Limping Along

Jun
10

I wish I could tell you that for the last few days, I was off having a bunch o’ fun, but that’s not it!
IMG_8624
In fact, it has been the opposite of fun. Like, a special kind of hell. The kind where Bill Gates is in charge.

The backlight went out on my trusty lil five-year-old Mac laptop. My beloved! After struggling with it going on and off, screen randomly going black, then finally going black for good, I gave it up and took it in to be fixed. It will take one to two weeks, depending on how long it takes to get the backlight in. ONE TO TWO WEEKS.

I went home to think it over, sleep on my disastrous problem, deal with separation anxiety from My Beloved.

Then I decided to go back and buy a cheap backup laptop. It’s been years since I used a PC and you just can’t get one anymore that doesn’t have Windows 8 on it. Which apparently is much different from Windows 7 and other previous versions of Windows. All I know is that I don’t like it and can hardly figure out how to do anything. Not only am I used to a Mac, I’m dealing with Windows 8. After enslaving my friend Jerry to pick out the laptop for me to start with, he then loaded my necessary programs for me or trust me I wouldn’t be here at all.

Meanwhile, it’s taking me about 100 times longer to do anything, so please bear with me.

I CAN’T WAIT TILL I GET MY MAC BACK!!!





Comments

  1. GA_in_GA says:

    Those of us living on The Dark Side (Mac owners) cannot go back. Especially to Windows 8!

    You have my sincere sympathy.

  2. GA_in_GA says:

    Oh, and when I broke my screen, it took less than 3 days for the repair center to pick up, repair, and return my Precious.

    Have faith!

  3. WvSky says:

    I’ve been heavily involved with computers for 17 years now, and in all that time, I’ve never seen anything as horrible as Windows 8! Windows 8 is for people who hate computers but love cell phones. Windows 8 was designed so that REAL computer users cant easily access things they need. It takes 3 or 4 steps to do what the previous versions took 1 or 2 to do. I simply cant stress how much I hate it… and by the looks of all the software being sold to make Win 8 look like Win 7, millions of others agree. Gates really messed up on this one, just like he did with Vista. Now… the younger cellphone crazies may like Win 8, but I’m not into Smart Phones. Gates should offer a computer for people who hate computers (like Win8) and another computer for people who love and understand them, (like Win7). Anyway, that’s my rant on the week! :hissyfit:

  4. Granma2girls says:

    Yes,you have my sympathy as well. It took us a while to bite the bullet and get a Mac. But once we did, we’ll never go back. We own everything Apple now. My MIL just got a laptop with Windows 8, and she is very frustrated and we feel helpless to help her. Hopefully, you’ll get a nice surprise and get your Mac back sooner than later!

  5. Leaves of the fall says:

    I feel your pain. I haven’t dealt with Windows 8, but I do have to bounce between the PC at work and my IMAC at home. A friend of mine tried to get me to convert to a Mac years’ ago…. and I finally took the plunge. OMG!!!!! I hope I never have to go back to a PC and I’m hoping to get a Mac at work. Mac’s are heaven. Have fun!

  6. Diane says:

    Oh my from the title I though you got hurt! Glad you are OK. 🙂 I have a lap top with Windows 7 its OK. My baby is my desk top XP! Sad I know but it has everything I need on it. When it goes I”m going to be one upset woman. lol.

    Diane

  7. bonita says:

    Ruby, my office Mac, sends her love and best wishes to your ailing Mac. Luckily, working in books and book design, I ‘had’ to have a Mac to fit in. What a blessing! In fact, I keep a MacBook in tow just in case my desktop Mac hiccups. Best $$ I’ve ever spent–even though I’ve never had to rely on it. (Say, can you bat your eyelashes at the service desk personnel, say something like your book proofs are due, and plead for a loaner?)

  8. mommy6_1 says:

    Windows8 was invented to make me feel stupid. I hate it.

