Well, in the past week I managed to blow up my computer, stuff my camera, and break my cellphone. Well, that’s not entirely true, each of them were just broken when I turned up. But I get the feeling I may have some kind of technology jinx. The phone was an easy fix, the rollerball had stopped working, and it’s a work phone so I just told our IT chick and she replaced it for me that day. Sorted. The camera was a $100 dollar jobbie, purchased in an emergency situation when I was on holiday and my other one broke. Its lasted a couple of years and it was far from brilliant, so I guess its just time to replace it. That might have to wait a while. The computer is another story. This is the second time it has broken in its lifetime. It’s a big whopper Mac tower, and weighs a ton, so taking it to the shop isn’t fun. Last time its emergency switch thingie was tripping and the computer kept freezing and the fan going onto full speed. Sounded like it was going to take off. They weren’t sure what was wrong with it. They noticed one of the boards inside wasn’t quite sitting in the right place so it could have been that, or it might be some ridiculously expensive thing that basically means you might as well buy another computer. So this time, it was on, I walked out of the room, and when I came back in it was off. Pushing the on button only makes a light flash at me to tease me before it says ‘Nope, sorry luv’ and turns back off.
I guess this can go two ways. I take it in, they fix it, I pay some annoying but affordable amount, life goes on. Or, I could take it in, they tell me its going to cost big bucks. Then I have options. Do I A: Fix it, B: Get my data off it if possible and buy another one, C: Get a mini laptop like this one I am borrowing off a friend in the meantime, D: don’t get one at all.
In simplifying my life, one thing that I have never considered doing without is a computer. The amount of invaluable information available at your fingertips is just too good to give up, and this little episode still hasn’t made me think for a moment that I don’t need one. But ithas made me wonder if right now I need internet at home. I pay around $90 a month for 3 gig of internet surfing and my home phone. My phone doesn’t ring, so I only ever ring out. I have considered dropping the phone out, but the options of internet only aren’t very good, you either pay the same anyway or get a lot less data for not a lot less money.
The options are – surf the net at work after hours. While this is not strictly prohibited, I think I would be stretching the limits of ‘reasonable personal use’. Also a lot of sites are blocked at work for security. Another option is to get a laptop with a wireless modem and go and sit in a café with wi-fi or go hang out in Parnell – the whole area has free wi-fi, but it’s a fair way away from my house. The problem is that its just not that convenient, and convenience is part of the appeal. If I suddenly decide I want to bake a fancy cake, I wont be able to look up a recipe. But for a saving of $90 a month, is that a small price to pay? Perhaps I should just be a bit more organized. Do all my googling and blogging in a burst. I’m going to have to think more about this. Lets see what happens with the computer first.
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