Tag Archives: computer

Finally Finishing An Upgrade (or I Almost Forgot I Needed To Do This)

Posted on May 25, 2022 | Comments Off on Finally Finishing An Upgrade (or I Almost Forgot I Needed To Do This)

I bought my new computer a while ago. I really needed it when I got it and I quickly got all the things I knew I would need set up so I could start working from it. Fortunately, a lot of my information migrated to the new computer right away because of iCloud, so I didn’t have to worry about transferring things like my photos or music. But there were plenty of things I knew I would need to manually move to the new computer that weren’t needed for work so I figured I could wait a bit on doing it.

But because the timing of getting the new computer was also while I was busy packing up my old place and getting ready to move, doing the rest of the data transfer wasn’t something I thought about a lot. When I was packing up my computers, I knew I would need to do that so I was reminded about it about a month ago. But it wasn’t something I felt a push to do until the other day.

I needed something that I knew was on the old computer that I hadn’t transferred over yet. The original way I was going to do the transfer of data was something that I couldn’t do while I worked, so I needed to look up another way I could do it so I could get it done quickly and not have to wait. I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before, but I realized I could AirDrop the files and folders I needed to move from the old computer to the new one. So I finally turned the old computer back on (which ended up being a bit of an ordeal because of how bad the old computer was) and pulled everything I would need to transfer so I could quickly do it during my lunch break.

Doing the data transfer over AirDrop was ridiculously easy and I almost laugh about how long I had been putting this off. And because most things had already been transferred over through the cloud, it was only a small handful of things I needed to deal with. They were pretty big files, which is why I was putting it off (otherwise, I would have just done it by emailing them to myself), but each thing I moved over took only seconds to be done.

I feel pretty certain that I’ve gotten everything off of the old computer by now, but I’m still going to think about things for a bit before I wipe the old machine. I also don’t really have plans to try to sell the old one since the keyboard is broken, so I’m not in a rush to get rid of it. I might wipe it and then hold on to it a bit longer. I don’t want to store something I don’t need, but for some reason, I feel like I’m not totally done with making sure I have everything transferred. But that’s why I’m not wiping the machine yet. Hopefully, by the time I’m ready to do that, I will feel better about getting rid of it and I can see what options I have for it. Maybe I can sell it super cheap because someone could fix the keyboard and make it work. Or someone might want it for other parts. I’m not sure what could be done with it, but I also am not the sort of person who looks online for old computers for any reason.

And even though I transferred everything left over from the old computer, I do want to go through some of the folders because I’m certain I have things in them that I don’t need. If I haven’t needed them in the past month or so, I probably don’t need to keep them taking up space. But I also don’t have a rush to get through that since the new computer has significantly more storage so I’m not desperate for more space. I guess I need to do a similar clean-out that I did in my move and see what I really need and what I was just holding on to. But at least everything is probably in one place now so I can take my time going through it all.

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My New Computer Is A Game-Changer (or The Stress Of Buying Was Worth It)

Posted on March 17, 2022 | Comments Off on My New Computer Is A Game-Changer (or The Stress Of Buying Was Worth It)

When I ordered my new computer, it was both a thought-out and rash decision. I had planned on buying a new computer for a while, but I had been putting it off for a variety of reasons. And the reason I finally went for it was a sudden decision when I was fed up with some recurring issues I was having with my old computer. I still planned out the purchase and made sure I was getting the right machine, but from the time I decided I was finally going to buy the new computer to pressing purchase online was within an hour. I usually don’t do purchases like that so quickly, but since I already had a good idea of what I would be getting it was still something that felt like a very quick purchase.

Because I was customizing a few things for the new computer, I couldn’t go to a store and just pick it up. Plus, I wasn’t really wanting to go to the Apple Store or the mall. So having it shipped to me was what I was planning on doing no matter what. And while I was antsy to get the new computer and really fed up with the issues with my old one, I didn’t want to pay more to have expedited shipping. I got a shipping estimate and it was going to take a few weeks, and I just accepted that I would have to wait a few weeks longer.

So I was very surprised when it actually arrived almost a week and a half sooner than expected! I immediately started trying to set it up, but since I was also working I had a bit of a crazy setup on my desk using one computer for work and setting up the other.