  9. moosebubbles says:

    I have worked with computers since 1982, when they were custom made and used DOS. Word 10 and Windows 8, make working with DOS a pleasure.
    If I ever met Mr. Gates, I would ask him, why he felt it was necessary to make each version more difficult than the last one that was very fine already. There really wasn’t much wrong with Word 3. :hissyfit:

  10. mamajhk says:

    You should have heard the words that came out of hubby’s mouth when he first started using Win 8 but he went from XP to 8. I am using Win7 and occasionally have issues and usually of my making. :bugeyed:

  11. JudyT says:

    I’m that way too, I hate trying to get used to new things no matter what they are. I hope you get your Mac back soon.

  12. joykenn says:

    Well, we could go on and one about Windows 8 but we’d just be re-typing the vast number of posts by PC users who think the latest version of Windows might be OK for tablet users but is awful for the vast majority of those with PCs. According to PCWorld and lots of other computer mavens Microsoft will release Windows 8.1 free any day now. It promises to answer some of the howls of outrage pouring in over Windows 8. Strangely they’re posting it on their website and not releasing it as an “update”. Sigh!

    Mac users still won’t be thrilled cause you guys are LOYAL TO THE APPLE but the rest of us will welvome it.

  13. rileysmom says:

    We are visiting the family…who have a laptop with Window (H)8 on it!!

    WHAT WE”RE THEY THINKING!!!!

  14. holstein woman says:

    I bought windows 8 also and have waded through it. There are programs now to download free to convert back to the windows 7 version so you can at least find your stuff. I have toughed it out because I am determined to learn this new thing, but I still can’ find how to do some things and I have had this for 6 months.
    I also hope you get your Mac back sooner.

  15. ibnsgirl says:

    I bought my laptop last year, so I missed all of the Win8 “fun.” My mom just got a laptop with Win8, and boy, was it a pain getting set-up — until I figured out how to get to the desktop part. That whole business at start-up that is supposed to be like a smart phone is crazy. I have a smart phone and I couldn’t figure it out. Once I got that turned off, it was enough like XP that I could get stuff done. Wish I could remember how I turned it off, if that would help!

    Hope the Mac is fixed quickly! :hug:

  16. brookdale says:

    Oh, I hope you get your baby back soon! I totally agree with everyone above who hates Win.8. I have XP on my “big” computer and Win.7 on the laptop, which is OK but not great.
    I learned to use computers back in the 80’s when I worked in the school office, all we had were Macs, Apple II I believe, and when I finally retired in 2000 I had to learn to use Windows at home and believe me, it wasn’t easy!
    Macs are worth every extra penny they cost, if only for the ease of use. (Wish I could afford a new one.)
    My Sis has an IPad and loves it, going from Windows XP up to the Mac.
    Well, good luck, hope the repair person works overtime to get it back to you sooner!

  17. rhonda323 says:

    I guess I’m the odd duck here. I love windows 8 :heart: ! And no, I don’t have a cell phone…wouldn’t even know how to answer it. I’ve had PCs for years now, starting out with ME (which I admit was pretty bad)and have had and enjoyed each operating system version. I’ve tried Macs and wasn’t really impressed. Sorry, just sayin’.
    But I do hope you get your “best friend” back soon!

  18. nookworm says:

    I feel your pain! I am on my 3rd Mac and will touch NO OTHER! Now I have a MacPro Notebook with Retina Display – WONDERFUL!!!! Love Mac.

  19. lesliedgray says:

    That’s funny! My MAC that I got for Christmas a few years ago still drives me crazy! I can get around on it, but can’t do all of the stuff it is supposed to do.. I find it randomly highlighting things as if to cut/copy, or it will highlight and move a picture, but I have trouble when I INTEND to do these things!!!!! Sheesh!

  20. Jersey Lady says:

    Our Walmart still sells laptops with 7 on them. Maybe yours does too.

  21. beforethedawn says:

    I’m still using XP haha. My son uses a macbook and I am getting used to it. When this old laptop decides it won’t connect to wifi I jump on his instead. I kinda like the macbook! After all these comments, I hope this computer doesn’t die, win8 looks and sounds like I would hate it. Hope your baby gets fixed ASAP!

