Let me make one thing perfectly clear; I’ve been using computers every day of my working life since 1985… by my reckoning that’s 30 years. I am one of those people that others come to for computer help.
No, I’ve never been to a computer class.
No, I don’t look at manuals.
I just figure it out on my own; usually in a matter of minutes.
So, here I am on an extended road trip; my wife graciously let me take her laptop along and I am using it right now. I don’t like laptops: I never have liked laptops, because they are so hard for me to see because I have very bad vision; but OK, I’ll come up with a work around for that like I always do. Fine. I also don’t care for laptops because the guy who invented them forgot that you need a mouse! OK, I’m all thumbs, but I’ll get used to this… I’m cool with all that.
My trusty computer back in Virginia uses Windows XP; I am very happy with XP! I also have Word 2010; I liked Windows ’07 better, but I got used to 2010; great.
This laptop has Windows whatever the newest one is, and Word whatever the newest one is… and a touch screen, and do you know what?
I can’t get it to do much of anything!!!
I’m not pleased about that!
I am attempting to upload new photos from my camera; OK what’s the deal? An operation that should require no more than 2 clicks to perform, and I’ve just spent an hour trying to figure it out and haven’t made any progress at all… I’m sorry, but that is ridiculous.
Yes, I realize that these programs are updated as technology advances, but why do they need to change the way they work for the end-user? Hey! I don’t want to hear about any technical nonsense here; I am the CUSTOMER and I am not pleased! This means that they aren’t going to sell me anything until I am pleased.
My guess is that the programmers are a bunch of 15-year-old smart aleks with a sense of humor: Oh yeah dude, let’s hide everything, that’s hilarious!
Do you have any idea how many people have told me I need to upgrade my computer? They tell me that there is all this new stuff I can’t do with my computer any more, but I’ve got news for them: I can do everything they can do on my old machine, and I can’t do diddly on this new one.
No dear reader, I’m not putting this junk on my machine, and I wouldn’t do it if they paid me!
OK, there is a lesson in all of this. For Microsoft, the lesson is this: If you send enough of your long time customers (and I mean from day 1 customers) who have spent untold thousands on your products, to the place where I am right now, you will go down in flames!
The lesson for me: Evidently the Good Lord has seen fit to provide me with a refresher course in humility and patience…
And for you, dear reader, thank you so much for bearing with me on this one; I feel much better now, and you might have saved Mrs. Don’s computer from being thrown through the window and out into the snow… and maybe my marriage in the process!
OK, I’m going to try, try again to figure this dumb thing out now… 🙂
Life Project Blog 
The XP Professional was the best platform that Windows has ever produced! Sorry to see the support go. Help me with this one. I am writing a blog. Perhaps 2-3 hours into it. Suddenly everything just disappears! Where does it go? I can never regain it and have to start all over.
This is so frustrating. Is this a WordPress problem a Windows problem or a phone line problem?
I think we’ve all had that happen, and there are a lot of variables involved. The best fix is to either compose in Word and paste it in when you are finished, or to hiIf you haven’t saved the draft, the autosaves are gone forever.
t “Save Draft” in Word Press every 10 or 15 minutes. Once you have saved a draft, then you can recover Word Press autosaves if something happens. In that case, Word Press will tell you if there is an autosave that is more recent than your last saved draft, and that will appear just above your title. Hope that helps!
Hope you’re not praying for patience, Don, you’ll only get more trouble (tribulation worketh patience)… I’ve been using computers since 1985 also, my company used to design, build and sell them before the days of computer stores. I still use Windows XP and Word 2003 because I like them. I know how to use them. “Don’t buy a Cadillac when you need a pickup truck.” Hang in there, you’ll figure it out!
No, I avoid praying for patience and wisdom; I’ve learned that the hard way!
Thanks for the laugh; I needed that!
Sounds like you need a mac. That’s what I use.
I never thought I’d say this, but I’m beginning to think the same thing
And not sure if you know, but there’s a program called Parallels (there are others like it, too). It will allow you to run windows-only programs. It would require you to have a copy windows, so it’s not the cheapest option. But it’s a solution if you ever make the jump. Good luck, Don!
Interesting; I’ll remember that if (and when) my regular computer dies. Thanks Joe!
I can completely relate to what you are going through! I had to buy a new laptop and it came with Windows 8 on it. I really, really don’t like it. I don’t own a smart phone, my cell phone is a basic cell (which means it includes a camera and texting). I am not up on all the “aps”. My 22 year old thinks I live in the dark ages and I try and explain to him that my fondest memories was NOT knowing who was calling me on my corded house phone!