I got a lot of things set up quickly for the new computer so I was able to spend most of the workday that it arrived working on it. And there were other things I couldn’t shift from one computer to another during work because I needed both computers to be off. But even with the limited stuff I had on the new computer, it was such a game-changer using it. Obviously, having a working keyboard is huge and makes things so much easier on me. I can type quickly again, although not quite as fast as I used to since it is a slightly different keyboard. But I’m sure I’ll be used to it soon. And the new computer is so fast and can do the work I need to do without a lot of delays. Since I have to multitask even if I’m just working one of my jobs, not having delays is so nice since I can actually get through each thing without sitting and waiting for the computer to catch up.

Even though I had a chance to finish doing some of the updates to my new computer after work or another day, I still haven’t done it. I will do it soon, but I’m looking at this time similar to my move. I know I had a lot of stuff on my old computer that I really don’t need. I’m seeing what I actually want to move to the new computer and what was just taking up space and I wasn’t thinking about it. I do have things I need to transfer over that I don’t use that often just because I need to have them, but I’m not in a big rush to do that. I also don’t know what I want to do with the old computer since it does have a broken keyboard. I haven’t looked into selling it to see what I could get and I don’t have anyone in mind that I would want to give it to.

And yes, I am thinking it was silly how long I waited for a new computer because having the new one has really made my life easier. But it’s always tough when I have to spend a lot of money and it is stressful. But it really is worth it and I’m so happy that at least for the next few years, I shouldn’t have any more computer issues. And then when I do, I’ll be buying another one and probably dealing with the same stress I had this time.

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Being Pushed Into Splurging On Myself (or Time For A New Computer)

Posted on March 3, 2022 | Comments Off on Being Pushed Into Splurging On Myself (or Time For A New Computer)

It feels like it wasn’t that long ago that I was buying a new laptop. But it was about 5 1/2 years ago now that I bought the laptop I have now. And I use it a lot every day. I work my jobs from my computer, and that can require having a lot of different windows open at once. I know I could probably do things on two screens to be a little less hectic, but I’ve gotten used to how I do things.

But as we all know, technology doesn’t last forever. And my laptop has been having issues for a little while now. It started with a few software issues, but everything was something I could find a way to work around. It might involve a few extra steps to do things like using my printer, but it wasn’t that bad and I could manage it. Then, the keys on my keyboard started to break. It’s been almost a year since I started having keyboard issues, but most of them were able to be fixed. But I couldn’t fix everything so there are 2 keys that are not technically attached anymore but I can still type if I’m careful. I also have a second keyboard I can use as a backup, but I prefer not to use it. And for the past few weeks, my computer has started to freeze as I work. I know it’s a memory issue and I’m trying to do too much. But I also need to do all of that in order to work.

I had told myself originally that I was going to get a new laptop when they were released. But when the new MacBook Pros came out, it was while I was in the middle of a lot of stuff with the condo and my focus wasn’t on spending money on other things. And the past few months, I have just told myself I would get a new laptop soon, but I could keep waiting on it. But this week, things started to get really bad with my computer freezing and how often I had to restart things. So I had to just accept the fact that I needed to spend some money to fix this.

Fortunately, I had the money saved for a new laptop so I had the luxury of being able to do this. Computers are not cheap, but I do get a lot of use out of them and I know having a computer that isn’t having all these issues will make my life easier. I did ask a few friends who work with Apple or in technology to make sure I was picking the best laptop for my needs. I had one friend recommend upgrading one thing since I work so much on my computer, but I was pretty close with what I was thinking I would buy. And earlier this week, I bought my new laptop.

Because I am upgrading the base laptop, I can’t just go to the store to buy it. I ordered it online and will be having it shipped to my house. It is nice that I work from home and it will be easy for me to make sure I’m here when it’s delivered since I will need to sign for it. I could have picked it up in the store after it was ready, but the pickup date was later than the delivery options and I would prefer not to have to go to a shopping center if I can help it.

It will be delivered in about 2-3 weeks (according to the timeline right now) and I know I will still have to deal with the issues with my current laptop until it’s here. But I do feel better knowing that I will be using technology that works very soon. And I think it will be nice to have it all set up before I move because I don’t need to add any additional stress to moving and I know I will have to figure out setting up things in my new place quickly so I can work.

