Hacker News Reader

It seems the report was written by a German. When the report was written (apparently around 2000-2001) "computer freak" was commonly used in Germany to describe what today would be called "nerd" or "geek". There's even a Wikipedia page: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computerfreak It's not really meant in a derogatory way, it's just one of many annoying pseudo-anglicisms.

This. Only after reading your comment I considered that "freak" might be taken offensive. We grew up with "Computerfreaks" here in Germany.

I guess we Germans have a questionable talent of taking english words and making them our own e.g. "Handy" for cell phone. :)

I'm dubious of some of the language as well. For instance a reference to "Ernest Young LLP" which I presume is meant to be Ernst & Young, not to mention prominent typos such as "PROCEDRUAL".

That's it then, all hackers are now offically: crackers.

That's got its own set of meanings in America too

That ship sailed a long time ago.