I’ve enjoyed my 23” All in One Desktop computer in recent years. It’s been my friend through thick and thin. And then ominous warnings and messages started to appear. Not from the computer which was operating, thankfully, perfectly, but from Microsoft on the end of support for Windows 7.
Things were going to get dicey.
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Several years ago my computer guy moved to Florida. I was without tech support. I signed up with Dell for their Concierge Service, but it was less than ideal. The language barrier was severe at times. Sometimes I couldn’t understand the tech, other times the tech couldn’t understand me. Thankfully, I didn’t need them in the last 4 years although I continued to subscribe to the service.
A new computer, however, presented other challenges to someone of no only my age, but someone with a technology black thumb. Ultimately, though advice give on DK, I decided to purchase a computer at Best Buy and use their Geek Squad.
Yes, I paid more than I usually did for a computer and the in-home service was pricey, but worth it in the end. I got a laptop (first time!) and it’s a bit confusing. The keyboard is totally different — more like chicklets than typewriter keys and the layout is different. In fact, I just found the delete and insert keys today after about a week of looking.
I had a mouse installed because that finger poking rectangle thing below the keyboard has me flummoxed. At times I’ve inadvertently hit it while typing and have to relocate the cursor that, it seems, took a vacation. I have a touchscreen which might come in handy at times, but I’ve been a “mouse girl” since the 90s so I don’t imagine relying on the touchscreen very much. Cutting and pasting, like for Top Comments, seems impossible with the Finger Poking Rectangle. For this, the mouse is my friend,
I wasn’t sure what would happen if I didn’t turn the thing off and just closed the lid. The tech explained that this was fine — it just put the laptop to sleep. With the solid state drive, she said, I don’t have to turn the laptop off unless I want to. Just like my old desktop, it’s on all the time in case I need it.
Solid state drive, 12G RAM, backlit keyboard and it sounded great to me. The decrease in screen size, even on a 17” laptop, is a pain even with an increase in the display to 125%. I have a cataract that’s blurring the vision in my right eye, so the difference is quite apparent.
I write this as a warning: I might be posting a question or 2 in the comments in the future asking what are likely stupid questions. I’ll rely on those with more experience and knowledge to get me through the whole new laptop user time. Please pass by with my apologies if you prefer not to respond. I’ll try to not be a pain in the ass.
The battery only seems to last about 2 hours so I might invest in an additional power cable to use in the living room. Somehow I thought a laptop battery lasted longer. Perhaps having multiple windows going limits the time, but I’m new to all of this.
I’m hoping that I’ll love this new Windows 10 laptop once I’m used to all the changes in the keyboard and Windows 10, all that’s different, all that needs to be learned, and all the stuff I can’t do anymore like I could on my old Windows 7 friend.
I seriously miss my decades old friends Windows Media Player and Internet Explorer. Edge is the new Microsoft browser and while it’s kind of similar to IE, it’s different. I still haven’t found where to delete the cache (on IE t was a simple click on Internet Options and another on the drop down menu). When I listen to the BradCast now, it opens in a full browser window rather than the tiny little Windows Media Player. Seems like a waste to me.
I have to get used to not having the titles of my web pages sitting on the bottom of the screen to be quickly clicked on to go right there. It’s going to take longer to compile Top Comments as a result. Now I have to click for a preview screen and select where to go. I just found Spell Check (it used to be the Windows button, but now it’s a right click on the mouse). Hooray for finding some.
I need a tutorial. Badly. Hopefully, all will go smoothly after the grumble time is over.
Anyway, thanks for coming. And now, for what you really came for: Top Comments, Top Mojo, and Top Pictures.