Yes, this is a big splurge and it’s expensive, but I know it will be worth it. And if you break down the cost with how long I typically keep my laptops, it’s cheaper per month than a lot of streaming services that I use. So it’s just the shock of the upfront cost that is making me feel a bit anxious. But I know that once it’s here and I’m using a super fast computer, I will feel so much better about this and I will probably not think much about how much I just spent on a single purchase.

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Putting Off A Planned Purchase (or I Don’t Know Why I’m Waiting)

Posted on December 23, 2021 | Comments Off on Putting Off A Planned Purchase (or I Don’t Know Why I’m Waiting)

I’ve been saying I wanted to get a new computer for several months now. And there are a few reasons why I want to do this. First, my computer is starting to really slow down and have trouble with all the different things I need to do for work. It’s not a super old computer, but it’s 6 years old which isn’t that new either. And I know I probably use my computer more than many people, so getting a new one every 5-6 years doesn’t seem too bad to me.

Also, my keyboard is really starting to break. I have needed to replace multiple keys so far. I’m glad I found a site I can order new keys from and it’s not too expensive, but spending $20 for each key replacement adds up when you replace a lot of them. Right now, I have 4 keys that are broken and aren’t fully attached to my computer. I do have an external keyboard I can use when it’s really bad, but it’s not my favorite and I’m not used to typing on it so I have a lot of errors.

If things weren’t running slowly and if my keyboard was fully functional, I still might be looking at getting a new computer for an upgrade, but I think I would be less serious about it than I am now. I was waiting for the newest computers to come out before buying one, and the most recent MacBook Pros did come out earlier this year. I was slowly saving up money from each paycheck so I would have the money to buy it when I was ready, and I do have the money now. But for some reason, I’ve been very hesitant to go and get it.

I think some of my hesitation is about going to the store to get a new computer. I’m still avoiding most stores and public places to stay safe and I know this time of year the Apple store would be very crowded. I do know that there is an option to ship a computer to me, but for some reason I keep telling myself that I will just go to the store so that would be faster. But if I had ordered it online when I originally thought that, I would have had the computer several weeks ago. Also, even though things aren’t great with my computer, they aren’t horrible either. I could wait a bit longer and just push through the issues I’ve been having. But there is no reason for me to do that to myself.

But I think one of the biggest reasons I’m hesitating is because it is a lot of money and I am worried to spend it if I might need it for something else. For a while, I had money in a savings account that felt like a bit of security for me. If for some reason I lost my job or had a crazy expense, that money was my cushion to be ok. But I put all that money into the condo, so I don’t have that anymore. I know I need to redo my budget and make a new plan to start building up some emergency savings, but I wanted to wait until I was moved into the condo so I didn’t have double the expenses. But maybe for peace of mind, I just need to do it so I can feel ok about spending money on what is honestly a business expense for me.

I do know I need to get a new computer soon, and I know I will buy it in the somewhat near future. I just don’t know exactly when I’ll be doing it because I want to feel better about spending that money before I do it. But I also know that when I do and I have the new computer at home, it’s going to be awesome and I’ll probably be wondering why I didn’t do it sooner.

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More Tech Issues (or This Was Typed On A Phone)

Posted on May 18, 2021 | Comments Off on More Tech Issues (or This Was Typed On A Phone)

I remember when I got my current computer. I was so excited to finally have an upgraded computer, especially since I was working from home at that point. And that computer has been amazing, but lately it’s starting to have some issues.

None of these issues have been that bad. Some things are slower than I’d like. Some pages I use for work aren’t as efficient as they used to be. I know that many people use computers for a long time, but I’m at 4 1/2 years with this computer which isn’t that long but I do use it a lot. So I have toyed with the idea of maybe upgrading my computer in the next year or two. But I didn’t have any set plans for a new one. I figured I would casually do research and see what would be best. I pretty much know what I would get, but there are options too.

I’ve noticed recently that there have been issues with my keyboard. Some of the keys weren’t reacting the same way they used to. My trackpad was getting sticky. Nothing horrible, but with the amount of typing I do, it was noticeable.

Then, some of the keys fell off my keyboard. It was the top of the keys, but it appears the bracket that holds the keys down is what broke. It almost looks like they snapped in half but are still connected. And of course, the first thing I did was do a search online to see if I could fix this. And while there are fixes, because my computer isn’t under AppleCare anymore, it’s not cheap. And most of the fixes require me to give my computer to a shop for several days. If it was cheap to do it, I could probably figure out how to take time off work to make it work. But it will be pricey to fix the keyboard and the computer was already having other issues. So I’m not going to fix it.

