I have a new computer. A NEW COMPUTER, do you hear me? While I may be your favorite internet geek (and I am, right?), I’m not much of a hardware girl, and you’ll all be shocked to learn that up until yesterday, I’d been using a computer I bought in 1998. Yes. Five years ago. The same computer. I bought it with money I made from a three week business trip I did for “Entros”:http://www.forrest-pruzan.com/entros_frame.html. Remember “Entros”:http://www.forrest-pruzan.com/entros_frame.html ? Maybe you don’t. The business trip involved implimenting a scavenger hunt/massive puzzle that spanned the entire state of Arizona. 50 Brits who’d won a Marlboro UK contest were flown to Arizona, loaned convertable Mustangs, and set out across the state to try to win this scavenger hunt thing. The winners got $100,000. I put in three weeks of 18 hour days assisting Sue, the fantastic project manager of the game, and when we were done, there were two very rich Brits and I had enough money to buy a computer.
Sorry: the nostalgia took me over. Back to the point.
I have a new computer! One of the tech guys at work built it for me and I got it for a song. A SONG, I tell you. For those who want the geeky details, the machine has is a Pentium 4 with 256MB RAM, 16X DVD, 48x CDRW along with NIC card and modem. As I’ve already established, I am not a hardware-savvy person, but I consulted with Tim, my personal network adminstrator and god of all things technical, and he was impressed and said it was a good computer.
Things I am happy about my new computer: Wow, is it ever fast. Ooh, isn’t it nice how XP instantly and perfectly integrate both my cable internet connection and my digital camera? No installation of drivers necessary! Did I mention how fast the machine is?
I’m also using this as the opportunity to make the complete switch over to Mozilla. I’ve been using it at work, and have decided that it rocks.
Things still to do: import old data (can’t get Dre’s CD burner to work), install FTP program (any suggestions?), register Office xp programs, install new printer.
My old computer will be passed onto Andreas, who will integrate it into his studio. It’s been a good computer…has only crashed on me twice, and hasn’t ever lost any data.
Hey there. I'm Ariel Meadow Stallings, a native Seattleite who's written my way up and down the Left Coast. Electrolicious is where I post daily randomata, but I also write for a living. My first book, Offbeat Bride, was published last year.
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Dave
March 5th, 2003 at 11:29 am
if you’re just using FTP for basic file uploads and downloads, coffeecup software makes a pretty user-friendly program. there’s a free version, or a pay version called coffeecup direct, which is pretty cheap i think. i’ve been able to do everything i need with coffeecup direct (upload and download files , install MovableType and Gallery)
Dave
March 5th, 2003 at 11:30 am
ps. good luck finding the free version on coffeecup’s website. you can find it pretty easily at tucows though.
Dave
March 5th, 2003 at 12:21 pm
your old computer. only crashed. TWICE?!
Emily
March 5th, 2003 at 1:10 pm
I love FTP Voyager (www.ftpvoyager.com) - been using it for years. It’s free for only a month ($40 or something after that), but you can always do what I did for a while: uninstall and reinstall each month!
John
March 5th, 2003 at 2:07 pm
There’s a really nice freeware FTP browser that looks especially swish under XP called SmartFTP. It rocks, pretty much
bryan
March 5th, 2003 at 3:36 pm
I’ve always loved WS_FTP Limited Edition. Free is good.
philippe
March 6th, 2003 at 2:53 am
While I may be your favorite internet geek (and I am, right?)
Oh oui.
Gen Kanai
March 6th, 2003 at 8:20 am
Justin Hall turned me on to SmartFTP and I use that successfully and it’s free.
Ariel
March 6th, 2003 at 8:22 am
As per John and Gen, I am now using SmartFTP and really liking it. Thanks, everyone!
helenjane
March 6th, 2003 at 8:22 am
hooray!
love and new computer happiness all over your bad self.
(you should have some kind of new-computer-breaking-in ceremony. celebrate that bizness!)
Jeff
March 6th, 2003 at 6:17 pm
Congrats on using Mozilla! Don’t you feel clean :)?
emily
March 9th, 2003 at 2:10 pm
My mom’s computer is about to be replaced… she’s had it since 1996.
Fidel
March 14th, 2003 at 2:10 am
haha, I was going to suggest SmartFTP. It rules. I’m glad its a lot of peoples favorite.