New Computer

As it's clear that my poor old machine just isn't going to last much longer, I've started moving all my files over to the external drive a friend gave us and I spent pretty much all night last night, until 1 am actually, researching computers. After a couple of hours I began to get a clearer idea of what I wanted, and once I had an idea I started doing price comparisons.

I didn't intend to get a Dell.

I'm not going to bore you with the specs, but I customized it heavily and got a computer that, on paper, is exactly what I want. That actually makes me nervous. I've never had a perfect computer before. It should last me a minimum of five years, unless tech makes even bigger advances than anyone expects. And, yeah, it's another Inspiron. The one I have worked all-out for two years running an operating system more intense than it was designed for, and I have no idea how much work it did before I got it. To say I stretched the specs of my current machine is a major understatement.

This morning, after both hubby-Eric and I had some time to sleep on it, I ordered the new computer. If I understand the shipping info correctly, it should arrive by the 10th of December. Between now and then I need to find all the software I consider essential and make sure everything I want on the new machine is copied to the external drive. For the first time ever, I'm getting a new computer before the old computer had serious harddrive problems and lost data. Also for the first time, I've got a way to get all the data from the old computer to the new one. I'll be able to use this computer a bit longer, I hope, as both a back-up and for time intensive jobs.

Despite the fact that Dell sends computers with software already installed, I intend to wipe the drive and start clean with only the stuff I want. For instance, I know AOL will be installed on the new machine, and after the troubles I had with AOL I want none of their software on my computer. I suppose I ought to go download the latest Open Office and Firefox to install on the new computer, as well.

Until I get the new computer in a couple of weeks, posting might be a bit sparse. It's very difficult to type and read on this computer. I hope to get my reviews written, but the added irritation of having to go back and re-type half my words because the keyboard is too big might delay things.