What I did decide to do is order a keyboard I can use with my laptop. I’m hoping the one I ordered will work, but I can always return it and try a different one if I have to. And while this won’t fix everything, I just need to make this work until I get a new computer. I also am using my phone for a lot more than normal until the keyboard arrives.

The newest MacBook Pros are supposed to come out later this year. While I would prefer to have time to save money and not feel rushed for needing to make a purchase, I’ll probably buy one pretty quickly unless I discover that using the external keyboard is a solution I really like. Maybe I’ll enjoy having the setup that way. You never know.

Hopefully this is the end of my computer issues until I am able to go out and buy a new one. I don’t always have the best luck with all my technology, but maybe this is the end of the bad luck with my laptop.

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Trying To Prevent Zoom Fatigue (or Not Sure If This Is A Pandemic Problem Or Not)

Posted on September 4, 2020 | Comments Off on Trying To Prevent Zoom Fatigue (or Not Sure If This Is A Pandemic Problem Or Not)

When the pandemic started, so many aspects of life changed quickly. Not all the changes were things that were unfamiliar to us, they might have just been slight changes to things we are used to. For example, standing in line at a grocery store is a change, but not a drastic change. Same with trying to only go to the grocery store once a week (I guess there are some people that always did that, but I wasn’t one of them). Those little changes were odd, but not things that threw me off too much. I might have had a bit more stress and felt panicky over things, but there was enough familiar with it that I felt better. I’m sure a lot of people had to adjust to working from home, but that was the easiest thing for me since I always worked from home. But for my friends who never did, they still had enough familiar things that it didn’t feel that different.

But then there were a lot of things that we never used or didn’t use that often that are now things we use a lot. Netflix Party did exist as a browser extension before the pandemic, but I never used it until we were all isolated. Now, it’s a weekly part of my life and I love it! I can see myself using this for a long time, even after the pandemic is over. And I have only seen Netflix Party as a positive thing. I guess there is a negative with not being able to watch on my tv and having to use my computer, but that’s not a huge negative to me.

And while I have used different forms of video chat in the past, I have never used it as much as I am right now. It is funny how Zoom became the default video chat service when there are so many others that have been used before. But Zoom is now almost the generic name for doing a video chat, no matter what the platform is (Zoom is like Xerox now). I know I’m not on Zoom calls as often as many people are, but I’m on them at least once or twice a week. And honestly, being on video calls that often does stress me out a bit. I have no clue how my friends who work 9-5 jobs that have to be on Zoom calls the entire time do it.

A friend of mine who was posting about Zoom fatigue (which is a real thing) was explaining why Zoom calls are so much more exhausting than in-person meetings. When you are on a Zoom call, you have no clue if someone is watching you. You don’t know if someone has their screen in speaker view or gallery view. You don’t know if they are focusing on your video or someone else’s. And always feeling like you might be watched but never knowing is so tiring and a big reason behind Zoom fatigue.

For a long time, I have covered up my webcam. I do this for a few reasons. I don’t want to accidentally turn on my webcam if I don’t want to be on video. I know that some people can hack into them (although I do have security measures on my wifi, you never know), and covering my webcam was something I saw in paperwork for my business insurance. I used to just use a little piece of a post-it note to cover it. I never really used my webcam so the post-it was on there for a long time. And if I did use my webcam, I would just cut down a new piece to replace it. Before the pandemic, I think I would use my webcam maybe once every 2-3 months.

But now, I use it all the time. And I wanted to be able to cover my webcam for the security measures that I was worried about before but I also wanted to cover it for Zoom calls. I know you can turn off video on Zoom, but if I’m going to be jumping in and out as a speaker in a call, it’s just easier for me to cover my camera and not to turn it on and off a lot. So I started looking into better ways to cover the camera than a piece of paper. And fortunately, my search was over almost as soon as it started when I saw there was a cheap and simple solution.

I didn’t realize that webcam slide covers were common and popular. On Amazon, there are dozens of listings for them. And they are pretty much all the same. The differences seem to be either if they are black versus color or how many sliders are in a package. I picked one that had a few sliders in it in case I made a mistake putting it on my laptop or if I ever had to take it off and put a new one on. But so far, I have only needed to use one of them. It was super easy to put on my computer and it doesn’t affect being able to close my laptop or anything else.

