I hate computers.

[jaeclectic]

As you may well have heard me winge before: my computer at home has been in a bad state for a while. Bad as in: every time I rebooted, I got the blue screen of death and had to reinstall the C drive from backup. Said bad state having come to pass because I needed to install some new software, and was required to install a $MS service pack, and something is just not compatible with something, and I really needed to upgrade the operating system because I was still running W2K Pro which is now old enough that I can't expect the programs that claim compabilitity with it to really have been tested...

But I've been dragging my heels, with a circular debate in my head something like: upgrading the operating system will be almost as much hassle as setting up a new computer, I should just buy a new computer. But how much money should I spend? Should I get another PC or a Mac? Maybe I should get a low-end Mac AND and a cheap PC to hedge my bets. Maybe I should get a Mac and keep this PC, if I can keep it limping along. But then I'd really need to upgrade the operating system...

Anyway, my anti-virus subscription ran out, so I needed to do something. And decided, OK, if I'm in the middle of all this potential real estate acquisition-of-vast-debt stuff, maybe I should just forget a new computer purchase. So I spent 200$ buying XP Pro and another 70$ buying the latest version of the Symantec programs I've been running and then proceeded into a cycle of, not necessarily in exact order because I can't even remember anymore:

install OS, initially everything seems fine
start installing new semantec software
something goes wrong
blue screen of death
reboot
finish installing semantec software
anti-virus definitions won't update
message saying program needs to be re-installed
attempt reinstall, get message saying program must be uninstalled first
uninstall fails, find instructions on internet, spend quality time in regedit
uninstall every single piece of semantec software, reboot
reboot just hangs up
power down, reboot
reboot hangs up in a different place
power down, reboot
OK, it worked this time, reinstall first piece of semantec software, reboot
anti-virus definitions still won't update
another internet search, find missing component, install
reboot
finally have active anti-virus, woo hoo!
install other piece of semantec software, reboot
notice that backup software which I thought was in the bundle is missing
(saga continues)

At which point I think to myself: This is my weekend. I am supposed to be relaxing. And instead I am totally frustated and mad at the world.

*sigh*

Comments

The solution is easy.

[anaguma.livejournal.com]

Get a Mac. You won't regret it. This huge list of crap you've had to deal with? Gone. Symantec? What's that? Virus software? Oh, we don't need that over here. Spyware? Malware? Pshaw.

That's one of the nice things about using Apple products. We don't hardly ever waste time fixing things. Our computers let us get things done. :)

If you ever want advice, pointers, software, etc., just let me know. I'd be happy to take you on a field trip to the local Apple store.