Aka my computer system.
I am running (wait for it) a Pentium 266 with 64MB of RAM, Windows 98SE, a CD burner that the system can’t really handle, a floppy drive that doesn’t work, a DSL modem that works faster than my computer and USB ports that don’t work at all. Then there’s the dead Lexmark printer and the scanner purchased…. five or six years ago (it was old then).
So my nifty camera won’t speak to my computer (we have to use John’s laptop to get the pictures off), I can write, but not print, I can’t print onto fabric, I can upload photos, but loading a simple webpage or flickr pages takes as long as 63 seconds (I timed it) against John’s machine, which will do it in 6 seconds.
The whole works frequently goes gronk because I type and work faster than it thinks. I’ve lost how many(?) posts and emails because the works just freezes. My frustration has been such that I save up stuff to do on John’s machine when he gets home, which means that sometimes I don’t get to do whatever it is because he often uses his pooter for work in the evenings.
We need a new machine. And a new printer. Just a board, CPU and oodles of memory would do it.
Sigh.
Raising the Bar Strength & Conditioning 
Get a Mac. Smartest thing I ever did back in 2001 was after years of using crappy Windows computers was to go out and buy an iMac. I’m using an iBook right now and it’s nifty. I think my next computer, maybe next year, will be another iMac.
Seriously, look at these: http://www.apple.com/ca/imac/
Isn’t it pretty? And there are no viruses or spyware. And they’re dead simple to use. Kirsten will vouch for me on this. She’s a Mac junkie as well.
Join us. You’ll be happier for it.
It’s a thought. It’s definitely a thought….
How much of a nuisance is it communicating with other folks’ technology when bumping around, say a Word document?
Argh! I am so there. My laptop was acquired, used, in 1998. (133MHz, 80MB RAM, no burner, no DSL modem) Eventually I gave up with the obsolete Win95, tried Win98 but it kept crashing, and ended up putting a Linux distro on it. Problem: I do not understand Linux enough to make any use of it.
Should be no problem at all…We used Macs at the Express and the Packet. People would routinely send us PSAs and press releases in Word Perfect that were (I assume) written on Word on a Windows machine. They opened just fine.
Unless you play a lot of video games, Macs fit in surprisingly well with your life.
I’m not saying rush out and buy one. But I don’t think it hurts to ask some questions and poke around a bit at Macs if you get serious about buying a new computer. Also, if you know someone at MUN (ie. student of prof) you might be able to ask them to buy it for you and get an educational discount.
Also, if you don’t want the big pretty machine and already have a keyboard, monitor and mouse lying around, this machine might do as well: http://www.apple.com/ca/macmini/
Thanks, Craig! Will look into it.
Sarai, here’s hoping you luck into a new machine! Sometimes they come along at just the right time….. Hard to justify spending money on them when they become obsolete so quickly, though, isn’t it?