So now, when I’m on Zoom calls and don’t want to be watched (like if I’m eating or moving around my house), I can just put the slider over my camera and my screen on Zoom is dark. I’m still listed as a video call, but you don’t see any video. It’s such a simple solution for this problem and I’ve found that it makes my Zoom calls much easier to tolerate. I don’t feel like I’m being watched or that someone is judging me when I’m not the speaker. I feel like I have a bit more privacy while on calls. And it does all the security protections that I had with a post-it note but is much easier to use.

I have no clue if Zoom calls will be this popular for longer than the pandemic, but I know that I’ll be dealing with them for a long time. So I’m glad I have something I can use to try to keep Zoom fatigue to a minimum.

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A New Computer (or Out With The Old And In With The New)

Posted on December 27, 2016 | 1 comment

I’ve been writing about wanting to get a new computer for a pretty long time (my computer frustrations have been happening almost as long as I’ve had this blog). And the day that the new MacBook Pros were announced, I knew that I’d be getting one. I didn’t have the money at the time of the announcement, but I knew that between what I was able to save and the check I was going to get from my grandma for Hanukkah that I would have enough. So I immediately started to plan for the new computer.

The first thing I had to figure out was which one I was going to get. I knew I’d do the smaller size since I do like to bring my computer with me when I travel or to different events. And since the Touch Bar was the new thing they were introducing with the MacBook Pro, I figured I should splurge on that as well. And because the main problem I had with my old computer was that I ran out of storage space, I wanted to max out on storage (the maximum was going to be 4 times what I had on my current computer).

Since I wanted to upgrade the storage, I wasn’t totally sure that I would be able to just go to the Apple Store and get my new computer. So I sent a quick text to a friend who works at the Apple Store to find out. And since I was doing this the day they announced the new computers, I started my text with “don’t worry, I’m not asking you for a discount on the new MacBook Pro”. My friend answered my question (I would have to order it online), but then he also offered to let me use his friends and family discount! I wasn’t expecting that at all, but since it is a better discount than my educational one, I was so grateful that he was going to let me do that.

It ended up being an easy enough process to order the computer once I had the money together  (I was on the phone with my friend while he was online typing in the information) and according to my order it would be arriving at the Apple Store the first week of January. So I figured that I would spend most of December preparing my old computer to transfer my data over and that in January I’d be able to get everything set up super quickly.

Of course, I didn’t get time in December to work on the transfer stuff and then this past week I got a message that my computer was ready to pick up at the store! I couldn’t go the day it arrived so I planned on going to the Apple Store in the late afternoon on Christmas Eve (when I had free time). I knew the store would be insane, but it would be ok.

Then, on Christmas Eve I logged into work only to find out that we were given the day off! I still had other obligations in the afternoon, but since I didn’t have to work I had 3 hours free and figured it would be the perfect time to get to the Apple Store and deal with the crowds. But I discovered that 8am (when they opened) at the Apple Store on Christmas Eve is pretty empty! There were maybe 20 employees there and only 3 customers if you include me. And since all they had to do was go into the back and grab my laptop, it was a pretty speedy process.

Once I got my computer home and unpacked it, I was shocked at how thin and light it was! It feels like a kiddie toy compared to my old one! And when I set the computers up side by side (to help make sure I’m transferring all that I need to), the size difference was really obvious.

I’ll eventually get a protective case for the new computer once they start making them since it makes it easier to travel with the computer and it makes it stand out more when I’m in a room where a ton of people have the same computer. And I managed to spend some time over the weekend and the beginning of the week getting stuff transferred over to the new one (I’m typing this on the new computer). My game plan is to try to work on the new computer with the old one nearby in case I figure out something that I need that I didn’t transfer yet. And once I feel comfortable enough with the new computer only, I’ll wipe my old computer clean so it can go to its new home (a friend of mine will be buying it from me).

While it would have been nice to have a new computer sooner, I’m so glad I finally could get a new one! I’m still getting used to things so it feels a bit weird to work on it, but I know that this is going to make my life easier. It will be much faster to work on it, especially at the box office job where I need dozens of windows open at once to work. And I’m hoping that this will also make my blogging better as well (I can start doing more stuff with my blog that the old computer couldn’t handle).

