendly tech (such as an iPhone) for simple tasks. Maybe they have a simple tablet, but probably not. They definitely don't have a laptop or a desktop computer. At this level, mobile users don't really do anything with the settings on their phones. Maybe they change their backgrounds, or mess around with the home screen a little bit, but that's about it. They uncritically install a ton of mobile games and other highly suspect apps, and are likely to complain about their bad luck with tech in general. Their device always seems to suffer from poor battery life and becomes prone to overheating.
This user is a little more advanced. In addition to their phone, a level 1 might have an iPad, eReader, or other simple device. They are curious enough to explore their device settings, and are able to make basic changes that help them use their technology better. This user can change default apps, may take more control of notifications, and might even take steps to reduce battery drain. This user is still easily confused, and sometimes overwhelmed (aren't we all?), but unlike a level 0 they are able to self-service solutions to their most basic problems and put some level of effort into improving their own tech situation.
At level 2, the user gains some degree of awareness around security & privacy as concepts. Maybe not as important concepts, but as something that deserves at least a minimal level of attention. For example, a user at this level may realize that not every app on their phone needs access to their camera, microphone, GPS, and local network. They might not allow every app that asks to have access to their entire contact list or their entire photo library. A very advanced level 2 might think somewhat critically about the access and permissions required by an app, and take that into consideration when deciding what to install.
At this level, the user probably has a real computer, such as a Mac laptop or a hand-me-down PC. A level 3 user understands what the file system is, and knows how to use it productively for basic file and folder management, which is a concept that is largely absent among the less sophisticated users that engage only with phones and tablets. Level 3s might understand the concept of a directory structure as a tree, of course without using those words to describe it. Office workers in this category might understand what a network share is, and are competent users of the productivity applications mandated by their company. Home users are likely to have needs and intentions for their tech that extend beyond pure content consumption.
A user that has ascended to level 4 takes the time to optimize their workflows, especially in the applications that they use every day. They probably use some number of keyboard shortcuts beyond cut, copy, and paste. Advanced users may even customize those shortcuts for their comfort or productivity. Office workers in this category might use templates when creating documents or slide decks. Advanced level 4s may even use limited scripting or automation for some small tasks, such as using simple VBA in Excel. Home users with their own identity and presence on the web (note: social media doesn't count) certainly have the skills required to be at this level.
The level 5 has mastered their applications and workflows and has started to master their system as well. They know about hardware, how it relates to performance, and how to perform the administrative tasks to keep their system running in an optimized way. They aren't afraid to tweak low level settings, because they know they're not going to break things; and even if they did, they already had a plan for getting back to a known good state. Some gamers, highly advanced creatives, most programmers, and many hobbyist tinkerers are examples of who you'll commonly see at this level.
In my opinion, there definitely has been a slow shift in overall tech competency over the years, and what it takes to be considered and advanced or power user has changed along with that. In the 90's, my canonical power user is the level 4 office worker who seemed to be some sort of a productivity wizard and could help fix your stuff when you inevitability screwed it up. These days, a level 3 with basic competency using a Windows, Mac or Linux laptop or PC is likely within striking distance of power user territory. This, more than anything, feels like it's happened due to a broad regression in overall tech literacy as the tech-using pool expands.
~nullish
[1] https://discourse.32bit.cafe/t/the-slow-death-of-the-power-user/4256
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