Incoming rant: be prepared to duck.
Why can’t they make computers that will last? Okay, fine, my desktop is four years old, and my son Chris is on it all the time. Almost. Today it started acting up. It has some sort of bug going on – whether it’s a virus or the hard drive is failing (which I think is the case) I’m not sure. But for an Autistic kid to deal with it’s the end of the world. I’ve spent most of this morning trying to fix the computer while Chris sits beside me beating his head with his fists and yelling.
All this after Alex came home yesterday to an infected laptop. Thank goodness I have Kaspersky on his machine – it cleaned it up quite well, though it took almost two hours to do it. It would work even better if it didn’t give him the choice when it detected an attack to go ahead and trust the virus or get out while the getting is good. He’s a very trusting little guy.
But it’s not only that the technology we use is so delicate which has me upset. Alex’s school has a great new program in which they’re using iPads to carry around in the community so they can communicate with hearing people. Wonderful, right? It would be if the school didn’t expect me to buy him an iPad. And I thought the expense of indoor shoes was bad enough!
And now Chris is asking me for a new computer. What I need is a car. A real one – not the 1993 puddle-jumping Tempo I inherited from my mother when the doctor took her license away in February. Wait, did I say technology? I suppose even the Flintstones thought their “cars” were technology. Anyway, the Tempo has taken to stalling every time I stop now… which I suppose is better than when it was zooming through stop signs no matter how hard I pressed on the brake.
Ugh!
End rant.
Seriously, I detest whining. I just had to get that off my chest. Thanks for reading.
Pingback: Your technology is so last year | Mindful Digressions
September 1, 2014 at 8:28 am
Hi Linda – I’m sending you the ‘virtual’ luck of the Irish, so I hope that works 😉 You are perfectly entitled to rant about things that are just plain WRONG! I agree with the others, this ‘planned obsolescence’ thing is a joke. Computers & laptops only seem to last around four years. I watched a documentary about it once where the manufacturers of an inkjet printer had fitted it with a chip that would cause it to stop working after a certain number of pages. ‘Just buy a new one’ seems to be the mantra nowadays, as the cost of repair always seems astronomical in comparison. Hang on, am I ranting too? Sorry :)))
LikeLike
September 2, 2014 at 7:35 pm
Haha! That’s okay. It’s a rantworthy subject if my comments are any indication.
Thanks for your support, Evie. 🙂
LikeLike
September 1, 2014 at 4:29 am
Computers. Ugh.
But seriously? Expecting everyone to buy their kids Ipads? That’s…kinda bizarre. You’d have thought the school would would think to have some kind of fund in place if they were going to pull something like that :/.
LikeLike
September 2, 2014 at 7:34 pm
Right? It’s not even a private school! Thanks for the support. 🙂
LikeLike
September 1, 2014 at 12:03 am
Reblogged this on Rick McBee's Writings and commented:
I tend to agree with the rant, especially since I could still use my old Apple Macintosh if somebody had just figured out how to make the new memory chip fit into the slot. What a great machine.- black and white, not pop-up ads, no stereo music, no blogging… Humm, Perhaps there are a few things I do appreciate about the new system. Well, I sympathize with you anyway. Good luck on the new computer and in learning a new system. It keeps us young.
LikeLike
August 31, 2014 at 11:16 pm
Technology is such a double-edge sword. Some days I want to get away from it, but others, I want to wrap my hands around it and hug as hard as I can. But you know what? Life was way, way better back in the 80’s when we reached for the phone to make conversation–at least there was a voice. Nowadays, it’s either a beep, tweet or bop that sounds in the background at all hours telling us someone’s thinking about us. Like I said, the 80’s were better. And cars? don’t get me started. A sledgehammer comes to mind. 😉 Here’s to hoping for you to have better days ahead. 😉
LikeLike
September 2, 2014 at 7:28 pm
Thanks, Jack. I agree – the personal touch just isn’t there anymore.
LikeLike
August 31, 2014 at 11:15 pm
Wow! That does suck! I wish I could make it better!!!
