Cyber Culture SHOCK - The new Computer

Well, Hal is really mad at me.  HAL2004 that is. Actually HAL is an HPa730n.  I got him in June of 2004.  The timing couldn't have been better as technology went from using words like Mega to Giga.  Now the new guy (I think I'll call him "Mitt") can do anything and uses the word "Tera".  But as you can read in my bio snippet; I suffer from abandonment syndrome.  Seriously.  My mom died when I was 11, my father when I was 20.  So my relationship with HAL was almost as long as my mother and similar in many ways.  When I was 8 my mom just sort of left parenting and got more drawn into the world of alcohol.  As Mitt becomes the new #3 hitter in the line up, HAL will probably take a seat on the bench getting a pinch hit every now and then. 

Setting up a new system is suppose to be fun.  I find it annoying.  After 8 years of loyal service, I have to learn a new way to do the same things all over again.  Simple things like changing the desk top design will take you 5 minutes the first time on Windows 7.  The sad part is, by the time I get comfortable with my desktop, I hear the next version of Windows does away with the desktop. Oy....

But 8 years is a great run for modern technology.  My first system had windows 98.  It barely made it 4.5 years. What happens is; when programs or games come out, they're built with tons of new stuff that requires a greater amount of memory or speed.  I was forced out of my first system because I couldn't run NHL 05 on it. The upgrade to XP was not very hard at all.  They left most of the stuff alone.  Then when IE 7 came out with Tab browsing, it took many by surprise but after you got use to it, most of the complaining seemed useless.

From everything I've seen so far, the new system seems vastly faster and bigger(memory) than Hal.  I'm a little worried that it came with a Mayan calendar.  And hey, my warranty runs out on 12/21/2012..... WTF?

I know the time will come when I'll have to send Hal to the minor leagues or give him his outright release.  Once I get this new transfer cable, Hal will just be eating up electricity.  When you think about it, after 8 years with one computer, you get use to it.  You've customized it the way you want it.  It's like a 32 Ford Coup in antique black.  The only problem is they changed the gas and it only gets 5 miles to the gallon now.  Unfortunately, It's not a piece you want to display in a curio cabinet.  You're going to put it in the garage one day, but you probably won't take it out on Sunday drives. 

It's sad. I'm just glad I don't have to take it down to the vet to have it put to sleep, ya know?

Ace out......