Navigating Today's World Without Opposable Thumbs

Joni - That's my way of doing things too!  I need a catalyst before I go out an purchase.  Usually, it when my existing technical devices fail me!

Juli - I still have my pink Smith Corona typewriter, that my parents bought me before starting high school.  We won't say what year that was:-)

Dick - That's the way I see I-Pads too.  They are more an accompaniment to everything else, rather than a replacement!

Fred - I haven't really delved into Windows 8, but know the day is likely to come before long.  My existing desktop is 6 years old.  I hate to say it, but this desktop is my workhorse that gets used most of the time.  And I think the whole printer/toner cost thing is a conspiracy.  The toners cost so much they ought to give us the printer for free. 

Gail - I think I-Pads can be a wonderful tool for Realtors!  But I'd hate to conduct my entire business using only an I-Pad.

Kathy - I can sympathize with your husband's collection of technology.  While I don't still have that ole Apple IIE that I bought back in 1983.  I do still have some other tech devices that I should get out of the trunk in the garage and photograph for you one day!

Tom - A half a trillion dollars is more than the entire economies of several nations on the planet, when you stop to think about it.  I'm betting Greece can only fantasize about having that amount at their disposal right now!

Rich - That's exactly how I see it too!

Janice - I often lament that I think good face-to-face communication is a dying art.  So too is good grammer and english skills.  Some texts I get my grandkids look like cryptic code from an alien planet.  It's a contest to figure out what they are trying to say with so few characters. . .But I'm getting there:-)

Rob - Awhile back I was going to photograph and blog about some of the old devices I still have.  But embarrassment kept me from it.  I'm sure it will take someone like Dr. Phil threatening me with a "Hoarder" intervention to pry them from my fingers.  I keep hearing my parents say, "things should last a lifetime.  Or, waste not, want not."

Lanre - I was thinking the other day about how many times I have converted movies taken of my grown kids when they were young children.  They've gone from Beta, to VHS, to DVR.  I keep worrying the next "best" gee-wizzary will not convert the old technology to new.  It's like a nightmare in the back of my mind:-)

Silvia - I still have a half box of those floppy disks sitting around.  Thank you for reminding me that I need to dump those.  But I'm still hanging on to the box of diskettes. . .LOL

All - My neighbor, Jack, has read this post, and because he is not an AR member can't directly respond.  Jack has valuable insight, that I wanted to share.  It follows here:

Hi Myrl,
As a computer technician I am here to say that Windows 8 will be another poorly thought out Vista type launch from Microsoft. Like Vista your existing desktop will not fully use it until you install costly additional hardware; and your laptop will have to be replaced.  For your desktop you will have to upgrade to a graphics card that will work with a touch screen monitor. You will also have to get a touchscreen monitor. None of the major computer manufacturers are advertising systems compatible with Windows 8. Neither desktop or laptop. I haven't seen any adds for touchscreen video cards, or touchscreen monitors. Yes,  Windows 8 will still work with a keyboard, mouse, and standard monitor but it is designed to work without them. If you add together the cost of the software and the hardware upgrades required you will come close to the cost of an entry level system with all the necessary parts and software installed.  You will still have to wait for your favorite software to be released in a Windows 8 format. Considering the expense I see most people waiting until they have to replace their existing equipment when it fails. Like Vista I don't see the business world jumping on the Windows bandwagon -both in time lost learning a new operating system and the hardware cost. As far as Win 8 and touchscreens replacing desktops with large keyboards and large easy to read screens I don't see it happening. I don't need or want a 19' glorified I-Pad. I don't have a touchscreen smartphone and I don't need to have that kind of operating system on my desktop. Windows 7 is an excellent product and I am sticking with it. Windows 8 will make all of our existing hardware and software obsolete. No thanks Microsoft - I am not interested.

Debra - Please note the frightening prospects that I posted from Jack (comment #29).

William - I think the biggerst concern I have about the direction we are going comes in my frequent use of Photo Shop to edit photos.  There is the little "magic lasso" tool that I use frequently.  I can't imagine trying to do that without a mouse!  I think I-Pads are wonderful for real estate professionals, but I see them as an auxilary tool to either a desk top or laptop, not the whole enchilada.  If you note Jack's comment that I posted in comment #29, I can see some head butting coming up in the computer world!

Patricia - Your comment, "Technology has us by the throat..." is so appropriate!

Elizabeth - I am so glad you shared that with me.  I knew if I shuffled around this planet long enough, that instead of being born behind the times, I would actually be born before it. . .LOL