Computer Contemplations

[joannahurley]

I'm contemplating something that horrifies my husband. I'm considering whether we really need 2 computers (plus the server, plus the laptop, and we each have smartphones and he usually has a smartphone and laptop from work...).  I know, I know, we're geeks. But we're increasingly just not on the computer. We now have a Wii, and Jon's been playing

Comments

[hrmortcia]

personally i HATE sharing a computer. for SO many reasons.

also i don't let myself touch my computer in the AM. I can check my main email, and twitter from my igoogle page at work, as well as gchat. everything else can wait til i get home.

if i get to class early i can check twitter and facebook before class when i turn off my phone's ringer.

[joannahurley]

I don't get a lot of personal time on the computer at work - I can chat, with large periods of interruption, and I do read a lot of articles. One of my problems currently is that my main inbox is full and overfull, and I can't stay on top of it. I need to cull my mailing lists, etc, again, and then stay on top of it. Sorta like my snail mail pile. :)

Facebook is forbidden at work, although about half the folks ignore that.

[hrmortcia]

oh i don't spend copious amounts of time on it at worki just keep my igoogle up and see new messages as they come in and can take a quick look if it is important.

in fact i'm not supposed to "be online" at all.

Wheni said i check before class, i do it on my phone.

[heathere3]

I don't so much hate sharing a computer as I hate sharing a login. And Brian flat out refuses to use separate logins. And he drives me nuts... (yes, I know, a common refrain). The only real issue we had was times like you said, just before and just after work. Hey, if you have to share, maybe that'll help you not get sucked in in the mornings?

[joannahurley]

Oh, we would definitely each have our own login. We're comfortable enough with the concept and picky enough with our settings that it would be a requirement. We work very differently.

[adamjury]

I think sharing computers is pure insanity. It's doable in the short term -- K is using mine this week while she's visiting -- but I would never do it long term.

Why don't you make the desktop his, the laptop yours, and keep a second monitor/keyboard around to connect to the laptop for longer work sessions? (You could actually share the monitor/keyboard with the desktop, if it's unlikely that both of them will be used for Serious Business at the same time.)

Or, make the desktop the one game machine, and the laptop the one work machine, and define them by role.

[joannahurley]

I like the idea of defining the machines by role. Hmmm...

[dqg_neal]

Role is probably the better option. I mean game playing on the laptop really isn't all that it is cracked up to be. But after all, Jon can check his email on his phone... he doesn't need the PC in the morning to check it.

[merley_edithur]

At the very least, I think you split the new desktop and laptop between you. I'll definitely argue against buying a new machine but you have these already. If you need more space, take on the laptop as your own and pack up your desktop. You know we share a computer and that works for us but I don't think it will work for you. We don't play computer games and we only use it for working or briefly looking things up.

[joannahurley]

Space isn't a huge issue, admittedly. Mostly we're starting to talk about upgrading my machine, plus Jon needs a new second monitor. So it's cost things, since I can think of better things to spend the money on. And we DO have two pcs, even if one's portable.