*stands up and clears throat*

My name is Kelli.

And I have a problem.

I have an attachment to my computer. And I don’t just mean I’m attached to computers in general (though that is also true), no I am attached to MY computer. I’ve had it for quite a long time. It started out as the family computer, and we all shared it. It originally ran windows ‘98, and I’m pretty sure it was around ‘98 when we got it. Eventually that computer was replaced, and I was loaned the older one. The windows ‘98 was upgraded to XP somewhere along the line, and as the computer needed other upgrades and changes, those changes were made. For example, I at one point had to put in USB 2.0 ports for something, so I did that. Yes, I know it’s outdated. Yes, I know computers don’t even come with floppy drives any more. And it’s true that the memory on my computer is a joke when you compare it to the memory you can get on newer computers. But I’m still attached to it. It’s a bit like a person who has an old car. It’s true that it may make some noises here and there, and it may not be as fast as the other cars, but people become attached to their cars anyway. They know what all the different noises mean, and even though that ‘check engine’ light is always on, they know that there’s nothing really wrong.

I feel like I am the same way with the computer. Yeah, I have to be careful and take extra precautions that normal computer using people don’t really have to take, but I know what those precautions are. For example, I have to be careful with the amount of software that is installed, and every now and again I have to sort through any gigantic Photoshop files I have. But is that really such a hard thing to do? I don’t feel like it is. It’s like on cold winter days, you know you have to give that old car an extra five minutes to warm up because if you don’t it will stall out. What’s an extra five minutes? I’m proud to say that it’s been a few years since I’ve had this computer crash. Back when it was shared by five people, it was sort of a regular thing, and when I first got it and knew nothing about it, it crashed from time to time then too (check my old journal entries where I rant about it ^_^). But now, I know how to take care of it (more or less), and it doesn’t crash, and it runs OK, which is fine by me.

It’s true that all good things must come to an end, and I know that. I only expect this computer to get me through to graduation, and a little bit after while I save up for a really nice new computer. If it can do that, then I’ll be fine. Plus, I do have access to/ I work in a nice graphic design lab while I’m at school, so I’m covered as far as necessary software goes. My computer allows me to write papers, go online, and do things in Photoshop (it’s 7.0, but let’s be honest, it’s really not that much different than the CS versions). I’m happy with what it can do, and on some occasions it even surprises me by doing things that a much newer computer (a.k.a. a nice laptop that was purchased over the summer) cant do.

Recently I’ve had two different IT people basically tell me that the system I have is garbage, worthless, a piece of crap, shouldn’t even be functioning, and a laugh riot. I don’t care much for this ‘out with the old and in with the new’ attitude. This computer is perfectly fine for my needs, and until the day when it fails to boot up, I’m hanging on to it. Not to mention, I would feel really guilty accepting anything better (which both IT guys tried to do) given my current crappy budget (or lack thereof), though that is an entirely different issue all together.

Anyhoo, I have difficulty explaining why I love this computer so much, when I’m put on the spot, so I tried to put it down in a journal entry. I guess there’s not too much else to say except that a part of me is embedded into this computer (as corny as it may sound), I know the ins and outs of it, and I honestly will be a little bit sad the day it is replaced.