Geek-o-rama in Sensurround!!!!

I helped my mom set up her new computer on Saturday. It was an iMac, one of the big ones. Usually my older brother James help with computers, but he was on vacation and I'm not exactly helpless when it comes to computers.

Mom's old computer was one of the first G3 machines produced by Apple just as Steve Jobs waltzed back into that company. It seemed kind of cranky and sluggish for a machine that really wasn't being asked to do too much. Mom always has a way of bringing out the worst in computers I'm afraid to say. I am hoping this computer will do better for her, since her computer demands for her business have pretty much plateued. The really big screen rocks too.

I managed to convince Mom that DSL was the way to go as well. Mom has been using a guest account on AOL (Dad is the primary account) and the old versions of AOL managed to take a toll on the machine. Oddly enough, AOL stops sending you all those free disks when you are a subscriber, so there was no AOl disk lying around being used as a coaster to get Mom re-upped on her account. She said she would call Verizon on tuesday, since they had some deal for cheap, slow DSL that was about $15. I rasied an eyebrow at the price, since it seems to good to be true or long-term. We shall see where the truth lies.

When I got home after the dismal failed ride with the Philly Bike Club on Sunday, I decided that my machine was looking a bit long in the tooth as well. It has served me well, but I have been practically welding bits and peices onto it to make it work properly with modern software: Replacement Memory, external hard drive, internal harddrive, many UBS hubs, External CD burner the only thing I have not done is replace the mother board with a faster chip.

The reason for this is because the cost of doing that is high enough to be a new computer. There used to be a bunch of companies making PowerPC chip motherboards, now there is all of one. I found that the cost would be the same as buying an Mac mini.

So naturally, I made the decision to buy a Mac mini. I was hoping to wait until Apple made the switch to Intel chips. But that is some ways down the road, and as long is the switch to Intels doesn't turn into a 68K vs. PowerPC ghetto chip situation things should be fine.

Anyway, this computer has lasted nearly 5 years. The Power Computing machine I had before it (back when there were Mac clones for a short period of time) last about 5 years too. I seem to have established a pattern.

The rest of my equipment seems to feel so too. My old 17" CRT monitor died a couple of weeks ago (gee, it was only a 9 year old noname monitor, what a rip!). My all-in-one printer that I had bought only last year developed what is called a #41 error. While this machine is still under warrenty, the impression I get is that the parts may be free, but the repair labor will cost more than I paid for the thing new. I have not enjoyed certain aspects of this machine, it loves to let its inkjet clog and so paper comes out nice and blank if I have not printed in the past week or so. It usually takes 2-3 cleanings to get it proper again. I ordered an Epson printer to replace it. It too has the Scan/Print/Copy going, but lacks the fax feature. Ah well, I can fax at work if I must. Too bad that I will no longer recieve accidental Faxes to some lawyer with (bitter) witness statements. It was a soap opera there for a while.

Enough geekery! Now for those of you who are not aware of itMy Mother wrote a book! You will buy it or I will hate you. Very hard. Some of you have already bought it. Good for you.