But people do understand that computers are a legitimate tool for everyday use (I remember when that wasn't so- even though personal computers were somewhat available, it was a little suspicious if you used one to do something that could be done otherwise).

So if somebody says they found a new way- using a computer- to solve an old problem, it's not so out of the ordinary, even if nobody else in the conversation had solved that problem in that way yet. Instead of scorn you are as likely to be met with "what a good idea."