It's Our Money

My computer shot craps! I had one "blue screen" after another.

So I went off to see the Geeks at Best Buy and was told it would be cheaper to buy a new computer than to repair my Dell laptop, which was having "hard disk problems". I wandered around the computer department and ended up buying an Asus laptop with far larger memory and a huge hard disk that I will never be able to fill up. This laptop should also run much faster than my old one . . . and it cost so much less!


However . . . I found a few glitches: (1) Today's computers are cheaper than they used to be BECAUSE they don't come with any software like they used to, (2) Today's computers come with Windows 7 operating system which DOES NOT SUPPORT many of the programs I was running under Windows XP, and (3) it's no wonder Bill Gates has so much money to give to charity.


I had to buy new software including Microsoft Office, which includes Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint . . . even though I already had Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint on my old computer. Also I have to switch my email from Microsoft Outlook Express to Microsoft Windows Live Mail to run under Windows 7 . . . and I can't transfer any of my email address list. I have to re-enter all of them!


In addition, I need to buy upgrades for some of my other programs so they will run under Windows 7. One of those is Creative Memories which I use for loading pictures from my camera and for photo management. I ordered the upgrade which I am now waiting to come in the mail. In the meantime, I am unable to download pictures from my camera.

I haven't decided what to do with my Palm where I keep all of my addresses and schedule information including birthdays and anniversaries. Windows 7 doesn't support my Palm backup software and an upgrade is not available. If I keep my Palm, I won't be able to have it backed up on my new computer. If I decide to buy a new Palm-like device, I'll have to re-enter all of the data into a new portable device or I can re-enter everything into a new software package if I keep addresses and schedules only on the computer.

The Computer Industry has us over a barrel. No wonder Bill Gates can afford to give billions to charity. We're the ones who should get the charitable tax deductions as "It's Our Money" Bill Gates is giving away.


I'm working hard to get things transferred from my old computer and get the new one set up properly, but I'm finding Windows 7 is so much different. Until I get all of these things resolved, posting to the Blog is somewhat curtailed.


. . . and I still say, "It's Our Money", Bill Gates!