I grew up with an IBMer Dad so I pretty much learned to type before I could write and we always had computers in the house. I knew DOS and remember playing Kings Quest where you had to type your commands into the game. But these aps? I’m lost.
I miss XP~
Right there with ya! 🙂
I’m reasonably “old school” wiv pooters as well, having used DOS; then what was that very old Windows thing> was it 3.1 or 3.11? Than I had ’95; XP; Vista, which I adored, then Win7, and now I’ve nosedived into Windows 8.1, and love it to bits! It’s so much easier for me on this one, and the layout is superb.
Need a nudge as to how to cope? Gimme an email. You on 8.1?
Oh, I bypassed the Microsoft Word thing altogether and am now using WordPerfect, which I began with, many years ago. It’s all much of a muchness, though. Do get in touch if I can be of help.
God’s love to you, Don. Take care, mate 🙂
So you it then? Amazing, because I’ve gone from sheer frustration to completely loathing it since I wrote this post! Urgh!
I went to “photos” and found the import feature, and lo and behold it saw the photos on my camera! Yippee! Then I hit import and it told me that my pictures cannot be imported, and like everything else in this wonderful system, now I can’t get away from it to try again (maybe I did something wrong)
Now I know why my wife keeps restarting all the time… But she is more patient with computers than I am; I’m having bad thoughts about the company, like did they decide to make existing equipment incompatible so they could sell more software to camera manufacturers? I don’t know, but I’m sure suspecting it pretty strongly. 🙂
That’s very interesting. I haven’t tried me camera out yet, Don. I’m gonna have a look. My Sony camera can be a bit difficult like that, as it seems to store files in more than one place. I’ll have a look tonight. See if I can come up with anything. Didja use File Explorer to upload? That’s where I would go. Use the camera as if it was a hard drive.
That’s where I started, once I figured out where it was hiding. I could see the camera, but nothing that was on it. Maybe that was caused by incompatibility, but photos could read the files… just not import them. Go figure?
I believe, any computer should read any camera, unless some sort of software for an older OS was installed on the camera! But you should be able to open files (photos) via File Explorer, rather than using a piece of software. In File Explorer, the folders should reveal everything that’s installed on the cam.
Just had a bath. I promise to look here tonight, see what I can get off me Sony 🙂 I’ve never tried it on this new laptop. Yeah, I have one o’them, too! I love mine, haha 🙂
Please forgive any typo’s. Just scribbled this lot without wearin’ me glasses.
LOL
That’s what I have always thought. I’m looking for one of those “duh!” moments!
Well, ‘ang about, I’ll be posting a blog, shortly. I’ve got the Sony uploading now. Took a coupla tweaks to get it going, but I’m gonna start a Tech blog and write it all up in a bit 🙂 It’s actually simplicity itself with this particular lappy, as it came with a bit of bloatware I decided to keep. But I am using File Explorer to do the uploads.
It should be simplicity, it always has been simplicity, but now? On this end anyway…?
My experience matches yours, except that I’m not the “go to” guy on computers. Each new iteration of Windows and Office seems less functional and less intuitive.
It’s not just laptops, though I agree that as pointing tools touch screens are useless.
I agree.. although with the touchscreen, I will probably like it when I’ve used it a little more; we’re getting along much better now 🙂
i just purchased an iMac OS – X. Didn;t get along with it well at all. Sent it back. Bought a new pc with Windows 8.1. No one likes a new platform, Pray that I will learn to use it.
larry
Very true 🙂
I accidentally changed the theme on my blog the other day when I was setting up a new blog. I wasn’t able to find the old theme and lost my comments for awhile so I was extremely stressed. Meanwhile, my husband is talking to me about the cricket…
Grrr! 🙂
Wow! So many comments! That’s because we all recognize and feel your pain! Computers can certainly be useful, but they are at times the main source of my need for patience and self control. Lately, my laptop has been hacked, the IT department had to nuke said laptop and wipe it clean of everything to start all over again with it, my online program for my students is ridiculously complicated, it seems like someone also hacked into my online program’s site and now after updating itself, itunes on my brand new desk top only emits a grating static noise. We can’t throw them out the window because too much of our lives are on them! However, at the moment the thought of seeing my computer sailing out the window is quite gratifying. So, after all of that, I’m just praying that the Lord, who understands all of the lunacy behind computers, can sort out this mess and make it useful again.
Well said! 🙂
Wish I could help you out! I’m a computer dummy here unless it is really simple. Thank God for my son and my granddaughters! I’m not sure I ever want to upgrade to the newest Windows version. My sister just did and it is driving her nuts. Like you, she has been using computers for a very long time and in fact was the office manager for the IT dept of her city before she retired. She jokingly says that apparently her computer smarts retired also! lol
I know the feeling 🙂