My wife now has an Apple iBook we bought from French eBay for around £100. The iBook is a laptop that comes with a USB port, CD drive and a easy to use operating system.
A lot of the computer equipment I have around is old but still very useful and working fine. I don't believe you need to buy the latest, my own computer has been put together from bits and pieces I have picked up over time. Only two items were bought new and that was the mouse and the Hercules WiFi card. The WiFi card is now in use in another old PC with the Ubuntu Linux operating system installed. I got that operating system free from the USA – no charge, not even for post and packing. The monitors I use have either been given to me with very old computer systems or as in the case of the LCD screen I have, second user from eBay.
I don't really play games, so all I need is a suitable system with enough processor power (1.2Ghz) to write (Open Office – free download), an operating system (Ubuntu is free) and access to the Internet.
So my main computer is about 6-7 years old, still works and seems fast enough for what I need. Do I need to upgrade? If I need to then all I would do is replace the processor or if that proves difficult then I would replace the mother board. If storage runs out then I can replace or add another hard disk drive.
Even my mobile phone is getting on a bit. Originally released in 2004, my Motorola A1000 has Symbian OS version 7 (now up to version 9 I think), features fancy displays, plays video, music and has blue tooth. Basically a PDA and phone mixed together. A new phone with all that would cost with contract around €250 I believe. Mine came from eBay for around £100. Of course the most important feature is that it can make phone calls!
Don't ever feel you need to buy the latest and greatest. Old systems can still be very usable. When it comes to questions of support, many of the manufactures still have documentation online and there are loads of support forums and fan sites that can help with difficult questions.
So now you know how old my computer is, how old is yours?
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What visitors have said...
- Jack Peverill said on 31 October 2007
Here's my comment: Jack Peverill wrote: > Bob: > > I certainly like some of your suggestions. There is a certain pleasure in “making do’ with older products—Maybe part of my(yours?) upbringing. Some might argue that your time is too valuable to fool around with old stuff, but I like the idea. My kids always tell me that I should ditch older stuff and just go get the new stuff because the old stuff is antiquated or passé(it may be a scant few months old!). We have here the “Throw-away economy”.(I have never bought this notion, so I am a little old-fashioned. You can do that now with all these cheap things that come over from China—this may not always be the case. > > You did mention that you got some free software from the US. Not to be chauvin, but I must say, here in America many things are “Offerts” that one has to pay for over there, both in England and in France, especially France. An example are all those phone calls that have the charges if you call them. They’d go out of business if they did that here. My daughter lives up in Doncaster and it seems like they pay through the nose for all manner of things re computers, etc. and even then, there are multiple glitches! > > Anyway, I live in France in the summer and love it in spite of all this – I think you know why > > > > Jack Peverill
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My name is Bob Toovey, a UK expat living in south west France. I have worked in IT for over 20 years. I hope to give you helpful advice about using your computer and more whether you run a business or just enjoying expat life.
