OG stunned me by buying me a very fancy new camera, complete with a box of mysterious accessories I have no idea how to use. I thought I'd been fine using my phone, but he saw how much I enjoyed taking photos of sunsets and making my calendars, and listened to my complaints of not being able to take decent moon shots. Some husbands (most?) would have shrugged those complaints off, but not OG. He is a man of action. LOL. He's convinced I'll have a great time taking pictures of all our wonderful flora and fauna, mountains and beaches as soon as I learn how to operate the new camera, and I'm sure he's right. I never thought much about photographs except as vacation mementos until we moved here, but now I'm surrounded with natural beauty that deserves to be shared with the rest of you. Expect great pictures this year!
However, before I could begin to learn how to use my new camera, an even more momentous piece of tech entered my life--a new laptop! PO&O was visiting for Christmas and popped into my office while I was checking my email after we returned from shopping the after-Christmas sales on the 26th. My five-year-old laptop was whirring away loudly, as it so often did, and she was horrified. She insisted to OG that I needed a new machine before I burned the house down. (It wasn't that bad; I swear it!)
Now OG's laptop is even older than mine, and we had been thinking we both needed new ones, but sometime in the indeterminate future. That future arrived for me in an instant. Before I could object, they loaded me in the car and drove me to Best Buy. An hour later, I was the proud owner of this lovely machine:
I had wanted something with a larger screen, because doing any type of graphic work--especially book covers--on my small-screened, older model was making me cross-eyed. I got what I wanted. However, in the bargain I also got Windows 10, which I'd been avoiding. OG ordered me Window 10 for Dummies as soon as we got home and insisted I not open the computer box until book arrived. Of course, I also had to buy new Word 2016 and Photoshop Elements 15 software (cha-ching, cha-ching), along with a manual for the Photoshop. I just don't have the patience to try to figure out all the updates on my own or through UTube videos.
I've spent the past week getting the machine up and running, adjusting to the features of Windows 10, and moving all my files. I'm happy to report it wasn't too difficult and I'm adjusting nicely. This post is the first piece of official "work" I've done on the new laptop, and it was a piece of cake. Now to get busy on my WIP!
Alison
www.alisonhenderson.com
14 comments:
Very cool about the new camera, Alison! For someone with visual skills like you have, I'm sure it makes a huge difference. (For me, no new equipment will make me "see" or produce the perfect photo!) Looking forward to seeing the new shots! And congrats on the new laptop, and for getting a good handle on the software. Only a week is pretty darn impressive!
Good luck, Alison. I have a love hate thing with new tech stuff. Once I get over the learning curve I usually love but boy to I spit and fume until then. You sound much more talented in that direction than me. Congrats!
TOYS! AND TAX DEDUCTABLE, TOO!! Whoot. Well, I'm not so sure about the camera, but the laptop and software, for sure. Your tax accountant will amortize it over like 3 years. I think that's the number. ACK! Senior moment. Have fun learning and playing as you do. Yay you!
Alison, your attitude is amazing! I bought a huge monitor with an umbilical to my MacBook Air so I didn't have to stray too far from my comfort zone. I still don't know why the icons drift from the monitor back to the Mac sometimes, as if to get some mom-time. But I can put a research piece on the Mac and be typing away on my manuscript on the monitor...love that feature! Your new photo equipment will be so much fun for you! Around the corner is the time we can easily add pictures to our text...you'll be ready!
I look forward to your photos on the new camera. As for the laptop, it's good to know you're mastering it. I'm afraid my old one is about to die...
Leah, it remains to be seen how much my photos improve, but I'm going to give it my best.
Brenda, since Windows 10 was designed for a touch screen environment, I think it helped that I got an iPad mini last year, so the concepts aren't entirely foreign. My new computer also has a touch screen, although I still use my mouse.
Vonnie, OG is my tax accountant, and he pointed out the amortization and deductibility right away! LOL
Rolynn, I've always been in awe of people who can use two screens. A number of the younger employees in my office went to that shortly before I retired. I'll be happy if I can just get as comfortable with this machine as I was with my old one.
Jannine, I really hated to give up my old laptop, but its days were numbered, and we both knew it.
What super gifts, Alison! Your photos of sunrises/sunsets were beautiful before. I can imagine how great they'll be with your new camera. Hubs has been struggling with my cast-off laptop for months and it finally died for good. Since he let me pick out my own Christmas gift (an iPad) I thought he would want to pick out his own, a new laptop. He came home from Best Buy (our fav store) with a new laptop. Now he's playing with it while watching TV. LOL I figure I'm going to have to get help with the iPad from daughter and/or daughter-in-law. Despite having a iPhone, Apple products are a different beast from a PC. LOL Have fun with your gifts.
Wow. New is not my thing since, like you, I need the Dummies books. Sounds like a good new yeqr.
Wow, Alison, you did truly hit the jackpot. I hope you enjoy those goodies, learn to use them with ease, and show us the results in due course.
Awesome! Sounds like you hit the jackpot for sure. :) I would have a very hard time learning to use the camera, but I'm sure when you figure it out, you'll be so thrilled. And, be sure to please share the beautiful pics you'll be taking!
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