The Gray Monk

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January 24, 2005

Changing systems

The Monk has finally got around to upgrading his computer. The original, bought in 1999, had 6.4 Gig of harddisc, 64 Meg of RAM and a processor rated at 415 Mhz. State of the art at the time and, with Windows 98 Second Edition (and all the hiccoughs that can produce), it has certainly, for the most part, served me well. We'll draw a veil over the hard drive that seized up in the first year and the hassle that caused - although, to be fair, the supplier replaced it under guarantee and the replacement is still doing just fine!

What occassioned the change was the fact that, for work purposes, the Monk needed to install some new software and upgrade his internet service and system. Oh dear, first problem - not enough RAM for the programme needed and then - AaaaaaaaaaaaaargH! Not enough RAM to upgrade the internet service either! So, examine all the options, bearing in mind that the Monk had already installed a CD Writer to compliment the CD Reader that came with the computer, and done one or two other upgrades to make it work a little more efficiently.

What to choose? Strong recommendations from a party named Ozguru to go to Mac. Being already aware of the problems and potential problems with PC and Microslosh, this was a serious consideration, BUT, would a Mac be compatible with work, would it run the programmes the Monk needed, and how compatible would they be if the Monk needed to install some sort of "translation" package. Bear in mind that the Monk is not, never has been, and never will be - a computer guru! He knows how to turn it on, use certain programmes, and when it fails to start - calls IT! So, it was off to see the computer shops and see what was available within a very strict budget!

Mac's looked good. Mac's looked very, very good. The Monk was leaning towards a Mac and had actually figured out how to get one to do what he wanted it to do. An hour on a demo setup at the computer shop was almsot enough to convince him. Right! Armed with a newfound confidence and a lot of technical information (loads of helpful info sheets and so on) it's off to consult a few of my colleagues and the IT Department. Deflation, depression, and the slowly dawning realisation that it would need a bit more than the Monk thought to marry up a Mac at home with the software he uses at work and vice versa. So, where to next?

Internet search! Difficult to believe what is available out there - in strictly hardware terms, you lot! - but eventually the Monk found what looked like a good package, right software, operating system OK, right hardware, and so on. Consult sales and find out a bit more. Double check specs discussed with IT and other colleagues and place order. Bank manager has a heart attack, but is recovering well, substitute manager smiles maniacally and agrees the Monk can afford it. OK, now to wait for the delivery.

It arrives, but, guess what? Always read the small print, especially the print that's not there. Having bought the XP Pro package, one would assume that it has things like Word 2000 included. One would be wrong! So a few more hard earned pounds change hands and bingo, the Microslosh Office Package arrives with the missing bits of software. Are we in business yet? Nope, now the Monk can't load the software for his cameras - they are older than Windows XP and it won't allow anything to load which is not "signed" for XP. Well, that is a problem which can be cured, but requires a lot more leg work (at least one of the cameras is no longer in production) but, it's not insurmountable. Next problem, transfering the addressbook for the Monk's e-mail. Complicated by the fact that the Monk has had enough of AOHell and is changing his ISP. AOHell won't allow you to print the addressbook, copy the addressbook, or save it to anything else. It even hides it within the programme so you can't search for it or even see it unless you are using AOHell and writing e-mail.

Oh the joys of modern computers and the programmes that beset us! The new one has more Gigabytes of harddrive than the Monk knows what to do with, a full Gigahertz of processor, and a Gigabyte of RAM! It screams along and the Monk still hunts and pecks with two fingers.

Anyway, the new computer is now (mostly) up and running. The cameras still don't work, the printer isn't connected yet, and the scanner isn't sure it wants to be. But the Monk's new Braodband connection is fully operational. The computer is that much faster than the old one that the Monk is feeling decidedly outclassed. All it needs is that nice Star Trek voice (or the Babylon 5 one) and the ability to simply tell it what the Monk wants it to do. But the Monk supposes that won't be on Microslosh - and probably not on his budget either.

So, new kit, new system, new problems to resolve. The Monk perseverse, constantly amazed at how much he has managed to teach himself since the first time he sat down with an Amstrad 1640 and the manual! The computer has come a long way since then - that first one only had 8 KILObytes of RAM and the hard drive had a total of 16 MEGAbytes of space! The only problem is that they are getting faster but not much smarter - it is still only as good as the person operating it!

Perhaps the likes of Ozguru and other computer boffins will find a way soon to make them smarter. At about that point I think the Monk will retreat into his Abbey, take quill in hand, and stay there!

Posted by The Gray Monk at January 24, 2005 04:29 PM

Comments

Posted by: Ian Hutch at January 25, 2005 10:08 PM

Posted by: The Gray Monk at January 26, 2005 01:08 AM

Posted by: nbc at January 26, 2005 05:35 PM