LikeLike
September 2, 2014 at 7:27 pm
Thanks for the support. 🙂
LikeLike
August 31, 2014 at 4:00 pm
Rant away! Computers and cars are essential, it seems, in our lives. As you know, I’ve had computer problems for a awhile now, and it is only a couple of years old. I deeply sympathize with your problems. Saying prayers that there are answers to all of this.,
LikeLike
September 2, 2014 at 7:25 pm
Thank you so much, Patricia. Best of luck with your computer woes as well.
LikeLike
August 31, 2014 at 3:47 pm
Hugs!!
LikeLike
September 2, 2014 at 7:24 pm
Thanks, Willow 🙂
LikeLike
August 31, 2014 at 3:42 pm
Oh dear. I can relate to this rant on so many levels. What I wanted to say though was that I didn’t realise you had an autistic son. Me too. Small world it would seem.
LikeLike
September 2, 2014 at 7:24 pm
Yes, one who is severely Autistic and one who is Deaf. Makes for an interesting combination sometimes. 😛
Thanks for the support, Jade.
LikeLike
September 3, 2014 at 5:51 am
You’re welcome. It’s hard work – I know that. My son has severe autism, learning disabilities and loads of other things. Tough going. Still, we keep on going don’t we? 🙂 Good luck.
LikeLike
September 3, 2014 at 11:52 am
We do. 🙂 Good luck to you too!
LikeLike
August 31, 2014 at 3:25 pm
Ugh…the only thing worse than trying to fix a computer is doing it with a screaming child nearby who NEEDS that computer. I can’t even imagine. Hang in there, Linda. Sorry about the car too….but will say while cars are a real pain in the behind, they are alot better than carting your kids around by horse, yes?
LikeLike
September 2, 2014 at 7:23 pm
I dunno – horses last longer. Haha!
LikeLike
August 31, 2014 at 3:02 pm
I’m SO with you on this, Linda. My heart skips a beat every time my computer blinks, and it’s a fairly new HP laptop. My old dell died after four years, which is why I now have the HP. Now my printer is going wackadoodle. (The laying on of hands didn’t work.) I’m convinced Doobster is right – planned obsolescence. I feel your pain.
LikeLike
August 31, 2014 at 3:06 pm
I have all HPs and I’ve found them to be as good as anything else, and better than the cheaper brands. But there’s only so much time any of them are good for, it seems.
Someone should figure out how computers age – like dog years only for computers. 😛 Seems like it’s about 1:25. 😛
Thanks for the support, Susan. 🙂 And best of luck with your printer.
LikeLike
August 31, 2014 at 2:11 pm
There is nothing that pisses me off more than computer problems.
As for cars, well, the last one I owned (Way b4 I went to Iraq), I purchased from a pawn shop using a Discover Card, so I really cannot speak to car trouble. I don’t much care for cars; they are just a pain in the ass as far as I am concerned….
LikeLike
August 31, 2014 at 2:59 pm
Agreed – cars are a pain in the ass. Unfortunately my kids have appointments I can’t easily get to otherwise, so I’m stuck. 😛
Thanks for the commiseration, Lance. 🙂
LikeLike
August 31, 2014 at 2:07 pm
Awww…rant away! Sorry to hear that. 😦 (btw, when I click “like” here it just means “supporting the rant”…they really need a “Awww…hugs” button ! )
LikeLike
August 31, 2014 at 2:56 pm
We really do need to petition WP for a *hugs* button. It would put the site head and shoulders over facebook! 🙂
Thanks, my dear. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 31, 2014 at 2:07 pm
It does seem like computers are designed to die after 2-3 years. At the very least they become incompatible with the software. Maybe companies are more interested in power and speed than durability since breaking things gets them more money.
LikeLike
August 31, 2014 at 2:55 pm
Who knew they were in it for the money? *rolls eyes*
Thanks, Charles. 🙂
LikeLike
August 31, 2014 at 1:51 pm
Yep, no denying it, we cannot operate without our technology anymore and when it dies it is very maddening. **Hug** And good luck.
