I haven’t been hiding, honest. First the good news and then the bad…
You probably haven’t noticed but I’ve been a bit quiet lately and missed some scheduled posts – in particular last Monday’s creative writing exercise. That wasn’t intentional but a few things happened that meant I was behind with everything.
First the good news.
I got a new computer! Hurray!!!! I have a full size screen again and no longer have to peer at my laptop and wear out my right hand scrolling down so I can see the buttons at the bottom and then zip back up the top while I can still remember why I wanted to see the buttons at the bottom and then…so, I have a nice big screen, bigger than my television set which I didn’t realise until I got it home. I expect it will have all sorts of benefits and will be good for frown lines and my use of Anglo-Saxon.
Now for the bad news.
I got a new computer! I have to learn new things. Things which leaped out from my old laptop are now tucked away in dusty corners and have to be ferreted out. Why is the standard tool bar set up so I can access 12 different styles of headline in a nano second but doesn’t give me word count, right now, when I want it? In fact the word count tool isn’t even in a dusty corner. It’s been a week and I still haven’t been able to hunt it down. It is definitely hiding. There will be trouble when I find it.
And the really bad news.
My new computer isn’t an Apple. I’ve been using an Apple for four years and my PC is strangely unfamiliar. Yikes! There’s a delete button – why do I need that? (I remember the weeks it took to get used to not having a delete – seems like a skill wasted somehow.) I’ll get used to it, I know I will, but my heart belongs to Apple even if my bank balance doesn’t.
Normal service will be resumed as soon as my IT department comes around. (Or eldest son as he prefers to be called.)
Have you converted from a PC to Apple and gone back again? Any words of encouragement? Or shall I always pine for my Macbook?
(And where is the word count?)
photo credit: Lili Vieira de Carvalho via photopin cc
17 comments on “I haven’t been hiding, honest. First the good news and then the bad…”
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BRIDGET WHELAN writer 
Hi Bridget, I struggle the other way around when faced with Apple software, though it looks lovely! On my oldish version of Word, the word count icon is under the ‘Review’ menu – it doesn’t say what it is, but the icon is ABC with 123 underneath, next to ‘Translate’… Hope yours is the same, good luck. I’ve signed up for your course at the Friends Centre and look forward to meeting you on Tuesday. Alison
Found it! Thank you and how great you’re going to be part of my Tuesday class. I promise I won’t ask you computer-related questions!
You’ll get used to it. With a windows pc you know exactly what’s going on, where everything is and have clear control of it all. The operating system makes clear sense. Macs have a poncy os which often makes little sense. Plus you have to learn Apple’s stupid, pretentious names for things. When I download or save things the Mac puts them all over the place – I have to go hunting for them. Grrrrr! And yes, I AM sure I want to shut down! I’ve never hit ‘Cancel’ in 20 years so stop bloody asking!
That clear, simple little delete button on your pc is so much better than having to click and scroll down a list to find ‘Move to Trash’ or having to click and drag unwanted stuff across the screen to the recycle bin.
I trained on a mac, spent 10 years on a pc but have been back on macs for about 5 years; most of that spent swearing at the bloody things. Maybe it’s time to swap this new Macbook for a good used WIndows methinks.
PC all the way!
x.
You do realise you’re talking to someone to whom operating systems do not make sense ever…I accept them as a kind of magic. (And I’m grateful that they sometimes obey me when I perform the right spell.) But interesting you’re back with an Apple and still not seduced by its good looks. That gives me some confidence that my PC has hidden charms. Right, I’ll stop there otherwise I’ll add another metaphor to the mix…but glad to have your experiences. You’ve cheered me up.
In Microsoft Word 2010 and probably various other versions, you can add Word Count to the ‘Quick Access Toolbar’, which is the toolbar at the very top left.
– Right-click the Quick Access Toolbar.
– Ciick ‘Customize Quick Access Toolbar’.
– Set the ‘Choose commands from’ dropdown to ‘All Commands’.
– Scroll down the long list underneath and select ‘Word Count…’.
– Click the ‘Add’ button in the middle of the screen.
– Click the ‘OK’ button at the bottom right.
hth
Jim
I am going to do that. I’m feeling better already.
Let me know if you have probs pls.
Did you ever se a fantastic series on BBC1 a million years ago called ‘Don’t Forget to Write’, I wonder?
Just looked up ‘Don’t Forget to Write’ and gather it was a 1970s comedy starring George Cole – doesn’t ring any bells. Like to pretend it was before my time, but I was young and television didn’t figure much in my life. But I do love Ed Reardon on Radio Four – required listening for any writer or would-be writer!
So long ago? whoops…
It was awash with good actors and performances, e.g. George Cole as the writer, Gwen Watford as the quietly hysterical wife and mother, Francis Matthews et al. Catrch it if you can!
An apple is something for eating!.
At one time envied people with them, but never could afford one.
But then one day I realised to stay in the film and edit world, I knew I would have to crack a computer
I met this girl when I was still updating my therapy skills with NLP. I was telling her I had been in the film industry and knew about bits of film hanging up on nails and editing with scissors, but was terrified of computers. She said ‘well a computer does the same thing Ann, only the film is laying flat and you chop it up and edit with a key marked scissors’.
Never looked back..and despite being discalulous and insane..learned everything intuitively, one thing at time on a PC.
I do remember however, going on a course at City Lit and they refused to help me because I had a PC and everyone else used an Apple! The irony was that once one had logged on to Adobe it was exactly the same process on both!
You will be fineX
Sounds as though you’re dyed in the wool anti-apple and I know you’re not alone. Haven’t been converted though – I changed purely on price and because I am not making music or films I couldn’t justify the extra cost.
I’m really sorry to hear this Bridget. For me, a Mac is ALWAYS worth the price of entrance. It’s like belonging to the best club in the world. I’m only on my third Mac in 20 years of using computers. It’s like buying Chanel over Primark. I don’t just use my Mac, I am in love with my Mac. It makes working a pleasure as well as a necessity. I look forward to going on my Mac every day and I miss it and pine for it when I’m away.
Oh and not for nothing, yes, I did notice you’d gone quiet. I hope it works out for you – but I bet you come back to us!
Chanel over Primark..! Ah, you’re so right and it’s no good telling yourself that both keep you warm, but sometimes needs must.
Could well come back to the fold as second son may be getting rid of his old mac soon (musician so he wouldn’t have anything else) so maybe I’ll have that. Two year old granddaughter prefers the ‘little pooter’ – the ipad.
Heh. Don’t listen to me Bridget – I spend money I don’t have. I have champagne/Chanel tastes on a Primark income. I believe in doing what David O Selznick’s (Gone with the Wind producer) father told him to do – spend your money, always be broke.
Glad your youngest goes for a Mac. Musicians can be very fussy. Sweet about “the little pooter” I hope your granddaughter has lots of fun with it.
Think I always have to have rainy day money – which is useful because the rain is actually coming into my living room now…ho hum. My granddaughter has lots of fun with everything but her main love is drawing and at two and 3/4 her people have eyes and faces and – very recent development – arms and legs! So proud…
Don’t know about the music, and don’t get me wrong, would have loved a Mac but was completely out of the question, not only a single parent who worked her socks off, then tried to keep the ‘oldies’ in a style to which they had become accustomed!
But where there is a will there is a way and I edit all my films on Adobe 6.5 on my PC!
Call me if you think I can help at all and let your granddaughter have all the crayons, pencils, paint in the world ….which great artist do you know that had a Mac!
Eyes and arms..brilliantx
I love both apple and pc what is your friends course Bridget? I have noticed you have been quiet