Categories
Computing

The Old Workhorse Prepared For Retirement

clunker computer
Clunker Computer

Mom’s current computer is at least ten years old. Back in the day it probably ran Windows 98, then I put Linux on it. Now is the time for it to go to the scrap pile and be replaced by Mom’s New old computer. Dad made a comment that when the HP is setup for Mom’s use that it should have an anti-virus installed. So I remembered that Microsoft was now producing it’s own anti-virus free for everyone. It is my opinion that both McAfee and Norton should drop dead anyway. I considered Microsoft Security Essentials to be far better than any of my other options.

My original plan was to setup the laptop where the CRT monitor is sitting now. Mom would use a regular keyboard and mouse just like she is now. However, my plan changed when Mom said she wanted to use the keyboard and touchpad built in to the laptop. The touchpad is something new that she has never used before. She thinks using the touchpad is more advanced than a plain mouse. I’m not sure that the touchpad is the best thing for her but if she wants to try it, so be it. What this means for the moment is that the laptop can’t sit where I originally planned for it. I was disappointed because I was ready to tear into the old computer and start unhooking it but such was not meant to be.

Categories
Computing

The Old Workhorse Meets His Replacement

 

Old vs New
Old vs NewÂ

The old laptop on the left is an HP Pavilion dv4000 and the new one on the right is a Dell Inspiron N5010. The HP has been through the battle and it came out only slightly dinged. A piece of molding on the left side is broke off and there is a wear mark on the right side of the touch pad where my hand always rested. The Intel graphics are old enough that they are no longer supported by the 2.6.38 Linux kernel. Finally, the main reason why I replaced the HP is that the cd burner started throwing errors when I was burning sermons on disk for church.

broken molding on laptop
broken molding on laptop

Those are all of the things wrong with the laptop but that wouldn’t prevent it from being useful in retirement. Once I have the Dell setup and I’m at home using it. I will give the old laptop to my mom for her to use. The HP is still a fast machine good for web surfing and email.