I know I’m incredibly lucky that I got money that helped me pay for this. The fact that I got it on Christmas Eve and the first night of Hanukkah really made it the perfect gift! And I’m so grateful to my friend who let me use his discount. The money I saved helped to pay for unexpected expenses I had recently (like the new power steering I had to get for my car).

My old computer made it about 7 years, so here’s to making this computer last for the next 7!

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Splurging On Technology (or I Guess I Had To Get A New Phone)

Posted on October 11, 2016 | Comments Off on Splurging On Technology (or I Guess I Had To Get A New Phone)

I’ve written recently about how my phone had been dying. When I wrote that post, my phone was lasting between 3-6 hours in a charge and I was finding tricks to make that ok with me. I had no plans on getting a new phone, mainly because I hate the new giant phones and I didn’t want something that wouldn’t be easy for me to use.

When I went to Tahoe, my phone got even worse. The battery was lasting maybe an hour if I was lucky. I was carrying 2 external batteries with me and I was charging my phone every chance I had (thankfully my mom has a charger in her car). Again, I was really not wanting to get a new phone, but I was starting to realize that I probably had to take some of my savings to invest in a new one.

I started to do some research on iPhones and discovered that there was a lower version of them called the SE. Basically, it is the same technical stuff as the 6S, but it is the small size like my 5S. It’s not the latest and greatest phone, but that was ok with me. Usually I only want to get the newest stuff since technology becomes outdated quickly, but I was willing to change it up for the phone. Plus, the lower version phone was half the cost of the new ones and that was worth it to me.

When I got home from Tahoe, I had a few more days before I had a free afternoon to get a new phone. My phone was getting worse and worse and by the time I was off to get my new phone, my old one could almost not hold a charge unless it was plugged in.

Getting the new phone was a bit of a bigger ordeal than I thought it would be. I really thought I would go to the Verizon store, get my phone, pay, and be done with it. But there were issues with my account that had to be figured out first. Then there was a lot of confusion about what I was paying for (they kept telling me the accessory bundle was included with my new phone, but to them included meant I pay for it with the phone). And after a few hours at the store, they finally said they didn’t have the phone I wanted there and sent me to another store to buy it (not sure why they didn’t do that sooner).

I drove over to the other store in rush hour traffic, but fortunately the other store had my new phone waiting for me. I stayed in the new store to make sure my backup from my old phone made it to my new phone and after several hours, I was finally on my way back home to play with my new phone.

Even though this was an expense I wasn’t really ready for, it ended up being worth it. I do a lot of day job work on my phone, so I need to have a working phone. And having a new phone is pretty nice. Things are working better and faster. And this new phone has significantly more storage on it so I’m not always deleting stuff to find room on my phone for what I need.

I’m still going to be waiting for the new MacBook Pro to be released before I make that splurge. My computer isn’t dying like how my phone was. If I had to make it another 6 months with my computer, I think it would be tough but doable. But at least now I know when I get the new computer that I have a phone that will be able to work very nicely with it.

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Looking Forward To Some Big Spending (or Needing New Technology)

Posted on September 30, 2016 | Comments Off on Looking Forward To Some Big Spending (or Needing New Technology)

I’ve written before about how I really need a new computer soon. This realization hit me hard when the new iPhone came out. I discovered that the new iPhone (at least the most expensive one) has more storage on it than I do on my computer. The fact that a phone could have more room on in than my computer is sad and a sign that I’m getting desperate.

I’m still waiting on the announcement of the new MacBook Pro. I’m not going to buy an old computer which is my only option now. So I have to wait until whenever Apple decides to release a new one and I’m sure that there will be an insanely high demand for it so I will possibly have to wait before I can get my hands on one. I’m still hoping that a new computer will be released in the next few months because there are more and more projects I want to work on that will require a better and faster computer that has more storage than what I have now.

When the new iPhone came out, I thought that maybe I’d look into it since my phone has been acting a bit off lately. Nothing was too bad but I’ve had this phone for 3 years (sadly, that’s pretty long in iPhone life) and it was something I was thinking about. I was hoping the new iPhone would be a smaller size (like my 5s), but the new ones are still pretty big and I don’t really love them. Plus, since next year will be the 10th anniversary of the introduction of the iPhone, everyone is saying that one will be a huge overhaul compared to what we have now.

