No, I won’t fix your computer

The trials of being the family's go-to computer guy

from Getty Images for Unsplash'

My brother’s new wife wanted a new computer for Christmas.

In our family, you can find any number of people who will help you.

You can help with your computer, your sound set-up, your car, your taxes, and trip and event planning.

Each of them brings a different skill set to the table.

And we all live close.

For help buying and setting up a computer, my husband, Mark, is your go-to guy. Mark tried to explain to my brother that he could buy a monitor with the computer directly attached.

No wires, no muss. Where were these computers five years ago when wires seemed to invade my home? It’s one of the reasons I love my iPad. I can write using Word. I can shop ‘til I drop.

(And I sometimes do.)

I’ve bought a case that has the keyboard attached via Bluetooth.

The only cord is a power cable.

But when the power is out, I can still read.

He tried to explain to my brother that spinning disks were so 15 years ago. Everything he needed could be stored on a computer chip not much larger than a fingernail.

You don’t need fancy graphics is you’re not a gamer. You don’t need an external hard drive until you store lots of videos. You don’t need to transfer files.

In the early days at Clayton State, some of my colleagues would take students’ work on a thumb drive or a DVD.

(One Luddite had students fax him their work.)

But modern computers and modern grading systems don’t need any of that.

Although one of my writing coaches still suggests having everything backed up on a drive.

But Mark thinks the cloud is good enough.

You just don’t need all the bulk.

He retrofitted my dad’s old computer for me. Bought a new monitor and a wireless keyboard and mouse. It has a better version of Word. Foer editing, it’s perfect.

I’ve been fighting with my husband’s corded mouse for years.

No more.

This leaves me wondering why in a house with two people, we have four computers.

I bought my husband a basic tablet for his chemo trips and travel.

Thank goodness, chemo is done and Mark is cancer-free!

But my brother?

Oleg Ivanov on Unsplash

He bought a computer with a tower. His wife just couldn’t see any other way.

For me, my next computer is going to be tower-free.

My gamer husband hopes that the advanced graphics he needs will be available tower-free too.

Thanks for reading,

Nikki