Setting things up, and lack of communication
Bought the parents their new-to-them PC the other day. Second-hand, but in good nick, from a guy who refurbishes them for a hobby (and is fairly good at it, from what I can tell). It's about twenty times as powerful as their old machine, and within an order of magnitude of the current middle-top end of the market. Cost $80.
I haven't swapped their data over to it yet, as their oft-used printer uses a Centronics port and the new PC is pure USB. As soon as that hurdle is overcome, I'll flip everything over and they should be good for another ten years.
I'm actually half tempted to go back to the PC builder guy and ask him for a custom job. It seemed like he'd been handed a crappy end of the stick in life, but was making good, and actually taking pride in crafting cheap, solid PCs with all the drivers loaded and tweaked. Couldn't hurt to throw a little business his way.
One thing I _did_ set up for them was their new set-top box for getting digital channels. It was kind of from scratch, as I don't watch TV and haven't kept up with the latest and greatest in telly for several years now. Apparently there are more than five local free-to-air channels now - who knew? Still, after juggling cables, repairing a bent plug, and fiddling with endless onscreen menus, they're now happy with their improved picture and extra channels.
In other news, after chasing up the real estate company, it turns out that no, there actually won't be a home open here tomorrow. Thanks for, you know, SAYING. This is a huge relief, because those things are a pain in the arse what with having to pack everything even remotely personal away into storage for two hours a week rather than having it to hand. Still, last week's one was an excuse to clean up a bit. Even so, this real estate mob seem to be rather uncommunicative dicks who have to be hassled continually to get any information out of them. They didn't even announce that there was going to BE a first home-open until 48 hours beforehand. Thanks a freakin' LOT, guys.
I haven't swapped their data over to it yet, as their oft-used printer uses a Centronics port and the new PC is pure USB. As soon as that hurdle is overcome, I'll flip everything over and they should be good for another ten years.
I'm actually half tempted to go back to the PC builder guy and ask him for a custom job. It seemed like he'd been handed a crappy end of the stick in life, but was making good, and actually taking pride in crafting cheap, solid PCs with all the drivers loaded and tweaked. Couldn't hurt to throw a little business his way.
One thing I _did_ set up for them was their new set-top box for getting digital channels. It was kind of from scratch, as I don't watch TV and haven't kept up with the latest and greatest in telly for several years now. Apparently there are more than five local free-to-air channels now - who knew? Still, after juggling cables, repairing a bent plug, and fiddling with endless onscreen menus, they're now happy with their improved picture and extra channels.
In other news, after chasing up the real estate company, it turns out that no, there actually won't be a home open here tomorrow. Thanks for, you know, SAYING. This is a huge relief, because those things are a pain in the arse what with having to pack everything even remotely personal away into storage for two hours a week rather than having it to hand. Still, last week's one was an excuse to clean up a bit. Even so, this real estate mob seem to be rather uncommunicative dicks who have to be hassled continually to get any information out of them. They didn't even announce that there was going to BE a first home-open until 48 hours beforehand. Thanks a freakin' LOT, guys.