Wednesday, December 18, 2013

It's Always Something

I know some of my blogging friends work in a field where they have to use technology everyday. I had to use it as a teacher, and my knowledge and experience sufficed and even surpassed many of my colleagues. That's not really something to brag about.

I continue to learn. I recently bought a Kindle Fire and am working on ways to get the most out of it. But sometimes something happens and I just can't figure it out. Last spring I finally bought a new laptop. A nice, thin lightweight model that is so portable and easy to use. I also bought a new printer at the same time. A multi-tasking wireless model. I've really enjoyed the ease of use. Except, about a week ago, my printer and laptop stopped talking to each other.

They say they are, but they're not. I've done all the easy checks. Wifi is working fine but the message just isn't getting through. I've tried everything but can't get it to work. I get so frustrated when I have to spend time on that when I'd rather be writing. I like to print off the first draft of my WIP and then use it as the outline for the second, cleaner version. Now I'm at 63,000 words and no printer. Arrgh!

I know many of you are taking some holiday blogging vacations. I'll be posting again on the 24th for Mark Koopmans's Fifty States of Pray but skipping this Friday.

So has technology ever stumped you? Any new tech you've learned lately that makes life easier? Are you going on 'blogging' vacation?

18 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I'll post for Mark's Fifty States of Pray, and then not again until the first Monday in January.
Sometimes it's something that goes bad on a computer that messes it up. Other times, you'll just go nuts trying to figure it out. Had that happen recently when I installed an Adobe product on an older computer. Everything worked great until that moment - then it couldn't even find the Internet anymore.

Patrick Stahl said...

Can you link your computer and printer with a USB cable? Evernote is very useful for ideas while I'm already in bed.

Maria Zannini said...

The only thing I can think of is that maybe the printer 'uninstalled' itself. That happened to me at work once.

Go to your Printers icon and check to make sure it's installed to the right printer. Occasionally it defaults to its old programming.

It's probably something else, but it's worth checking anyway.

Re: blogging
I've decided to cut back to once a week at least through January. I have two blogs so it's really still twice a week for me. :)

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

Something similar just happened to me! The Wifi was working because I could print from my laptop but we couldn't get online or anything. To make a long story short and to bypass all the unhelpful customer service people who just tried to sell us more stuff, we ended up getting a new router and modem and that seemed to fix everything. But, ugh. I hear you!

Taking a bit of a blogging break but still hanging around the blogosphere. :)

shelly said...

My hubby bought me a new Notebook. It has Windows 8. Yikes! Not to mention, Word has yet to be downloaded in it. I'm going crazy right now because I'm so behind in my getting Killer Stilettos finished.

Unknown said...

I figure my incompetence with technology is good fodder for my children's amusement and propensity towards eye rolling ;). I'm happy to oblige.

Bossy Betty said...

Sounds like your printer and computer need therapy to learn how to communicate with each other again!

Pat Hatt said...

My laptop went kaput 2 days ago, tried everything to get the damn thing to work, took me 7 hours to fix it. Hate wasting time on such crap too. As always still posting everyday at my zoo. Break, what's that? lol

Liz Blocker said...

LOL. My wife is a teacher so I totally hear you about the technology knowledge in that realm. She always ends up going to the computer teacher for help - she calls him the IT department!

I have some more knowledge than her, but usually just enough to be dangerous. I hate it when everything stops working, and you lose writing time!! This isn't tech-driven, but I lost a good two hours this morning to shoveling, thanks to the heavy snowfall we got last night. Sigh...

Robin said...

Technology is wonderful and terrible. I hate when things happen like with your printer and laptop. Unfortunately, this sort of junk happens a lot and is very time sucking. I hope you get yours straightened out soon.

Laura S. said...

I wish I was a tech wiz, but I only know the basics. That's why I love a manual, but unfortunately some things don't come with manuals anymore because it's all online. Which is fine...unless part of the problem is that the internet isn't working! Sometimes technology is more hindrance than help, LoL. Good luck fixing your computer/printer issue, Susan!!

Happy reading and writing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines

LD Masterson said...

Sorry, I have no bright ideas on your printer problem. I'm in the same boat myself. My wireless router will talk to every device in the house but not to my modem. So if the router is on, my computers can talk to each other but not to the Internet. Rather defeats the purpose of a WiFi.

Dana said...

I'm not sure yet how much I'll post during the Christmas season. I guess I'll wait and see if inspiration strikes! :)

I battle with technology all the time. Good luck!

Cate Masters said...

I have a holiday release, so will post about that. :)

Technology's frustrating, I agree. Especially when upgrades only make using them more complicated.

Unknown said...

I also struggle from time to time with technology. In a way the old fashion way might be easier.
Have a happy blogging vacation.

Heather R. Holden said...

I definitely get stumped by technology sometimes. I like to blame it on the fact that I was the only person in my age group who didn't grow up with computers and the like, heh. Hope you figure out what's going on with your laptop and printer!

The Happy Whisk said...

This past birthday for my mom, we got her a typewriter, and it wasn't easy finding one that wasn't all teched;out, but we managed. She just wanted as simple as possible.

Hope you have a great weekend.

dolorah said...

Technology constantly stumps me. There is no operating manual; its all figure it out. I just bought a Galaxy 3 tablet, and because I needed my 15 year old son to help me figure it out, I had to buy him one to.

Argh, lol.

......dhole