Yep, we went and did it. We made Dell happy! We bought a new personal computer. We mulled over it for weeks. The original plan was that we would get the computer as our gift to each other for Christmas. DH was pleased because he didn't have to worry about what to get me and he was FINALLY going to be able to compute when he pleased rather than the few piddly minutes I allow him. I was pleased because I would be getting a computer that could handle all my surfing, that was minus AOL and plus a cable modem.
Well, the computer came yesterday. YES!!!
The UPS man delivered the boxes. I left them in the foyer, thinking that DH would give me a hand uncrating them when he got home. About three in the afternoon I got an e-mail from his son. The computer was uncrated, and was set up in the great room on my trestle table. Would I please move the monitor to a more secure position so that the cat couldn't accidently knock it off the table??
Wow, that kid was fast. I don't think he could bear the idea of the computer sitting there....or maybe he knew I'd need a little help getting all the plugs in the right place and he did it before he had to go off to work.
Did you know that computer plugs for those of us who don't create our own computers are color coded these days? Sorta like Garanimals for kids....you match the yellow plug to the yellow receptacle...
I fixed dinner and managed to ignore the new computer until about 6:00 when DH's son returned to join us for dinner. At that point we plugged it in and I spent the evening visiting with it.
Dell does an amazing job of packaging a computer. The very first screen you see gives you the service tag number and the express service number, things you really want to know if you are a Dell user. I haven't had to use them often, but without them you are dead in the water. Then Dell provides a little tour of the computer. Of course, that tour is pretty general, but it gives you an overview of how things are set up, and someone who is addressing a computer for the first time probably will appreciate being told about the "Start" button.
We plan to hook this computer up to a cable modem. I'm quivering at the thought of being able to download something in less than an hour! We want to discuss our expectations with the kids, to be sure that we can do what we want to do, and then we will call the cable company for an appointment. I suppose it will be another two weeks before we are hooked up. I have to wait until then to post my first entry from the new computer.
Meanwhile, I plan to shift files from one computer to the other, and build my address book and favorites over at Yahoo. If you've experienced this kind of a shift and have any advice, please feel free to share it. I'd appreciate any suggestions that will make this go more smoothly.
Happy computing! :-)
Comments (7)
Hey dude....you got a DELL! :-))
Welcome to our world!
Posted by Dr. D. | April 27, 2004 8:09 PM
Posted on April 27, 2004 20:09
Fabulous news! I know that the computer cables are color coded these days, but WTH are Garanimals? Hope you have a lot of fun getting set up and that the system fulfills all of your expectations. Unless you need to know how to reformat your hard drive, there isn't much that I can tell you--LOL.
Posted by Cop Car | April 27, 2004 10:08 PM
Posted on April 27, 2004 22:08
Hey there, my very first NEW computer was a Dell, came in the mail while I was abroad, and they have NEVER done me nuthin' but good! Dude, you GOT a Dell! So will my next one be, if I can convince MY Better Half to believe I ordered it while I was drunk on the 'net, with enough on my card for a DP! Usually I pull that off pretty well, and he still loves me, but one has to be careful! Dell is great! Enjoy!
Posted by Marianne | April 28, 2004 12:23 AM
Posted on April 28, 2004 00:23
CopCar, Garanimals are animal coded clothing for kids that allows children to match up their own clothing. The clothes have little embroidered animals on them and monkey pants go with monkey tops.
Doc and Marianne, Yes....this dude got a Dell! lol We have one for our company and have really liked it. There was no question that we would go with Dell a second time. Marianne, I'm really thankful that I haven't had to use that ploy to get my computer! Instead I just point to the Dell's service record and suggest that Dear Husband will have less trouble with a Dell!
Posted by Buffy | April 28, 2004 12:30 AM
Posted on April 28, 2004 00:30
...install a firewall *before* you connect to the internet...please install a firewall...
...the only advice I have :^)...
Posted by billy | April 28, 2004 4:12 AM
Posted on April 28, 2004 04:12
Billy actually listens to me (except he forgot the part about the anti-virus software being right up there with the firewall).
Are you burning the files to CD's to transfer the info? If you don't have a CD burner, another excellent way to transfer the data is to get a Flash Drive that hooks up to the USB port and holds a lot more data than a floppy does.
Posted by bogie | April 28, 2004 8:59 AM
Posted on April 28, 2004 08:59
It seems to me that when I first discovered billy's blog he was having difficulties, and I said...I know this lady blogger who's been trying Type Pad. Maybe you need to talk to her...
And so he did. And now I'm benefiting from his experience and her advice. Thank you both!
I promise to install a firewall. I promise to complete the registration on my Norton so that we have antivirus coverage.
Bogie, we're burning files to CDs, so I have backups to store. That's easier for me than the Flash Drive. I'm not familiar with that yet.
Posted by Buffy | April 28, 2004 10:41 PM
Posted on April 28, 2004 22:41