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Up To Here
Oct. 19th, 2007 11:49 pmI have HAD IT with my computer.
I am soliciting suggestions for what I should replace it with. I run mostly Word and Firefox, plus occasionally Outlook and PaintShop Pro . That's pretty much it. I don't use my computer to play games, nor do I use it watch movies aside from the occasional YouTube video. I keep the sound muted by default and turn it on when there's something I want to listen to. I want it to do a bunch of very simple tasks quickly and efficiently and as invisibly as possible.
I have heard a number of horror stories about consumer-level Dell customer support, though I suspect things are just as miserably awful at Gateway, etc.
Are there any features I wouldn't necessarily find on a cheap computer that I should pay extra for? Is there something that's currently a luxurious extra but will be required for basic functionality in 18 months? (My current computer, for example, has USB ports but they're vintage USB ports rather than USB2. My lack of USB2 was a serious pain in the ass within a short period of buying this computer.)
The fancy luxury I'm tempted by are those widescreen monitors that you can flip 90 degrees to become tallscreen monitors, but I'm concerned about establishing poor ergonomic habits. (Admittedly, I am slouching right now, so maybe I should say, I'm concerned about establishing EVEN WORSE ergonomic habits.)
I am leaning towards not getting a laptop. I have only rarely taken my computer out of its docking station, because I can't stand typing on a laptop keyboard or using the eraser-head pointer thingie, so I have to take along enough accessories to work elsewhere that it's just not worth the hassle. Although, there have been just enough times that I've really needed one that I'm hesitant to ditch the option of portability. (I did some of my final editing on Freedom's Apprentice while sitting outside a campground laundry, on vacation. I wasn't thrilled about having to work while on vacation, but I had an imminent deadline.)
Suggestions? Advice?
I am soliciting suggestions for what I should replace it with. I run mostly Word and Firefox, plus occasionally Outlook and PaintShop Pro . That's pretty much it. I don't use my computer to play games, nor do I use it watch movies aside from the occasional YouTube video. I keep the sound muted by default and turn it on when there's something I want to listen to. I want it to do a bunch of very simple tasks quickly and efficiently and as invisibly as possible.
I have heard a number of horror stories about consumer-level Dell customer support, though I suspect things are just as miserably awful at Gateway, etc.
Are there any features I wouldn't necessarily find on a cheap computer that I should pay extra for? Is there something that's currently a luxurious extra but will be required for basic functionality in 18 months? (My current computer, for example, has USB ports but they're vintage USB ports rather than USB2. My lack of USB2 was a serious pain in the ass within a short period of buying this computer.)
The fancy luxury I'm tempted by are those widescreen monitors that you can flip 90 degrees to become tallscreen monitors, but I'm concerned about establishing poor ergonomic habits. (Admittedly, I am slouching right now, so maybe I should say, I'm concerned about establishing EVEN WORSE ergonomic habits.)
I am leaning towards not getting a laptop. I have only rarely taken my computer out of its docking station, because I can't stand typing on a laptop keyboard or using the eraser-head pointer thingie, so I have to take along enough accessories to work elsewhere that it's just not worth the hassle. Although, there have been just enough times that I've really needed one that I'm hesitant to ditch the option of portability. (I did some of my final editing on Freedom's Apprentice while sitting outside a campground laundry, on vacation. I wasn't thrilled about having to work while on vacation, but I had an imminent deadline.)
Suggestions? Advice?
