Speaking of putting things in perspective, I was put to the test the other day.
Funny how every time I blog about something it appears in my life. Maybe I need to start blogging about winning the lottery. 🙂
So I took my MacBook to the Apple store thinking I just needed a new power cord. My laptop was down to 6% of its battery and wouldn’t recharge when I plugged it in. But when I got to Apple, the problem was more serious than I thought.
Turns out the water I spilled all over my computer four days prior was the REAL reason it now refused to turn on. I thought damage was spared because I rescued my computer from the puddle just seconds after the spill and silly me thought everything was fine because the screen was untouched.
Guess the five second rule doesn’t apply to electronics.
When the Apple Genius was explaining my options, my eyes glazed over and I lost my breath. Either I replace the computer or spend a good deal of money to fix it. An unexpected and unwelcomed expense no matter which option I choose.
So after taking lots of deep breaths and thanking the Apple Genius for being so patient with me while I recovered from my mini heart attack, I left the store with my now useless hunk of metal to mull over my options.
Do I get the Mac desktop I’ve been drooling over forever which could take my photography to a whole new level? Do I go the practical route and get the laptop since I travel so much? Should I just fix the one I have?
Or can I do without a computer altogether and spare myself the expense?
Nope. Not even an option. For how would I write?!
And that’s when it dawned on me- before our fancy laptops were invented and computers took up entire rooms, how did writers write?
Pen and paper! Brilliant!
So needless to say, in the interim where I’m living with no working computer of my own and trying my best to navigate a friend’s PC, I’ve rediscovered my love of long-hand and realized that just when you think the world is over, you’re always presented with an alternative solution.
So how about you? What piece of technology could you not bare to live without? And if made to, how would you survive?
Ingrid Schaffenburg's Blog 
Sorry you’re having this problem. No advice, though.
No worries. I’m sorting it out 🙂
Your facing the same decision as I – and I’m just as lost. Desktop or laptop? For convenience, you can’t beat a laptop. But for me, photo developing is better done on a desktop. Plus, I couldn’t drop that in the water. Then of course, I’ve been spoiled by the flexibility of the laptop.
It’s a decision I need to make very soon though.
Good Luck with yours.
Kath
Thanks Kathy! You too! I’ll probably end up doing the desktop now and eventually the laptop. It’ll motivate me to get my work done at home before leaving the house or if I travel, I’ll have to plan my blogs ahead of time. 🙂
Oddly, over the last 12 months I’ve found my writing flows so much better when I use pen and paper. It feels more connected. If I wake up and can’t get back to sleep, I just pick up the A4 pad and continue on where I left off, no firing up the machine and no flickering screen. of course the downside is the need to transcribe but it’s an ideal time to edit, expanding and deleting as one types.
Nope, pen and paper for me every time!
To be frank, I could quite easily live without my laptop, my little Macbook Pro. I’m reducing social media to a bare minimum these days as it’s not pressing any of my buttons, my research is mostly hard copy, I love the feel of paper and even though I adore my Kindle, I’m guessing I can do without that too.
Good luck with whatever you decide to buy.
Thank you 🙂 I feel the same. This last week without a computer hasn’t been so bad. I mean, with the iPhone, I’m able to do pretty much everything. Love your positive attitude about transcribing from paper to screen. Makes perfect sense!
I am crippled without a computer of some sort. I can’t write with pen and paper anymore
Yep. My writing used to flow so much better with pen and paper and now it’s just the opposite.
Even though I used it less than my mac, I would hate to live without my ipad. Having said that I like to use pen, paper, and index cards. Maybe I’m regressing to my childhood 🙂
Cheers!
Which is not a bad thing 😉 LOVE the iPad!
My fiance had the exact same thing happen, except it was tea and the mac wouldn’t run at all unless it was plugged in. My sympathies.
Thanks Addy! Yep. I hear this is quite common but I’ll tell you what- I won’t be leaving liquids anywhere near my new one!
I couldn’t live without my laptop. LOL!! I don’t understand how we ever managed before…but I do think there’s something to be said for taking time away from the screen and going old school. Shaking things up physically has a way of shaking things up creatively I find. So enjoy the pen to paper time and here’s to reuniting with your technology love soon!
Thank you Natalie! I’m all about shakin’ things up so it really hasn’t been that bad. And I’m with ya on the laptop. Gotta be portable! 🙂
Believe it or not, I could live without most of it. I’d just need to be able to play some music so that I might dance. So a record player? Or a tape deck? Or an 8- track. I’m not picky about the device.
But the music.
That I would miss.
Agreed Renee. I’ve quite liked not having one. And I’m right there with ya on the music. Don’t care how it’s played but gotta have me some music!
I hope Nigel was able to help you with your computer. Let me know if I can help.
Thank you Kristen!! I believe he’s workin’ his magic as we speak 🙂
when I sit down to write a novel, I rely more on my dozen yellow pads than I do my laptop. I could do it without the laptop. Couldn’t do it without the yellow pads.
I wouldn’t mind shedding most or all of the electronics that we rely on today.. I think there is a deep, fundamental downside to them. Since it is not practical to be ‘off the grid’, I think its at least good to take vacations from it. But my gosh, if we did… I must still have books to read! Are books a technology I couldn’t do without? Quite possibly.
Love that. And so true. I believe there is a deeper “fundamental” downside as you say. So I do try and limit my time with all the gadgets that we have. I much prefer the simpler way of life. Maybe I’m just nostalgic but it feels more natural 😉
My laptop is like my right arm. i would be lost without it. I did go to Zanzibar once for a few days without my trusty laptop. My thoughts did flow much better while I was writing long hand. But the problem came when i wanted to read the damn thing later!! Losing touch with hand writing has made my writing terrible. I now spend at least part of my time every day writing – often completely innate stuff just to keep my handwriting readable.
Good post Ingrid. Makes one reflect on one’s dependency on technology! Congratulations on a thought provoking post.
Thank you 🙂 I have the same problem with legibility. When I really get on a roll my handwriting is barely legible. Good for you for making it part of your daily practice though 🙂 And Zanzibar- that sounds fun!
“Guess the five second rule doesn’t apply to electronics.” HA!!! I love it.
Great and timely post, Ingrid. My battery has weakened and today, my ‘M’ key jumped ship. It’s probably a simple-ish fix, but if not, I’ll get me a new one pronto. I’m way too laptop dependent, though I do think there’s value in time away. I have a much easier time sans phone, and recommend those breaks especially. 🙂
Oooo. Me too! I actually prolonged getting a new laptop because I was enjoying my little mini break 😉 Hope you’ve gotten your laptop back in working shape!
Probably my coffee pot. Lol. I know it’s not that technical, and I suppose I could boil water, but it sure makes life sweeter…
Yes it does! Gotta have my morning cup 🙂
There’s something handy about pen and paper, perhaps calling to mind a more tangible touch. Even so, technology used efficiently makes things a lot easier. Good luck!
So true. They both have great advantages 🙂