Originally published January 24, 2020
Computers have been such a huge part of my life for a long time. I have owned at least one computer of some kind for 17 or 18 years straight now, longer than some computer using kids have been alive, and I've used them for over 20 years counting the times I used my parents' computers. I have a long history with them, and there were definitely some ups and downs.
Unfortunately, I haven't had the best luck with computers in my life. My first two computers went kaput on me. I don't remember how, but my dad and I tried our very best to fix them so I could continue using them, but to no avail. I lost count of the amount of times we went to Best Buy and had their Geek Squad try to fix them. They each lasted 2-3 years. Each time, I would lose all of my saved documents, files, and games. Fortunately, nothing was that important, but it still was depressing to lose all those things and never be able to have access to them again. However, my third computer is still running today. I got it somewhere between 2007 and 2008 because it has Vista on it (still), and I know I haven't gotten a new one in the last decade. So it's going on 11 or 12 years, doubling the combined run of my previous two personal computers. I call it the little desktop that could.
However, my current PC is having its issues. At first, it seemed to have a small virus on it that caused internet browser windows to pop-up, even when I wasn't using it. I would sometimes come back to my computer and see 40-50+ tabs open on a browser of the same website. It was also being much slower than normal. It was at this point I stopped using it for a while and got myself a laptop, thinking the end was near for it.
Speaking of laptops, I have to go back a bit, because I got my first one as a graduation from high school present. I used that in college a bit and it really came in handy. However, one day after I had already graduated from college, I tried booting it up again, but it wouldn't boot. I was told its battery was fried and replacing it would cost almost as much as a new laptop. I just decided to scrap it and recycle it, having gotten use out of it and because I wasn't using it that much anymore. I then went laptop-less for several years.
After purchasing a new laptop just over a year ago, I just couldn't quite get it running smoothly for whatever reason. I wasn't a huge fan of the laptop in general. I bought it because Amazon recommended it, it got good reviews, and it was a decent price. Oddly, I think my over decade old desktop computer runs a little quicker than my year old laptop. Fortunately, the laptop was not too expensive like I said, so I guess I got what I paid for. I still use it on occasion to this day (for example if I want to be on a computer and watch TV at the same time), but not as often as my desktop computer. For me, I feel more comfortable on a desktop and probably always will.
I was finally able to fix my desktop after running a few anti-virus scans and removing some programs that may have been causing or contributing to it. However, not too long after fixing that, it started having other issues. My computer will randomly crash or freeze from time to time. I get the blue screen of death some of those times. It has on occasion lost its ability to display anything at random times. It acted as if my computer monitor went into sleep mode. I know it was not the monitor, because I once attempted to shut it down using just a keyboard sequence I had written down, and it didn't work. Often force shutting my computer down won't fix it and the display will still not show up when I boot it back up, forcing me to wait several days to use my computer again, which then "fixes" it. And again, my computer still freezes on occasion. And each time that happens, I worry that it might be the time that it is fatal to my PC. I have put all of my important files on my Google Drive and I routinely update them on there in case that ever happens. ☹
I am considering getting a new desktop computer, mainly because it's been so long since I have upgraded (and I feel this one is on its last limbs). One of the main reasons I haven't yet is because I have a bunch of older computer games from the early to mid 2000's that I am almost positive won't work on a newer PC. These games have a special place in my heart because I have played them since my very first computer, and I'd hate it if I could never play them again. I may be able to hold on to my old PC so I could play those games in the future if need be. Just hook it back up like an old video game console. Another reason I haven't gotten a new one is because of the cost, of course. And thirdly because it's hard to make a change of something I've been used to for over a decade. I'm just now getting accustomed to Windows 10 thanks to my laptop and work computers, because I am still so used to Windows Vista.
Funnily enough, the computers that have broken or crashed on me were all Hewlett Packard brand. My first two PCs and my first laptop were all HP. My current PC is a Gateway and my current laptop is an Acer. I just did not have luck with HP brand computers, although I loved their features and I loved them when they were working. After my first PC was an HP, I got used to owning only HP computers. I probably would've continued with HP despite the problems I had with them, but at the time the Gateway PC was the only replacement option the retailer had. That ended up being a blessing in disguise as that Gateway is still with me over a decade later and I like it more than the HP's.
My favorite feature I have ever had on a computer was the ability to watch and record live TV on it. Through a TV coaxial cable connection to my PC, I was able to do just that and watch TV through "Windows Media Center". I could use a remote or my keyboard to go through channels. Of course, I loved recording TV shows on that and watching them later and being able to fast forward through commercials. Unfortunately once cable was upgraded from analog to digital, I was no longer able to do this, but I still have fond memories of that. As a kid, I never thought I'd be able to watch TV through my PC, but I did.
To sum up, right now I have an over decade old desktop computer and a year old laptop that doesn't run as fast as it should. I am probably moving in a little less than 6 months, so I will try to wait until I get settled at my new place before buying a new desktop PC. As for my laptop, I may look into why it's being slow. It's not because I instantly downloaded a lot of games and programs on it. Perhaps I just need to use it more. I have loved computers since preteen me sat down at one and was able to use it. I remember the old dial-up internet days and the days of MSN/AOL instant messenger. At one point, when tablets were first introduced, I thought desktop computers might be going away, but I now realize that was naive of me to think that. Perhaps in home environments we may see less desktop computing, but they will constantly and for the foreseeable future be a part of the workplace.
Update: My laptop seems to be running better as of late, although I'm still not using it that often. As for my desktop, I've basically stopped using it. It hasn't frozen in a while, but unfortunately I am getting some display issues. The screen will have static over white areas, and it's a bit hard on the eyes. I am not sure if it's the monitor or the desktop, and frankly, I don't know which I'd prefer it to be. I might have to check the connection with the monitor's cable, or maybe see if I can hook up the monitor to anything else. I've only been on my computer once this year so far, and that was to get a few files off of it that I needed.
I also found out that a couple of my favorite computer games were on Steam. These two games are each over 15 years old. I saw they were on an incredible sale, and I paid about $5 total to get those two games on my laptop. Even though I already own those games, Steam makes it possible to play older games on newer PCs.
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