Four days without a laptop makes one weak
By Abigail Mathias
I couldn’t bear being apart any longer. I willingly sent my laptop for repair,
knowing pretty well that I was leaving it vulnerable to outside forces. Thank
heavens it is finally back home.
My laptop is about five years old which in computer years makes it way
past its expected expiry date. It has been working decently, contrary to what
many would have me believe. Yes it is super slow, but I’ve gotten pretty
used to starting the laptop and getting myself a cup of tea (or two) before
sitting down to work.
However I was getting more and more frightened of having the laptop
collapse at the very touch of a button. A few weeks ago I hesitatingly
took it to see if there was some hope of giving the machine a facelift
of sorts. Unfortunately the laptop’s been acting up since its return.
As I type this, the text keeps shifting in between lines without warning and
certain alphabets fall off without hesitation. Arggggh! Thank heavens spell
check still works. Perhaps the laptop’s got withdrawal symptoms and is
reacting violently. I hurt its feelings by allowing an outsider to mess with its
vital organs.
The time apart has brought on a sudden odd realization - that I’m rather fond
of this piece of machinery. We all have our favourite mobiles and I-phones
which we hate to part with.
This laptop has been with me through thick and thin. It also helps me
earn my bread so I guess I’m allowed some attachment (no pun intended).
It was one of the first prized purchases my husband and I made when
we first moved to a new city and entered our first home. I remember the
painful task of standing in line to wait my turn at an internet café before
that. Freelance writing seemed more like a task than a way to earn a living.
Standing in line to pay my telephone bill was easier. Finally I could work at
my own pace. I don’t only use this laptop to merely surf the net, I also use it
as an outlet to reach the outside world through my writing. New to the city,
the whole world seemed so far away when we first arrived. The internet and
my laptop brought family members closer.
Five years later, after four days of ‘so called’ repair, the verdict
wasn’t good. “The hard disk needs to be fixed and that will cost a
lot,” said an unenthusiastic repairman. My heart sunk. It was almost
as if we were conducting a post mortem. There was faint hope now.
Sure I could go out there and buy a shiny new laptop. Given the way the
computer is behaving currently, I’m more inclined to follow the glitzy ads in
the papers promising laptops with fascinating new features. But I’m trudging
on with the ole faithful for now.
In this age of the disposable, it is almost insane for someone to fix an old
gadget. Choosing to use a laptop without the latest features is like watching
a 3D film without the glasses on. So maybe I shouldn’t hold on to what
many would consider a pre-historic piece of equipment. I guess I’m just
tripping on the fact that it has lasted this long.
Published in September 2010 edition of Bazaar Magazine
I couldn’t bear being apart any longer. I willingly sent my laptop for repair,
knowing pretty well that I was leaving it vulnerable to outside forces. Thank
heavens it is finally back home.
My laptop is about five years old which in computer years makes it way
past its expected expiry date. It has been working decently, contrary to what
many would have me believe. Yes it is super slow, but I’ve gotten pretty
used to starting the laptop and getting myself a cup of tea (or two) before
sitting down to work.
However I was getting more and more frightened of having the laptop
collapse at the very touch of a button. A few weeks ago I hesitatingly
took it to see if there was some hope of giving the machine a facelift
of sorts. Unfortunately the laptop’s been acting up since its return.
As I type this, the text keeps shifting in between lines without warning and
certain alphabets fall off without hesitation. Arggggh! Thank heavens spell
check still works. Perhaps the laptop’s got withdrawal symptoms and is
reacting violently. I hurt its feelings by allowing an outsider to mess with its
vital organs.
The time apart has brought on a sudden odd realization - that I’m rather fond
of this piece of machinery. We all have our favourite mobiles and I-phones
which we hate to part with.
This laptop has been with me through thick and thin. It also helps me
earn my bread so I guess I’m allowed some attachment (no pun intended).
It was one of the first prized purchases my husband and I made when
we first moved to a new city and entered our first home. I remember the
painful task of standing in line to wait my turn at an internet café before
that. Freelance writing seemed more like a task than a way to earn a living.
Standing in line to pay my telephone bill was easier. Finally I could work at
my own pace. I don’t only use this laptop to merely surf the net, I also use it
as an outlet to reach the outside world through my writing. New to the city,
the whole world seemed so far away when we first arrived. The internet and
my laptop brought family members closer.
Five years later, after four days of ‘so called’ repair, the verdict
wasn’t good. “The hard disk needs to be fixed and that will cost a
lot,” said an unenthusiastic repairman. My heart sunk. It was almost
as if we were conducting a post mortem. There was faint hope now.
Sure I could go out there and buy a shiny new laptop. Given the way the
computer is behaving currently, I’m more inclined to follow the glitzy ads in
the papers promising laptops with fascinating new features. But I’m trudging
on with the ole faithful for now.
In this age of the disposable, it is almost insane for someone to fix an old
gadget. Choosing to use a laptop without the latest features is like watching
a 3D film without the glasses on. So maybe I shouldn’t hold on to what
many would consider a pre-historic piece of equipment. I guess I’m just
tripping on the fact that it has lasted this long.
Published in September 2010 edition of Bazaar Magazine
Pls ask ur hubby to buy u a new laptop :)
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