Dreams of electric sheep
September 1st, 2008 Posted in PersonalNo, I’m not an android, and I’m not writing about artificial intelligence or books by brilliant sci-fi writers. Nope, I just came to another realisation today. What’s that, a cacophony of voices asks? I can’t do without my little luxuries… I need my electrical friends (giggle, you’ve got a filthy mind).
Yeah, I’m still waiting on the wicked puty to come back from the puty doctor. And although I only had the thing for 2 weeks, I suddenly found myself stuck back in the bog of sloth when I discovered it had to go. I had gotten used to lightning speeds and a computer that could handle the simple tasks (and anything I threw at it… well, for a time), so when I had to use the crappy one — and the crappy one alone… Well, let’s just say I didn’t enjoy it.
And I’m still not enjoying it. The good machine still looks to be several days away, so I’m stuck with the fat and ugly one (that’s what my wife says… HEY! stupid brain)… Well, at least it does what it has to (that’s what my… hang on). But prior to the weekend, the little grey wonder started to die in its own little way — by not charging. It went on a bit of a hunger strike… Maybe it wanted me to see what it meant to me. That I needed it just as much as I needed the awesome one.
Yes, when I started looking at up to a week without a computer, I didn’t know what to do with myself. I have been using a PC for several hours a day now for YEARS. And I’m not referring to work time either. So I worked hard, and I pulled apart the crappy little bugger, cracked it in places and made it less pretty… And did little to fix the problem. But we found the sweet spot, and it’s charging now, so the fear that was gripping my brain with its sharp and bony fingers has somewhat subsided, and is now tapping impatiently at my cerebellum. Tap, tap, tapping at my cerebellum. *Ahem*
And it got me thinking — shit, if I lost even one of the products I rely on, I would be lost. How did people function back in the day? And damn, it was a rapid change. Think about it… “Back in the day” wasn’t so long ago…
Not ten years ago, I rarely used the Internet. Many people still didn’t really know what it was. Now, many of us couldn’t live without it (well, I’m sure we could, but you know what I mean). Taking that idea further, now I can’t imagine life without wireless Internet. This is something that’s still on its way in, but something I embraced from the start, because I’m anal and crave tidiness. Hate those wires. Hate them a million.
On a similar note, 15 years ago, computers were work horses, otherwise they were for nerds… Now, I’m not sure I know a household that functions without one (well, functions is maybe a poor choice of word, but I’m not going back now). Computers have morphed into something that encompasses so much more than they used to, and going forward the next step is to move into the family room, and fight the TV for attention. It’s going to happen. It’s already happening in my house, I’m trying to work out a way to get them to play nice — and when they do, happiness will ensue, and the good people of Greghokoland will feel complete.
Then there’s mobiles. Phones. Seven years ago, I didn’t see the need for a mobile phone. I thought they were for wankers. And to some extent, I was right. But now, all of us wankers need one… Personally, my mobile phone is one of my most important possessions — not just because it’s a means of communication, but also because it’s my address book! Long gone are the days of the little black book… But it’s more than just that — it’s there for birthday reminders, it’s a mobile camera… In many ways, they are just portable computers, and that’s where they will be moving towards. Actually, I think the new wave of smaller, more portable netbooks will merge with the phone somehow… Phones will have the same functionality and be just as useful as a computer before we know it (without replacing them). But before I move on — don’t bullshit me and talk about your Blackberry. The day you get home and sit down in front of your Blackberry rather than your PC, then I’ll start listening, but until then, shut it!
Anyway, it’s not news for most people, but I’m not a journalist, and I’m not here to tell you what to think. I’m just speaking my mind and seeing where it goes. That’ll do.
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