Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Technological Mysteries

I'm really disappointed that having purchased a new laptop computer I don't have a manual of any sort such as came with my digital camera so I can independently figure out and understand some basic technological symbols. I need a blueprint that shows all the slots and pictures on each side of this computer, then explains what they are, what they mean and how they can be used -- labels them.

Facing my laptop on the right hand side is a small rectangular solid silver square that may or may not push in and do something, but I'm not going to push it to find out.

Next are what I'm pretty certain are USB ports into which:
- the first port has the cord that controls the keyboard which works for either my laptop or the desktop -- or maybe it's not for the keyboard.
-the second port connects to my printer, I think.

There's a little round solid chrome circle, but I don't know if it is anything or does anything.

Next is a square open hole that's irregular and jagged across the bottom, so something interesting must go in there, but it's empty now.

Then there is a small open elongated horizontal circle for who knows what.

Next comes the light that's showing my computer is on and next to it is the cord connection to my electric power source, I believe.

Tonight I wanted to perform some downloading/uploading functions for a blog piece I thought I’d post here. Instead this is what I’m posting.

I encountered some problems trying to get to a usable USB portal. I risked making some disconnections and moving of cords and still was unable to accomplish my goal. After trying a number of actions, I discovered a function was lost despite my having putting everything back like it was. So, I decided to just write my own little personal guide for my computer, then send it to my tech guru and get all these laptop computer holes labeled for my permanent future reference. Continuing the exploration of the external features on my new laptop…..

Facing the left side of my computer the first thing I see is a really long open elongated horizontal circle for who knows what.

Then there's one of those small solid chrome squares that may or may not be something.

Next there is a USB port into which a "Logitech" thing with a real cute little hieroglyphic on it is inserted. I recall having explained to me what that was and to remove it when I want to use the laptop as a portable unit (it’s hooked up to power, now.) I just don’t remember what it does though I thought sure at the time that I would. Guess there just were too many other operational things to think about and lots of other technological experiences have gone on in the meantime, too. I think I know what it is, but I'm not sure, so I'm not about to remove it since I want to stay connected to electrical power, much less move it into the portal next to it to see if I can get the card reader in the portal it currently occupies.

So, situated beside that Logitech thing is the USB port (I think) I mentioned above. I can't get my card reader in there because it doesn't seem to fit. I think I need to turn the card reader over, but that means the memory card protrudes and there isn't room with the Logitech thing beside it.

Next comes an opening about the same size of the USB portal I described above, but this hole is rather irregularly shaped for who knows what to be inserted.

Beside that empty hole is another empty hole that is square and accommodates some other unknown connection for something I guess I don’t have.

Next comes a longgg rectangular opening filled with a solid indentation in the center of which is a somewhat shorter but long horizontal solid chrome piece that protrudes to line up with the outer edge of that external longgg rectangular opening. Now that center piece looks like it could be something that has been inserted, or it may just be a permanent fixture that may or may not be something that can be pushed to do something or other.

Finally, we have an odd-shaped rectangle with rounded sides that is longer horizontally across the top than at the bottom. That hole is filled solid with a slightly smaller chrome button-like piece which has three horizontal rows of 5 or 6 teeny tiny holes as though it's designed to have some sort of plug inserted for what must be something really special.

I have observed that a lot of these holes on both sides of the computer have hieroglyphics, picture codes or symbols created so the simple-minded who can't read and understand written technological materials can, perhaps, decipher these pictures. Unfortunately, I don't have the code to know what the pictures mean. There are even some alphabet letters, but all of these and the pictures are so small, that even if I knew what they meant, I can barely see them with my reading glasses, a magnifying glass and a high powered flashlight.

Yes, I am frustrated, but I've grown accustomed to being in this state with computers. That said, I'm sure my operating skills will all soon become more refined and I'll move on to the next technological aggravation. Actually I experience my "computering" as quite challenging, but when I'm tired, it's late and I haven't been able to accomplish what I wanted, despite starting early to allow for the unexpected, I feel like jettisoning everything. I won't, of course.

