NOT a happy camper right now

[bedlamsbard]

Laptop has been taken to Tech Services, where they say they'll let me know in two or three days. I suspect I might get faster service if I took it somewhere off-campus, but...well, Tech Services is here, at least. It is amazing how much time I spend on the computer as a general matter of course: basically my entire waking life. So I'm feeling a little...disoriented. And frustrated, because, hi, this is how I communicate with people. And spend my free time, and do my school work, and just...everything. So being forcibly unplugged, not a happy thing. (Also I lack a smartphone, ereader, tablet, or any other electronic device that connects to the internet; right now I'm a school computer that has a keyboard in an incredibly strange place and is basically killing my wrists.)

I guess I'll -- spend more time studying? And reading books? And knitting? None of which are bad things, but the thing that's frustrating me most is that I feel as if I've suddenly lost my ability to write. I can still handwrite, obviously, but it's such a different process. I'm used to writing on the computer; without that, I just feel...impotent. Or something, I dunno. It's really upsetting to me that I can't even write.

I am trying not to think of all the things that are on my computer that are not backed up, which includes most of my current Star Wars WIPs. Mostly because thinking about it makes me sick.

I am also seriously considering if it would be overkill to just buy another computer right now. Or a netbook, at least. SOMETHING I CAN WRITE ON. (In my room, on my own time, not on a school computer.)

I feel like I'm whining, but -- my computer, y'all! My lifeblood! My computer and my lifeblood THREE WEEKS BEFORE FINALS. *cries* (Okay, I feel like I'm whining because one of my roommates also has a busted computer, and had a busted computer for most of last year, but she has an ereader with internet access and she is not a writer, I feel like I've been neutered or something.)

Comments

[delfinnium]

I would recommend you get a netbook? And possibly an external hard-drive as well (or many flashdrives) because I also hate being disconnected from the internet.

But even without a connection I would be okay if I got to have a computer to write/type on!

Typing is a vastly different thinking t hing than writing, and I remember when I was in a place for several days without a computer I was slowly going kind of crazy, barely saved by the writing thing, because in writing I can't just go back and edit, I have to cross out and write again etc etc. argh.

But yeah, get a cheap netbook (make sure you can use the keyboard! Get those with about 98% at least sized keyboards, not any smaller) and an external hard-drive.

Or else get the sony-ereader. I think it's about USD 100 now? it can connect to the internet, and you can type on it. slowly, but you can.

[bedlamsbard]

Yeah, at this point I'm shopping around for a netbook, but they are not very cheap. *sadface* (I mean, still cheaper than getting a brand new computer, but still...I'm tempted to buy one used, but that doesn't seem like the best idea. *hands*) Also, too many options, ugh; I'd rather make this decision in person even though I'd prefer another Dell.

Fortunately I'm on campus so I'm never that far from a computer, but still -- really annoying.

[delfinnium]

Well I dunno how big your hands are or how you type, but I think you could try out the samsungs and the toshibas. Both of them - so far - have had some really nice keyboards, best if you could do some research on them online first so you can look at the models you want when you get to the shop.

I really wouldn't recommend used. :|

I haven't heard anything particularly good OR bad about the Dell's netbooks (though I do know that the keys aren't terribly well organised). Also know that not all netbooks would have the page-up and page-down buttons separate (ie they become a function key with my sony vaio, for ex)

And... uh. yeah. Unrequested advice is unrequested.

[bedlamsbard]

*laughs* Yeah, the page-up and page-down buttons are kind of a dealbreaker, since I use them obsessively on my regular laptop. Although I could probably live without them. And I do have pretty large hands for a woman (I can do a full octave on the piano), so I need something close to a full-size keyboard.

I probably would have to buy online, because I'm not really in proximity to any computer shops.

[delfinnium]

yeah if I remember correctly, Toshiba's has the pg-up and pg-down keys of their own, so you might want to look into that.

(Are hands that can span an octave large? Mine can span an octave and a key, but that's small in my family, my brother can span an octave and two. my bff can't, but she has really tiny hands. I thought octave-hands are average...)

But in any case, i think a Toshiba's keyboard is big enough for your hands - definitely big enough for mine. my brother's hands are a bit bigger and he was argh at his Acer but he got used to it.

Try looking at 'trustedreviews.com' and pcworld for reviews on netbooks. The Samsung NC10 (and its successors) is one of the best netbooks I wanted, though my dad just went and got a Sony Vaio because he likes sony much more than any other brand.

[bedlamsbard]

*haunted look* Too many options. Don't know what I want. (Well, I do: I want my regular laptop back! *cries* Also at this point I'm starting to think I could just buy another laptop for not that much more, it's not like I actually need a netbook for portability anyway.)

I dunno, it was large when I was in middle school, but I haven't touched a piano since high school, so I suspect they're bigger now.

Thank you!

[delfinnium]

Well! If you just want a normal notebook, then you could try for an improved/newer version of your current laptop. I mean Dell's very nice (though American friends have assured me that Dell sucks, but I've never had any problems with Dell. Then again they ship from HK or something so THAT isn't a problem).

I got a netbook because I don't actually need huge ass processing speed, and with an external drive I don't even need that much space.

So if you think so, maybe you could just get another laptop, because it's not that expensive in the US, and you can go for bigger screens etc and not worry about the keyboard size.

Hahaha I don't know - maybe it is large! because my hands couldn't quite span an octave in Secondary/primary school so yeah! I can do that NOW but i had grown since then.

[bedlamsbard]

I mean, I like my Dell, but...my Dell has had two major problems in the past four years (including this one!), plus a wonky touchpad (I use a mouse now), and yet at least I know how a Dell functions? (My previous laptop was also a Dell.)

...I am starting to hate reading laptop reviews because at this point they mean nothing to me. *headdesk* Maybe I will just hope that my laptop is resurrected.

[delfinnium]

hmmm okay. well just determine what is important for you, and look only at Dell laptops? like, doees the keyboard work, does the software etc... in general there isn't much a review can tell you if you're only gonna be using it for writing stuff - which means you just want it to work for the cheapest price. Since you know Dell, then just look only at Dell reviews, skim them, and pick the one you kinda like.

<3