I’m Back After 4 Days of Computer Woes

Yeah, I’m back after major computer woes for four long days!

And guess what? I’m definitely addicted. Of course, we’re not talking about my needing those refined, culprit carbs that I so often discuss and disdain here because of the tremendous harm they can cause. No, I’m totally hooked on my computer. So it’s with great relief that I’m back!

My computer woes all began Friday afternoon sometime when my machine just went kaput. First, the screen froze. Restarting didn’t help. In fact, my computer wouldn’t turn on no matter what I tried. As if that wasn’t enough, then my broadband connection failed so that when I tried to use my Dell laptop, I could only use a laboriously slow dial-up connection. Incredibly annoying.

Thank goodness my amiable computer guy Craig was able to come over Saturday, and he then determined that my monitor had reached extinction. Now I was really bummed.

You see, this is no ordinary computer monitor. It’s a Samsung 17-inch monitor that had a built-in TV, and it had stuck by me for the last six years, while I was researching and writing SUGAR SHOCK!

In other words, while working laboriously for hours on end for SUGAR SHOCK!, doing such painstaking projects like the footnotes or proofreading, etc., I could work and play at the same time — i.e., watch TV in this little inset box and still write or edit. It was so cool!

Well, I’m a loyal sort of chick so I stood by my Samsung all weekend when the company wasn’t open, which meant I wasn’t online much. (Had lots of fun and did a considerable amount of cleaning around my place.)

So it wasn’t until today that I learned my monitor was discontinued. The replacement monitor, which also has a built-in TV, wasn’t in stock at any of the major computer stores. Then, the Samsung guy told me that fixing my monitor could take 2 weeks! Yikes! Impossible to wait that long. I have tons of work to do.

So today I bought a snazzy new 19-inch HP monitor (HP w1907). Amazing monitor — quite wide, too. Only there’s one catch: I can’t watch TV at the same time now.

Anyhow, this was a fascinating experience showing me just how dependent I am on my PC.

Good news is this: If I buy a new computer which has a video output, I can watch TV again in the corner of the screen. Well, that’s something to consider.