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You can't beat the computer. I use it for everything. Shopping, paying bills, keeping in touch with friends and plain old entertainment. Today I have played a couple games of Mahjong, checked my email, paid some bills, and checked the tracking numbers on a package I sent and one that's coming to me. Watched a video of a birthday party I wasn't able to attend on utube. My TV is a computer too and I use a roku to binge watch series like Doc Martin, Medium, and House of Cards. I never watched much TV so I have tons to catch up on. I read on the computer too. Thanks to the local library I am reading a Grisham novel they sent me as an epub. And I am always on their waiting list for something.
Can't imagine retired life without a computer. Saves me tons of gas and running around. Puts the world at my fingertips!
Your interesting statement I bolded gave me the idea for a thread and a poll, which I created just now. (Personally, that would be such an agonizing choice for me that I could not make it; therefore I included a third "Cannot choose" choice in the poll).
Where I live, there are local stores, but if you want to go to a brick and mortar one other than walmart its a drive. I started out on computers back in the early 80's an got to try my not yet husband's Model 80. Loved it... and my first computer was bought from my own earnings as a programmer in 86. The turbo xt lasted past windows since it ran when it was hot without shutdown and I could do word processing on it. But I've had a computer at hand ever since that first one. I got involved in the early bbs's and we ran our own. We were all local, and the sysops had a club and we met for dinner once a month. I got involved in the news groups as soon as I could. I still have stories posted there which can be found. And can't imagine not having the internet.
When I moved, the first thing to be put in was the data line from the cable company. But I met my friends who told me about here where I live online and wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the net. I left my car as it was dying. I don't go out much since I don't have a car and it is frustrating, but given the choice I'd take my computers.
I get rides around town. But more and more I do most of my large item shopping online. Why make the trip to walmart and have to haul it in and out of the truck if you can order it from your livingroom and haul it in the door? I also buy a considerable amount of normal household stuff off amazon. Even if there were stores conviently close, I'd still go there first. Lately most of my rides are for fresh vegies and milk and stuff like that. I'm hoping Walmart does do the 45 dollar a year no cost three day shipping on everything.
So while I still need a better transportation fix, I'd still buy online as much as I do now, and save gas for the more fun things over shopping.
So I've made my choice. To really afford a car, I'd need to skip some bill. The high speed internet connection isn't even on the list. I still have my marginally working laptops so if they force w.10 on us if we buy new, I'll just get one of them fixed.
I am curious to know the approximate ages of the folks you know who don't have computers. If they are 80 and above, I am not really surprised. But if they are in their 70's I find it rather strange.
In 63. I only know one person who doesn't want a computer. She's younger than me. She used to play cards on her dad's but that's all. And then there's my fil. He's in his mid heading up 80's. You wouldn't have your phone or laptop without him since his work was part of the first mini hard drive controllers which meant you didn't have to use a card to control them. He also worked on the miniturization of said controller so you can have a tiny little harddrive.
When they used the 'den' for the computer room, he had five. He had books and stuff all over so when they moved he got a room with a door. He's still active and uses face book to keep in touch with the kids and grand kids. My mil, though, who took a course in Computer engineering and never used it, isn't interested at all....
But I'd say anyone less than the mid/high sixties likely had exposure to computers early enough it stuck, and older than that, your more likely to see those who aren't. Those who aren't if they were going to take the plunge would have before. But with things like the digital book readers even they may have slipped in.
....tons of spreadsheets....for keeping track of investment portfolio, budget, other retirement planning, medical lab results over time, my sister's blood sugar results....the list is practically endless...I even have a spreadsheet that breaks out the portions of my yard and calculates how many pounds of fertilizer to weigh out for each area depending on pounds / 1000 sq. ft!
I'm also constantly on the lookout for good sources (free!) of weather data, another big hobby of mine. I hope to get more into photography and photoshopping.
Plus all the usual for trip planning, shopping the best deals, and keeping up with various forums including c-d but also stuff like morningstar and bogleheads.
I am curious to know the approximate ages of the folks you know who don't have computers. If they are 80 and above, I am not really surprised. But if they are in their 70's I find it rather strange.
Most are in their 70s, but they weren't in industries where computers came on until late in their career, if before they retIred.
Most are in their 70s, but they weren't in industries where computers came on until late in their career, if before they retIred.
Are these people in NE Tennessee where you are from? I can see how people in their 70s in a mostly rural and rather remote area might not have had much exposure or interest in computers.
Are these people in NE Tennessee where you are from? I can see how people in their 70s in a mostly rural and rather remote area might not have had much exposure or interest in computers.
Danger flag! Danger flag! Are you referring to hillbillies and/or rednecks? I received some very heavy hammering for my hillbilly/redneck jokes a while back. While some people liked them, others were offended big time.
Here's one way I use my computer which I forgot to include in the post I made earlier in this thread, namely interfacing with my local public libraries.
1. I sometimes renew books online. In my opinion that's easier than using the telephone renewal system, and it sure beats going to the library in person if renewal is the only reason for the trip.
2. If I am looking for a particular title or author, I can search the library catalog online. Again, it beats going in person only to find out the library doesn't have that book. Also, if the book is shown to be checked out and if I'm not in a hurry for it, I can place a hold request via computer.
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