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January 14, 2008

Relationship troubles.

I remember it so clearly, the first time I saw it. My friend had four colours on his computer screen. Four colours! It was amazing. It was incredible! Who could have imagined such a thing? I would never look at my monochromatic monitor the same way again. Four colours were the future and what a bright, colourful future it was! I was smitten. At the time, I saw it as a revolutionary technological advance and my relationship with technology has been advancing ever since.

Tied to the wall by a little wire so I can make a telephone call? Bah! I gleefully prance about the house as I talk to people around the globe on my wireless phone.

Using a manual film camera? Bah! I revel in my ability to take hundreds of pictures of the same thing, over and over again.

Using a map and compas? Bah! I frolic through the woods with my GPS, searching for hidden treasure.

Writing with pen and paper? Bah! I develop complicated spreadsheets, type lengthy documents, and gather information from the world wide web wherever I may be on my wireless laptop computer.

Surly, the future cannot hold anything more wondrous!? (I know it can, but it's hard to imagine what technology will look like even five years from now.)

Oh, the wonderous technological advances we've seen! When technology is useful, I love it so!

Oh, the wonders of technology! When technology works, I love it so!

This week, though, I'm not very fond of technology. Not fond at all. It lets me down when I want it. It lets me down when I need it. It doesn't return my love.

This week, technology and I have had a disfunctional relationship. My laptop computer is having a tantrum and won't tell me what's wrong. I've been as patient as I can, trying to resolve some of its issues, but it just doesn't want to be helped. Everytime we resolve something, something new comes up. It's like it just wants to fight; like it wants to be left alone. So I'll leave it alone.

And then there's my camera.

We've seen some pretty amazing things together, but I can't get my camera to stay turned on. If it could speak, I know it would say, "It's not you, it's me," but I know it's my fault. It's batteries are drained and, right now, there's nothing I can do to recharge them.

My technology has abandoned me. Maybe it's all my fault. I don't know. In the meantime, I've turned to the solace of other people's computers, but it just isn't the same. It's only a fling. It doesn't mean anything. I know it's something I should probably feel guilty about, but I don't.

I've toyed with the idea of becoming technology celibate, but I can't. In today's society, it's pretty difficult to get by without it. It's everywhere. Sometimes I take a break from it, but we always get back togther in the end.

Yup. My relationship with technology will continue. I'll move on to smaller and better things. The faces will change, but from here on in, things will always feek different. I've been hurt. From now on, I won't be quite so trusting. I won't get quite so committed. A little part of me will always be thinking, one day, it'll break your heart. Because it will.

Because of my technological problems, you won't hear much from me for the rest of the week. There are some issues that I need to work out.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like it's time for a Mac.

Shockr said...

Geof: Don't get me started on convincing him to get a Mac again... Read my comment in his previous entry.

He told me it's not that he likes M$. It's because he doesn't want to learn a new OS again... excuses excuses...

Meandering Michael said...

And I don't really like their price premium and I don't really like the feel of their keyboards.

But I'm thinking about it.

Anonymous said...

The feel of their keyboards? Really?
That's one of the (many) things I love about them. You type and its so smooth and effortless, hardly makes a sound.
If its a better, stronger and happier relationship you're looking for....definetly Mac.
Chris

Shockr said...

Wow, look at the Macbook Air!
http://www.apple.com/macbookair/

It's not always about the price, but about the quality... just like your Volvo.

Besides, if you compare EXACT specs, the Macbook price difference isn't that different from a Dell or HP.

Meandering Michael said...

For the record, I didn't get the volvo for the quality. It's not actually something they're known for. I got the car for the features.

Right now, I'm undecided, but I've thrown the Panasonic Toughbook 52 into the ring.

Thanks for the suggestion, but the Macbook Air doesn't have an optical drive, which I think is just dumb. I still use/burn CDs/DVDs so that one is out of the running.

Anonymous said...

I thought this was a bit funny so I pulled up my post from another website... http://www.ehmac.ca/anything-mac/52512-how-macbook-ccmpared-pc-laptops.html

MacBook Pro's like a sleek sexy BMW or Lexus, full of power, style, handling, performance.

MacBook white's like the VW Beetle, considered cute, fun to drive around, looks pretty good, has a good bit of power as long as you're not using it to race.

MacBook black's like the Mazda 3, more aggressive than the cute Beetle, all other attributes the same although has a bit more interior space.

PC laptops are like... American cars through the 90s. Constantly breaking down, needs to be monitored constantly, screams ANTI-style, may be high performance but may not, uses a lot of gas, and eventually you'll kick yourself for getting one and opt for a better car of some sort. MBP, MB white, MB black. Take your pick.

Shockr said...

[DING!!] This is round one between the MacBook Pro (MBP) and the Panasonic Toughbook (TB)... TB throws an uppercut! MBP dodges and throws a left right and lands 2 hits into TB! TB picks up MBP and throws him over the ring. MBP gets up, a bit bruised, but still working. [DING DING DING!!] Looks like the TB is tougher than the MBP... let's see how Round 2 turns out!

[DING!!] ROUND 2! MBP throws a left jab and a right upper cut and hits TB hard again! Looks like MBP's advantage is speed and agility while TB's advantage is brute force. TB climbs up the ropes and tries to tackle MBP. MBP dodges his tackle and TB lands on the floor instead. [DING DING DING!!] Looks like MBP wins in round 2!

What happens in round 3, the final round?? You decide!