i didn't want to like this....

A hands-on personal experience with Perplexity Computer, a $200/month cloud-based AI agent platform with 19 models and Firecracker microVM sandboxes. The author, who built elaborate custom AI infrastructure with Claude Code and multiple agents, was surprised to find Perplexity Computer accomplished similar tasks with zero setup. Key features covered include a meta-router that selects the best model per subtask, isolated compute environments (Firecracker microVMs), shared file workspaces between agents, scheduled/cron jobs, and cloud-persistent execution. The author built a Blockbuster POS simulator, a kids gaming website, and a cult investigation dashboard. Main critique is cost — the credit system burns fast. The deeper reflection is that over-engineering AI tooling can consume all creative energy, leaving none for actually using the tools.