STATUS: Tomorrow will be as pleasant as a root canal.
What’s playing on the iPod right now? GOD ONLY KNOWS by The Beach Boys
And I’m not saying that just because I went to the dentist this morning. Luckily I got the clean bill of health so no root canal in my future—except for the metaphorical one that’s happening tomorrow. Yep, you guessed it. Computer upgrades.
That means all brand spanking new software needs to be loaded up and all files transferred. I’m sure I’ll love it when the transition is complete but let me tell you, I’m not even doing the upgrade work and it’s nerve-wracking. (And no, I’m not doing Windows Vista as my tech person advises against it. Too many bugs).
I have to say Lynnelle is the calmest person I know. She’d have to be. Just the thought of wrestling with a computer makes me cranky but she actually enjoys it.
But here’s what I’m most excited about. My new 22-inch monitor. Bigger is better baby. I actually thought about doing the dual monitors but with publishers sending contracts electronically, I really want to see the draft and the final side-by-side.
Not to mention, if the final contract is in locked Word, you can scroll both documents simultaneously. Let me tell you, this makes verifying all changes so much easier. And since I have three contracts currently in the review process, I’ll take that new monitor for a test run on Friday.
And don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten. I’m digging out my NYC notes tomorrow…. Have laptop. Will blog.
Ick, my sympathies. :/ I hate upgrading, even though my husband does this for a living and handles the transition for me, there’s always a lot of little hassles after he turns it over to me — the bazillion fixes and additions and adjustments it takes to get the thing working and looking the way you want it.
Hope everything goes smoothly. [crossed fingers]
Angie
Wishing you a smooth transition. I live in fear of the day I’ll have to switch computers. Give me the shivers just thinking about it!
Dang. Here I was, hoping you’d picked up on a new and improved trend in the length of MSS you’d received — but you just meant a monitor.
Oh well. Congrats on and have fun with the new monitor anyway. And the ever-shorter MSS. 🙂
Puter upgrade day = a good day to take off work.
Kristin,
You made the right decision concerning Vista. My workplace won’t upgrade to Vista, and I work at a university library. Unfortunately, my personal laptop has it installed. 🙁
You’ll love your new monitor.
I use a 26″ widescreen and it helps tremendously when I’m working in Excel (spreadsheets and widescreens were meant for each other!). Graphics programs work well on it, too. Other applications like Word? They’re okay, but I don’t really utilize all the extra real estate (as I’m sure you will).
I joke with others that if they get a large widescreen to also get a neck brace: you’ll be turning your head a lot from one side to the other!
We have a bunch of 22″ monitors here at work and they’re quite nice.
Enjoy your new system!
Hubby bought me a 24″ monitor last Christmas–but then again he is a computer geek extraordinaire. It’s pretty awesome to have two windows fully open at the same time.
Love it!
Ah, the joys of a 22″ monitor. As a writer, I value mine for doing revisions and things like that.
I hope everything goes well with your update. (Btw, I’m with your tech person regarding Windows Vista. Not so much because of the bugs, but because of performance issues.)
SO glad you’re not going with Vista. My husband got a new computer and he curses Vista daily. I even offered to trade computers with him, he was suffering so much, and my computing needs are simple. He said, “I wouldn’t do that to you.”
Oooo I envy your 22″ monitor! I think we’re getting one soon and I can’t wait! Just wish they could somehow manage to create a laptop with such a screen but is light as feather. I heart my laptop. Hope the upgrades go well and have fun with those contracts!
I’m with Angie. I have Vista on my personal laptop and I’m convinced it’s what makes my *relatively new* personal laptop the bane of my existence. Even if I become a multi-million dollar best-selling author I’m convinced I’ll be forever compelled to type my manuscript on library computers.
– Jim
Blue Pens? Or Black Pens? Take my poll!
My wife has been using Vista for going on two years, and has never had complaints…her computing needs are simple.
Myself, I prefer XP, and dual flatscreens. 🙂
Switch to a mac 😉
I’ve been using Vista for the better part of a year and I’ve had no problems with it. Not a single bug.
You probably already know this, but Word has a great feature to compare documents. If you have both documents in Word, open one, click “tools,” then “compare and merge documents,” and then select the other document you want to compare. I often un-select the “find formatting” box.
Click “compare.” You get a new document that’s the original one you opened with any changes marked like the track change feature does it to show the differences between the two.
That’d be a great way to compare contracts.
Word’s “text compare” feature is the professional way to compare documents. To do it any other way is to hope your eyes don’t miss something.
Also, you can “unlock” a “locked Word doc in the Developer settings.