Technology Woes

Yes, I know I have a blog and I also know that this poor thing has been neglected by me. Not on purpose though.

I have had mega huge technology problems for ummmmm......several months now.

It started when the power supply to my 4 yo HP desk top conked out. Took the tower to the repair guy in Easton and he put a new power supply in. Not cheap buy cheaper than a new computer.

Powered up the repaired computer only to have the mother board crash. New computer time.

I did my homework and decided that I needed power and memory to handle all the data, photo and video files. Plus I got an iPhone for Christmas (my old phone went caput) and decided that I also wanted to start downloading music.

Ended up with a HP media/gaming model. Nice computer. Came with Microsofts new software VISTA. I wanted a full functioning Microsoft Office and Office Outlook-not an unreasonable request. Except that the Geek Squad a Best Buy got themselves in a wad over uploading that software (for extra $).

In the midst of all this we did about six weeks of international travel. Internet cafes abound around the world and the cruise ships do have Internet (all for extra $). I am the head of a local group and needed access to email and my membership list. Enter my ISP EastonOnline. It takes at least five minutes to load the first page and then about five more minutes to get to the Inbox on my email account. Each email takes minutes to load and the response takes even longer to send---if it sends at all. This caused some communication problems with my group and one member quit because we left her off the list??!! Even though I explained my problems.

To solve that issue I have enlisted the full power of all the Google services (these are free) and have my membership lists, addresses and email account with them. I can even write documents and spread sheets and access them from anywhere. Overseas the Google pages load in a snap and upload even faster. (God Bless Google).

So back to the new computer. I brought it home. Hooked it up and started to uploaded by files (my fix it guy was able to retrieve my data). Had about three days of fun trying out all the new gizmos and features. Finally,uploaded my security software and the damn thing disabled all my drivers....aaaarrrrrgggggghhhh. Called the HP help line and had a friendly one hour chat with a young man in Calcutta India that took over the computer and reset everything.

Finally, my daughter wanted me to fax her something and I was delighted to have the opportunity to use that feature. I scan the information, upload it to the computer and go to fax.....the entire system freezes!!! @#$#@@#$#@#. Go through all the trouble shooting. Boot up the laptop to find out what I can do. Make things worse. @#$#@#$# And like a stubborn man not asking for directions, I refuse to ask anyone for help (like asking for help has helped me). So I spend about 5 days studying everything and come to the conclusion that I will reboot the computer and configure it to its original factory settings.

Viola! I was able to up load all my Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, Trend Micro Security, and am now in the process of slowly uploading data, photos, videos and music. I know whats on this thing and where it is. Keep your fingers crossed.

In the meantime, the electric garage door broke, the overhead light blew in my office-with the added complication that the lightbuld fell out of the screwed in socket when I barely touched it, daylight savings time came early and caused all sorts of technical glitches with the machines connected to clocks, and my grandkids (ages 2 and 3) played with my iPhone on the sneak and password locked me out of the thing. When we arrived home from our latest trip we discovered the battery in our 2 you Honda was dead. When you loose battery power the GPS conks out and you have to go through all kinds of voodoo and magic words to get it working again.

Technology--I love it and hate it!