LikeLike
August 31, 2014 at 2:54 pm
Very maddening indeed. When did we become so dependent? Ugh!
Thanks for the hug and the well-wishes, Paul 🙂
LikeLike
August 31, 2014 at 1:10 pm
Sometimes a rant is necessary. It doesn’t mean you are whining.
I particularly think the part about the iPad for Alex is ridiculous. If they are going to run a “program” then they ought to find the funds to provide the tools needed for said “program.” It does sound beneficial, but come on; iPads are nowhere near inexpensive.
LikeLike
August 31, 2014 at 2:52 pm
Agreed – it is ridiculous. Sounds like fundraiser time to me. 🙂
Thanks for the support, Leigh. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 31, 2014 at 1:04 pm
They def can make em to last, they just WONT. Colleges sell theirs off for cheap when they update their comp labs so if you look real hard you might be able to find one. Mac sells refurbished stuff at a discount too.
And it sounds like a transmission problem on the tempo. /:
LikeLike
August 31, 2014 at 2:51 pm
I’ll look into what the colleges around here have to offer, thanks. 🙂
The Tempo… my best friend is a mechanic. He’s been trying to figure it out for a while without putting too much money into it. I’m afraid it’s ready for the scrap heap.
LikeLike
August 31, 2014 at 12:58 pm
Here take a hug. (you thought I was going to say margarita didn’t you?)
LikeLike
August 31, 2014 at 1:00 pm
Would it be greedy to ask for both? 😉
Thanks, John. 🙂
LikeLike
August 31, 2014 at 7:13 pm
You got both. *slosh* *hug*
LikeLike
September 2, 2014 at 7:26 pm
Yay! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 31, 2014 at 12:48 pm
My computer is pushing on 6 years. Was getting bogged down so I did a “reset.” For whatever reason the ethernet driver was not on the back up disk, so no internet. Currently my computer is just sitting there. However, usually, formatting will help clean it up. Just make sure to back up the important stuff. As for what causes bugs, how old are your boys 😉 I remember when I turned about 14 our computer always had viruses. Couldn’t figure out why…. Hope things get better!
LikeLike
August 31, 2014 at 12:55 pm
Thanks, Paul. I don’t think I need to format it – just a defrag will probably do the trick.
The PC has Kaspersky as well, though I don’t know if he’s using it. Probably not. What he’s been doing in there… I probably don’t want to know.
LikeLike
August 31, 2014 at 12:47 pm
Well I am going to give you some sympathy! That is what you need! You are an awesome Mom… give yourself a break. You can only do what you can do. I am thinking of you ❤
LikeLike
August 31, 2014 at 12:51 pm
Thank you, Colleen. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 31, 2014 at 12:46 pm
Planned obsolescence. It’s the foundation of capitalism.
LikeLike
August 31, 2014 at 12:49 pm
That’s what it is! And it sucks!
LikeLike
September 4, 2014 at 8:43 am
I believe less
in planned obsolescence and more in the fact that things are just built cheaply for the manufacturer to save money. I had an LG cell phone that lasted almost Six years, unheard of in a phone. Now I’m having to replace the AC adapter to my laptop because the plug into the computer is bent and cracked. Good luck with the car hunting. And check local businesses for used iPads they might sell. My office has a dozen sitting in the store closet from when we downsized our sales staff.
LikeLike
September 4, 2014 at 1:44 pm
I’ll check that out – thanks for the suggestion. 🙂
I had a Sony phone once – dropped it in water 3 times, dropped it on the floor constantly – it finally gave up when it broke completely apart, though when I squeezed it back together the screen still came on. I loved that phone. 😛
LikeLike
August 31, 2014 at 12:45 pm
You have every right to vent, with everything going on in your life. Blogs are great for getting it all out.
LikeLike
August 31, 2014 at 12:49 pm
Thanks, CM. I appreciate the support. 🙂
LikeLike