  22. jeri starcher says:

    I hate Windows 8. If you let your mouse linger for more than a second it opens stuff up. I’ve had my laptop for 3 months and just realized this past weekend that I have a slot on the side to put my camera card in. I have no idea what all the other holes are for. When my son set up this new computer he said that old people should not get new laptops. So glad to know that he thinks 45 is old. :dancingmonster:

  23. WvSky says:

    UPDATE: As mentioned above, Microsoft will soon make 8.1 available as a download. This “should” take Win 8 back to Win 7. I was never crazy about Win 7 for that matter, but it’s a million times better than Win 8. As a matter of fact, I’ve got my Win 7 set-up to look like XP and 98. This I can work with, while Win8 is like Vista… a complete disaster.

  24. BeechTree says:

    How funny! My entire family has had nothing but trouble from Macs/Apple products with their cheap hardware and awful customer service. Sorry to hear your experience with Windows 8 has been so bad! My family uses either XP or Windows 7. Microsoft will go on supporting Win7 for years and years, so we’re saved from the Win8 experience.

  25. BeechTree says:

    I meant to add – everyone knows that Windows 7 software can still be purchased, right? If you hate Win8, you can buy Windows 7 software and install it on your laptop if it meets Win7 specs. I know that Newegg.com still sells both the Home and Professional versions of Windows 7 software (in 32 and 64 bit). Installing the software yourself will also get you a much faster machine. Pre-installed machines (whether Apple or PC) are always bloated/sluggish beasts.

  26. Joell says:

    :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit:

    DOWN WITH WINDOWS 8–IT IS HORRIBLE!!!!

    :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit:

  27. MousE says:

    Oh that’s sad about the backlight, but good it can be fixed. I made the switch in 2010 to a Mac after years of Windows. REcently a friend gifted me a windows laptop. Very generous. It’s sat on the table in the corner ever since….. whenever I turn it on it takes 5 minutes to boot up. Windows 8 is…. trying to be Mac OS I reckon.

    anyway in the end it’s all very personal, what we like as an operating system. What matters is that you get yours back soon!

    Stay well :snoopy:

  28. Jane L says:

    I, not having heard this commotion about Windows 8, took the opportunity to try it out on a laptop at Costco. HORRIBLE front screen – looks like that dreadful phone screen that I cannot imagine anyone liking – then I clicked on weather and COULD NOT get back out again!! I tried over and over and just kept getting more and more weather. I would return the laptop pronto. It is so not worth it. I certainly would not buy anything remotely configured like that, EVER.
    They are so STUPID. (Can you tell I am so angry about it, and I don’t even have it!!)

  29. 5kathleen2 says:

    You have my sympathy. My Mac died a year ago. I went 8 days using my hubby’s Dell and had to do something. Ended up buying a new Macbook Pro on Ebay. I love it. Nothing like a Mac, once you get one you can’t go back. Hope you get yours back soon. Hang in there.
    Kathleen H

  30. ibpallets (Sharon B.) says:

    That’s right- once you own a Mac you can never go back-

    This past winter when you posted about Larry and the knives, he had just gotten a new computer with Windows 8 or he was installing W8 (can’t remember which) he had a heck of a time and I know he didn’t like the operating system one bit.

    The only thing I don’t like about the Mac is you have to take the computer to Apple-to get a new battery installed. I have the Mac Book Pro and it’s time for a new battery.

  31. KimRidge Farmer says:

    Hi Suzanne,
    I had exactly the same experience a few months back when my Mac Book Pro lost it’s logic board. That was my third Mac Book Pro in four years. The losses seemed too expensive. I never had a PC before, only iMacs and Mac Book Pros. This time, I thought to consider buying one because Macs cost a lot. It took me about one day of shopping to realize that I don’t even know how to approach a PC. Not only to do some productive work. I ended up buying another Mac Book Pro. Apple products are expensive, but they sure get the job done.

    Kimberly

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