Buying a New Computer 1991
This article was written when I bought the very first computer — now I have a new laptop and could write a similar article about it!
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My life has been changed forever. I never thought I’d need one, and I certainly never thought I’d want one. Nevertheless, we are now the proud (?) owners of a PC (personal computer). Both our girls work with computers every day and they thought we would enjoy having one, as well as profit from it. “After all, Mother, you are a columnist and all writers now use computers,” one of those educated females said.
The old typewriter, which I used often, was worn out so we started looking around at computers — knowing nothing about what we were doing. Beth had done some research for us, as to kinds, price, etc. Everywhere we went to look, we heard a new language – “computerese.”
The first place we looked seriously was at an Albertville establishment that handled PCs and we looked at a Tandy. Well the young whippersnapper, who stood there and asked, “Can I help you?” had no time for us. He apparently was in a bad mood and he had no business trying to “wait on the public” with his attitude. he was terse, curt and extremely impatient with these two computer-ignorant senior citizens — and we ere prepared to purchase his high-tech machine. The crowning blow came when the smart aleck salesman said to me, “Madam, are you looking for a toy?” Madam? Following a few short words, John and I exited the store! John has always said, “As long as I have the money in my pocket, I’m the boss.” We stopped to eat and the more we talked about this incident, the madder I got. I called back to talk to this man’s boss. Would you believe he is the boss and the owner? How times have changed! Whatever happened to “the customer is always right” philosophy?
We met Beth one Friday and made our purchase — still knowing little about what we were doing. She came that week end and set it all up and had it operating by the time Donna arrived. Here I was sitting in front of this magic machine (MM), with zero knowledge and both my girls standing there — one on my and one on my left — each saying,”Mother, do so and so.” Being head of a credit department, Beth knows more about spread-sheets and being a data analyst, Donna knows more about data base. The Packard Bell Computer really had a workout, but nothing to compare to the one I got that weekend.
We’ve had the “gadget” for two weeks now and some things are being remembered, but I wonder why whoever came up with this machine doesn’t speak like we do. To “default” on a loan means one does not pay, but in “computerese” it means the reverse. This machine has a “menu” board. I thought when you ordered from a menu, you got something to eat — not so here. I’ve “filed” some things in the MM that I cannot “call up.” Guess they are gone forever — of course, I can’t remember what it was anyway. I do get so frustrated trying to operate the thing. It doesn’t do what I want it to do, It does what it’s programmed to do, if I could only learn what that is! I thought I was a busy person prior to the MM, but it takes hours and hours of trial and error to learn. Keep in touch. You’ll hear more about my MM, I’m sure. Now this really is a different kind of country living.