09 March 2012

My Shiny New Laptop by David N. Walker

Today is LLC Friday and our guest is fellow Life List Club Member, David Walker. David is going to share with us his adventures in securing the latest in computing technology. Meanwhile, I'll be over at Lara Schiffbauer's Motivation for Creation Blog. Lara motivated me to write How to Structure the Plot of a Novel as a guest post. Be sure to stop by.

David is running the show today, so please join me in extending a warm welcome.

WANA: We may not have it all together, but together we have it all.

My Dell laptop is about 100 years old in computer years. It’s slow and cantankerous, working when it feels like it and not when it doesn’t. Kristen Lamb harps all the time about my need for a new computer, and when I look around the room at WWBC meetings, mine is at least a grandfather to the others.

Don’t laugh, but changing computers is always a stressful event for me. First of all, I’m about the least tech-savvy person on the internet, and secondly, old farts people my age don’t like change. Of course, I’ve been saying that ever since I was 35, but that’s my story, and I’m sticking with it.

Most of the people in my group have Macs, which I’ve always avoided like the plague, but I’ve begun wondering if I’m missing something and should really look into taking a bite of the Apple. After looking online and going over to an Apple Store to talk to a peddler sales associate, then talking with the man I’ve used for technical problems with my computers for several years, I decided there wasn’t really a compelling reason for me to make that switch.

Okay, that left me back at considering a new PC. I spent some time online in total confusion studying a number of different models. Then I went to Best Buy to look at some first hand and talk to a sales associate there. A little later I walked out with a new Lenovo laptop. 6GB of memory and some ungodly number of 500 gigabytes on the hard drive. That’s more than my trusty desktop has.


After only about four hours of cursing working at it, I think I have it all set up with everything I need on it. Well, at least until I discover I don’t. Anyhow, when I walk into our Warrior Writers’ meeting Saturday, I’ll have a bright, shiny new computer to show off. I know Kristen will approve, because she loves anything shiny.


David N. Walker is a Christian father and grandfather, a grounded pilot and a near-scratch golfer who had to give up the game because of shoulder problems. A graduate of Duke University, he spent 42 years as a health insurance agent. Most of that career was spent in Texas, but for a few years he traveled many other states. He started writing about 20 years ago, and has six unpublished novels to use as primers on how NOT to write fiction. Since his retirement from insurance a few years ago, he has devoted his time to helping Kristen Lamb start Warrior Writers’ Boot Camp and trying to learn to write a successful novel himself.

10 comments:

  1. Thanks for hosting me today, Gary.

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  2. I wish I could be at WWBC to see the shine on your nifty new computer, David.

    It took a bit of bopping to find you, btw. The link on your site returns an ERROR 404 BIG AND BOLD.

    I blame my half-caffeinated brain for thinking it was the beginning of your post on computers. And, trying to scroll down to your words of wisdom.

    My 3.5 year-old computer -- aptly dubbed Huey P. ACKard began to feel his age over 2 years ago. I keep up my love/hate relationship with the Geek Squad. HATE that most problems can't be fixed on site, and Huey gets shipped by pony-express to their hospital in Kentucky.

    Still debating the Apple route for my next one. I'll email you when I go shopping to discover why you chose the PC route again.

    May you and Lenny O. VOcation live long and prosper.

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  3. Ok, David, further evidence that we are best friends. LOL. My computer in college was a giant clunky thing that could never connect, had to be completely wiped and rewritten at least twice while I lived in the dorms and worked as well as "a loaf of bread or a box of sticks" according to my roommate. I used graduation money to buy a new laptop, and wouldn't you know it, four years later, I'm thinking I need another new one! But think of getting a new computer as a way of making life easier for you! When I do eventually get one, I want one that is lighter for travel so I don't get a back ache every time I want to walk to the coffee shop or library to write. Maybe then it won't feel so daunting.

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  4. I'm happy to have have you as my guest David. I have a six months old laptop and for some reason, it feels kind of old. Technology is funny like that. My two year old IPad is almost ancient.

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  5. Thanks for each of your comments. I wish Blogspot allowed individual replies after each comment, but it doesn't, so thanks.

    BTW, I did fix the glitch in the link.

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  6. ROFL. I'm not big on change when it comes to computers and such either. It took me a long time to finally decide I wanted a laptop in addition to my ancient desktop. Now, I pretty much use my laptop exclusively. The thought of switching to something else gives me hives...especially the thought of switching to a Mac. I love my iPhone and iPad...but I just can't handle the idea of switching from a PC to a Mac. :D

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  7. For a computer gal like me, I love posts like this. :-)

    I hope you take a picture of Kristen's face when she sees your big shiny.

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  8. Congrats David! Having just gone through a similar experience I can tell ya I am in love with my shiny new toy, even though mine is more "new-to-me" than actually new : ). And I didn't laugh when you said getting a new computer was a stressful experience. I am the same way, embarrassing as that is for someone who works in IT to admit. I get attached to my home computers. They become part of my creative ritual. Rebuilding that relationship with a new one always takes a little time for me.

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  9. David, you totally made me chuckle! It's not just you, by the way. I have a hard time with all things tech-y, and I'm the most tech-y in my family! Being a writer and having to all the social media stuff has been a steep learning curve, for sure! Enjoy your new laptop on Saturday - I bet everyone will have computer envy!

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  10. You're not as tech-challenged as you try to make us believe, David. *wink* Glad you have a shiny new toy to play with.

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