I had occasion this past weekend to examine a notebook computer. I didn’t like the keyboard on that older unit, but I surely did like the little gem's light weight and size. Hmmm! Maybe some of the newer units are improved. On the other hand, I hadn’t encountered this laptop problem yet, so I didn’t think to see just how many different size holes and connections there were to deal with on the notebook. Surely there won’t be as many to master as on the larger laptop. I'm sure I'll eventually learn some of the pictograph's meanings. Hmmm! Maybe, sometime in the future I should put a notebook computer on my wish list – after I figure out how to operate this laptop better.

I'm going to bed now before I lose my cool, pull all the plugs on this tech equipment and dump it in a box in the garage for the next hazardous waste disposal collection.

10 comments:

  1. That must be infuriating. Can you call or write the company and ask for a manual? Surely they made one, and if they didn't, I'd dump the laptop in their laps!

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  2. A new computer is an adventure. I hope you can find a manual for it. Did you look online?

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  3. Kenju & Kay: I didn't receive the manual originally because much of it wasn't applicable since we removed Vista on my new laptop and installed Windows XP Office. I now have a link to an online manual and may also have the printed manual mailed to me by my guru. I feel guilty complaining 'cause he's worked so hard, does so much patiently helping me. Just thought I'd have some fun with the situation.

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  4. I just read your comment and I'm so relieved to hear you found a link to a manual online. I knew there had to be a way to get one there...and a printed one too. GREAT! These computers will be the death of us JoAnn.

    My husband use to keep all the used parts and old computers we didn't use anymore in our garage. And believe me..over the years we had A LOT of old computers sitting there. He refused to get rid of anything...."We can use the parts from them." Yeah, right. When he passed away I finally got up the nerve to clean all that stuff out...it was archaic for Godsake. You've heard the saying...'One man's trash is another man's treasure?' That stuff was snatched up so fast, I barely got the garage door closed. I didn't care...it felt good to get rid of it all. ~Joy

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  5. Joy: I had a good laugh, at your expense, when I read about your old computer stuff garage collection. I'll bet you gave away a treasure worth millions and didn't know it!

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  6. Joared--Even though a manual came with my recently-acquired printer/scanner/copier, the only place I could find the designators for the ink cartridges was on the box. Happily, I hadn't thrown it away.
    It is well that you now have access to the manual. It certainly helps one get the feel on a new computer; however, I must tell you that while reading your original plaint, I kept want to tell you to just push the darned buttons--the world won't explode! ; ) Of course, pushing a slot doesn't do much.
    Cop Car

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  7. I think computers are like men - can't live with them and can't live without them.

    I recently added something to my blog roll that tells me when a new post has been made so I don't have to open a site I have already read.
    Guess what? It still has a very old post of yours on my site and I didn't know you had new ones posted. I won't trust that gizmo again. Sorry I haven't been by, but I will read a few older posts and I will not make that mistake again.

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  8. If the posting was very old, it may have been on my old blog which went by the same name. Sorry to have caused you a discombobble.

    BTW: I'm awaiting your posting of a photo of your new gem.
    Cop Car

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  9. I'm finally up to date with your new, now old, blog and corrected my sidebar link -- but only because I finally visited your "very old" blog to discover you long ago began writing epistles again. All this time and I just thought you were writing only comments on others blogs occasionally. How could you discombobble me when clearly I've been discombobbled for some time!

    That's a good idea -- a photo of my new "gem." I'll have to do that -- after I finish my income taxes.

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  10. Aha! Just once I've been ahead of you! All this time I thought that you just didn't like me any more (does that put the guilt on you?) Glad to have you back.

    Good luck on getting your taxes in, in fine shape, Joared. I just copied (on my new little $25 scanner/copier/printer) the signature sheets of our 3 tax returns (Fed, State, Intangibles) for Hunky Husband. He's been in a tizzie, this morning, having thought of something that he'd done wrong in inputting volunteer mileage (he'd input the product of 14 cents/mile and the approx 5000 miles that we had driven instead of inputting the approx 5000 miles). He wants to mail it off so as to stop worrying about it!

    April 16th should be a declared National holiday, shouldn't it?
    CC

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