A few days after the new phone was released, my phone started acting up more. Now, I have an average battery life of 3-6 hours (that’s with only using it for maybe 1 hour total). The standby time on my phone should be much longer than that and it’s pretty bad. My phone battery will show that it is at 70% and a second later it goes down to 1% and shuts down. This isn’t the end of the world, but it is an inconvenience. I have one external battery that gets me a full charge on my phone, but I just bought another external battery that should get me 2 full charges. I’m also looking into battery replacement as a possible fix.

I also have an older iPad that has not been able to upgraded to a new operating system in a while (I think I’m using an iOS that is 2 or 3 versions ago). But I’m totally fine with my iPad for what I use it for right now so I’m not too worried about it.

I’m aware that I probably sound really spoiled and should be happy with the technology I have now since it is more than what many people have. And I am so grateful for everything I have and in no way am upset that I don’t have the latest and greatest. I don’t care for the best, I just want stuff that works.

If my phone was able to hold a charge for more than 6 hours on standby, I’d have no concerns and would probably keep the phone for another year or more. If my computer wasn’t flipping out on me on an almost daily basis, I would keep it because I love my computer. It’s just that technology doesn’t last forever and it seems like all of my stuff has decided to reach the end of its life at the same time. I’ve got the money saved up for a new computer and I’m ready to spend it the second I can on the new one when it is released.

I’m not sure I’m totally ready to spend money on a new phone (nor do I have that money really available to me right now), but I’m realizing that it is time to start saving for that and for possibly a new iPad. I don’t love the idea that I’ll potentially be spending a ton of money on new things when I know that any money I save for them should really be going toward paying down my debt. But I guess this is what I get for working from my phone and computer and needing everything to work in order to be paid.

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Hoping To Fix My Computer (or Can The New MacBook Pros Please Come Out Soon?)

Posted on May 20, 2016 | 1 comment

This is totally not the post I was planning on writing for today. I’ll write about what I was going to write about next week, but today’s post is all about my computer frustrations.

My laptop is my life. I run multiple jobs off of it, I run my blog off of it, and I do most of my online work on it. It’s really that important to me and I need it to work the way it should work. I understand I do a ton of multi-tasking (when I’m working I must have about a dozen windows open), but it should work just fine. But my laptop is also 6 years old. That’s not a horribly old laptop, but when you do as much work on it as I do every year counts. I try to stretch the lifespan of my technology as long as I can, but there are limits.

Over a year ago, I ran out of storage on my laptop. The new models have a baseline of twice the storage I have now, so clearly I don’t have that much space on my computer. I’ve gotten rid of as much as I can (all my old blog posts that are freelance articles are deleted and no movies are actually stored on my laptop), but I’m still down to less than 10GB of storage left. I’ve tried to find more and more to delete, but I’m pretty limited in what I can get rid of and still be able to work.

I also can’t upgrade my operating system because of the lack of storage, so not everything is running as smoothly as it should. My computer can be very slow and laggy at times, especially while I working. It’s so annoying to always have to tell customers on the phone that they have to hold while a website loads on my computer.

Obviously, the clear answer to my problems is to get a new laptop. And that’s totally my plan. I have enough money for a new one (thanks to all the money I saved for my taxes that I didn’t end up needing) and I pretty much know exactly what I’m going to get. I want another MacBook Pro and I’ll be upgrading the storage and memory (which will be quadruple what I have now) so the new laptop lasts me at least another 6 years.

The only problem is that the most recent MacBook Pro was released about a year ago. They are no longer current machines and a new one is supposed to be released really soon. But really soon is a pretty open-ended phrase. I thought they would be released before the holidays last year. Then I thought they’d be released in April. Now the rumor is they will be released in June.

I don’t know how much longer I can wait on getting a new laptop. My current one with no storage is getting to the point where it isn’t very functional for me. It would be a perfect machine for someone who doesn’t have several thousand photos that they keep on it. And I’m hoping a friend will buy the old machine from me when I get the new one because it really is a great laptop for someone who doesn’t have the same storage needs as me.

But for now, I’m dealing with a pretty glitchy set up. And last night, because somehow 4,000 of my photos disappeared, I spent my night watching my computer restore itself to an old backup in the hopes that whatever happened will be fixed.

Computer Restore

I will probably be jumping for joy the day the new MacBook Pros are announced and will be ordering one the second I’m able to. I can’t wait to be impressed by how much better a new computer will be for me!

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