Sunday, August 7, 2011

NEW LAPTOP ERA BEGINS

My new Toshiba laptop was delivered to the farm on Thursday as expected. The UPS driver did not scream at me for making him drive clear out in the boonies.

I didn’t buy a new computer because I wanted to. I was quite happily acclimated to my HP, quirky as it was. But there were issues with the router at the town house and then issues with my laptop. The result was that I had to deal with the purchase of a new computer sooner rather than later. Fortunately I had backed up documents, pictures, patterns, embroidery designs, so it could have been worse. And as Hallie says, a fresh start isn’t so bad.

When I was working, our IT people would occasionally swoop into the office, take over the computer equipment in the back room, and set up new programs. Then nothing looked or worked the same for a while and we all had to learn the new system.

“I hate this,” I said to the head IT guy as he showed me the new features. Because of his take-charge manner, staff didn’t like him too well, and I was surprised at the crestfallen look on his face. I didn’t think my opinion would matter to him.

“But,” I added in brighter tones, “it’s okay because in two weeks – maybe even sooner -- I won’t even remember the way it looked before.” So true! But between now and then, I will experience some frustration. KW

2 comments:

Leah said...

I'm sure the motto for computer geeks is "Change is Good." Anyone working with computers finds that operating systems are updated sooner than we like. Software programs have new versions every 6 months. New computers aren't always compatible with our old printers. Good grief! I don't like this whirlwind of changes, but I can't stop progress.

In the PC Workshop where I volunteer, the older residents of our town come in for help. There are people who still have floppy discs and when I encourage them to get them transferred onto a CD or flash drive, they resist. Many older folks have computers that are over 10 years old. They just don't understand that in computer years (sort of like dog years), 10 years is the same as 50 years of some other piece of equipment.

If we don't join the "change parade," we'll be a spectator instead of a participant or "user" in computer language. And another thing...I always connect the word "user" with drugs or something addictive. Maybe we are addicted to these small monsters.

And yes, I love computers and am always racing to keep up just like everyone else.

Chris said...

Hope you're getting adjusted to your new friend. When you commented on my blog I thought, "Oh no! The dreaded blogger-doesn't-know-me syndrome!" It did come through, though.

You'll probably be surprised at how fast this one becomes familiar. So glad you had saved your important files before the HP went to computer heaven. :-)