The Art of using Things until they fall apart

Admittedly, this is the age of smartphones and tablet computers. I had only just opened up a book about how to do things best with one's PC, published and printed three years ago in 2009. This was before tablets became so ubiquitous. And here I am with an ancient old office computer at home, running on Windows98 since its processor capacity wouldn't allow me to install Windows XP, and I don't want to spend money upgrading it because I don't know for how much longer it will continue keeping a stiff upper byte.

(Microsoft Media)

Just imagine, you go and have its RAM upgraded from 64 MB, absolutely laughable these days, to today's minimum of 1GB which, even as the absolute bottom line, isn't going to do much more than leave the friendly technician at your local computer store shaking his head in disbelief. Haven't I recently seen something like 64 GB (that would be 1024 times my vintage PC's capacity of RAM alone, not to mention further improvements behind the scenes), or wasn't there even 128 GB, not to mention 500GB of harddrive capacity, and now people have even begun talking terabytes, 1024 GB equalling 1 TB. Where do I stand with my 64MB RAM Windows98 PC?

My ancient vintage PC, apart from its humble RAM, sports a 10-MB harddisk, wow, let's forget about the processor speed, there's not much of a point looking it up just for the sake of it. But it's happy running on Windows98, and so am I most of the time when I'm doing my work with it and it does reliably all I need it to do for me. Might I be seen as somewhat retro in the way I'm using my PC? Possibly. But I don't really miss anything.

Certainly, as soon as it stops working - Heaven forbid - I will spend all the time I need so spend in front of a computer screen at my "real" computer that runs on Windows XP - yes, that's the one I go online with; you cannot earnestly go online with a Windows98 PC any longer, the necessity of having a reliable firewall and anti-virus-worm-etc software running forbids the use of Win98 online.

Believe it or not, I read the other day that WinXP is still the most popular and most widespread operating system around the world, in spite of Windows7 (wasn't there something in between that most people using Win7 now prefer to forget). And there already is the upcoming Windows8, there are the first books announcing it in what-to-expect terms.

(Microsoft Media)

And when - Heaven forbid that, too - my trusted WinXP PC decides to retire, I'll be forced to buy a new computer. Gosh. And then I'll have to think hard. Will I be bold enough to go straight for a very modern, state-of-the-art computer with Windows8 pre-installed on it, taken that I'll be trying to use it, too, until it falls apart? Or will I feel safer buying one of the last Windows7 computers sitting on the shelves?

If the hardware is good and I remember to vacuum the machine every now and then to prevent built-up of dust inside and out, it might last another seven odd years, and who knows what will be available by the time I'll have to face the next decision about what kind of computing power I might possibly need. I'm getting the feeling that I treat my PC pretty much the same way I tread my trousers and shoes.

I wear them until they almost become a liability in that I cannot possibly wear them outside my home any longer without feeling painfully ashamed. I'll then use them in my living room until they can only serve one last purpose - polish our car that I wash once or twice a year - before the bare fabrics may or may not still be good enough for recycling, unless staff in recycling plants decide otherwise and send them to the nearest landfill.

Before you suggest, PC manufacturers had better stop producing computers that can last so long, always provided they are treated well, and Microsoft might want to stop producing updates, remember that PCs that fall apart quickly will only send people to competitors, and operating systems vulnerable to hacker attacks will make people shy away from them, too, and go elsewhere instead.

(Microsoft Media)

It's a real dilemma. Passing the buck might become yet another artful way of dealing with modern technology. It may come to be expected of people, consumers that is, not to treat their PCs, laptops, notebooks, tablets and smartphones all too well. In that regard, the manufacturer of my new smartphone can count themselves lucky. I recently dropped my old semi-smart-phone, and though I still miss it at times, it was beyond repair after falling from a height of about a metre twenty.

This means, being clumsy is a certain plus for the economy, perhaps even a clear growth factor. But what are some manufacturers advertising their new notebook or tablet computers with? They can withstand being dropped and even getting wet. Just imagine. What do we have to think up and do next as consumers to keep our economy going?