I’m having a terrible time adjusting to life without my laptop. At first I was wryly chastising myself for becoming so dependent on electronics, but it’s more than that.
My first laptop was a Toshiba Satellite — the first or maybe second model they came out with. I don’t remember the year exactly but I think it was around 1989-1991. I’ve had a couple of other Toshibas, a couple of IBM ThinkPads, and most recently the MacBook, but I haven’t been without a laptop since then.
Which means that for more than 20 years, my writing habits and patterns have depended on a portable, easy-to-type-on device that was available more or less anywhere. I could go to breakfast and get my word count in. I could go out to my car over my lunch hour and type in edits. I could work on vacation, in between innings of baseball games, you name it.
Can’t do that now.
Yeah, I’ve still got a good desktop system, and a lot of pens and paper. I refilled my best fountain pens and I’m prepared to do most of National Novel Writing Month by hand, with bouts of typing. I used to write that way and it’s not really a problem.
But damn it’s hard getting used to new habits.
Aw, hugs. Yes, after more than 2 decades, I can see the habit being deeply ingrained. Do you plan on a new one, or is that a “Maybe next year, depending on cushion from income” sort of thing?
Well, it’s on my Christmas list. Most years, replacing it wouldn’t have been a big issue, but with the two storms and power outages, and the refrigerator and all those other expenses, plus all the move expenses coming up when we downsize, we just don’t have as much extra this year.
*nod* I understand — that was why I made that comment about the cushion. It went to other things this year, I know.
Are you looking at a new MacBook?
I really really liked my MacBook, but if I go for something smaller and cheaper, I can replace it sooner. So I don’t know. What I’d really like is something the size of an iPad, only with a keyboard.
I eas thinking the same iPad with ext keyboard but there aren’t full versions of writing software for the iPad making it useless as the primary input tool.
I’m trying to decide whether I can get by on the limited sovtware versions. I don’t do anything sophisticated. It might work for me.
Saw a guy at the coffee shop with a SONY Vaio. Boy that looked nice. But it certainly doesn’t solve the expense problem!
I couldn’t imagine neing without a laptop. It’s the way I have done my computiing since 1994. For me there couldn’t be any other way. I don’t have the space!
Re routines. I finally got back to one on Thursday and couldn’t be happier.
Congratulations on getting your life back on track. That was pretty rough there for a while!
If the laptop was my only computer, there wouldn’t have been a problem with replacing it. But I do have the big system (and a big office, for that matter
) so it’s not like I’m completely deprived.
In ways it’s working better. I can’t take it downstairs with me, which means I’m much more likely to stop for the evening and actually spend time with spouse. I go to bed more relaxed and sleep better.
But man, it’s hard to do NaNo this way…