Help! I'm in the 2 steps forward, 1 step backward phase of upgrading my computer and cellphone. The phone is a hand me down and I learned today that the battery is going and can't be replaced (thanks Apple for a poor design decision) so I have to decide if I am will to go with a 2 year AT&T contract to get a $0.99 iPhone4. Sigh. Then I can get on with learning how to use it. How does one buy an app anyway? Do you have to sign into iTunes first? I need a tutorial.
Then there is my new computer. The old one died completely as the motherboard gave out after 10 years. The new Dell one is fine but they forgot to ship the keycode for Office so I sit here with a computer and internet access but no Office software. They agreed to send a new keycode but it hasn't arrived yet. Then I have to learn Windows 7 and Office 2013. More tutorials please.
I also get to buy a hard drive box, take the old hard drive out of the old computer, figure out how to hook it up as an external hard drive and then transfer all of my files. Fortunately all but about the last 6 weeks worth of changes are also backed up on a thumb drive. Oh, I also need to download the programs I had installed like Picasa and Savings Bond Wizard and my geneology software which I just learned is being discontinued so I have to pick a new one. Cue head banging about now.
I do believe that being a beginner is a good learning exercise for the brain but this is a lot of pain. And yes I know that if I wouldn't wait so long to upgrade my technology it wouldn't be so hard. But here I am with decisions and learning curves I'd rather not deal with at all.
I did get gently lectured by my son that if I would sign up for the free Lockbox online backup this would all be easier. The same if I switched to gmail instead of comcast downloading into Outlook. I may well do all of those things but I want my old information back from the old computer first!
One little step at a time. Today's was going to my appointment at the Apple Store (who knew you needed an appointment!) to confirm the phone battery was the problem. Now I am hanging out hoping FedEx shows up with the info needed to install Office. And I am celebrating having internet access again while the dog sleeps in my lap.
Isn't technology fun! I'm sure you'll have no trouble with Windows 7 and the new Office. They are upgrades, after all, and not new products. It's awesome that you got your old computer to last 10 years!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the vote of confidence! I understand now that I was lucky to get 10 years out of the old comuputer that our son built from parts when he was in college.
DeleteJuhli, are you sure your phone battery can't be replaced? Have you searched online? We recently lost the battery in our three year old basic phone, and didn't even bother asking Verizon, since we know darn well they don't stock for their own merchandise so you're forced to upgrade, and found what we needed online at for about $4.00. It arrived within three days after we placed our order.
ReplyDeleteI searched online using the SKU and model numbers I found on the battery in our other, matching phone.
Thanks for the suggestion but apparently Apple choose to make replacing the battery in the iPhone 3Gs almost, if not actually, impossible. The online reviews and results of people doing it themselves are mixed. Later model iPhones can have the battery replaced easily.
DeleteWell try this first before you give up entirely - www.newegg.com.
Delete