We get our work computers from a contractor who replaces them every three years. This wouldn’t be too much of an issue if we got top-of-the-line machines each time; they’d easily get us through three years. But we don’t. My current machine has only 40 GB of drive space (partioned into two 20 GB “drives,” such that I am only allowed to store my data on one of the partitions, meaning I’m constantly running out of disk space) and an astounding 256 MB of memory.
Today, my groaning, chugging, hulking lump of a computer is finally, finally, getting refreshed. Nevermind that due to poor prodecures on the contractor side, this refresh process will take the entire day, leaving me sitting around twiddling my thumbs and attempting to get some work done on Matt’s computer (since he’s in Florida for the good-grief-is-it-ever-gonna-happen shuttle launch). I’m just happy to finally be getting a computer that won’t take 5 mintues to boot and 30 seconds to open an email.
The best part of the conversation with my refresh guy so far though has got to have been the part that dealt with my monitor. The computers come with 17″ monitors. Most people in my group, including me, have gotten 21″ monitors over the years, bought by our group and not the contractor, since the larger monitors are better for all the analysis and charts and graphs we have to do. My big monitor, however, technically belongs to my current group, and since I am leaving soon to move down the hall, I need to both keep the big monitor and get one of the standard 17″ flat panels.
Tech Guy: “Do you want to keep the big monitor or do you want the standard one?”
Me: “Both. I’m moving and will need the standard one in a few weeks. For now, can you just leave it in the box and put it under my desk?”
Tech Guy: “Ummmmmmmm……we have to take it out of the box.”
Me: “Ok, can you take it out of the box, and then just put it on my desk and I’ll set it up on my own when I move?”
Tech Guy: “Ummmmmm, well, see, if you accept the monitor, we’re required to set it up for you.”
Me: “Really?”
Tech Guy: “Unfortunately, yes.”
Me: “But it’s, like, a power cable and a video cable. That’s it. I can do it on my own later.”
Tech Guy: “Yeah, but the concern is that if we leave the monitor sitting around, it will walk away.”
Me: “You realize this is absurd, right?”
Tech Guy: “Absolutely.”
Me: “Ok. Can you set up my new monitor, leave the big one on my desk, and then when you’re gone I can switch them back and you can say you never knew anything about it?”
Tech Guy: “That’ll work.”
And so it goes.
Often, the tech guys seem as if they can’t think on their own. I’m happy that this time I’ve got a guy who will at least make fun of the refresh policies with me, even if he can’t do anything about them.
Remind me again….did you say you work for the government?
Sorry, I had to say that.
I have dual monitors set up in my office (I could at home, I just don’t). It’s so cool! I keep email loaded on one and then whatever app I’m working on for the other.
The bizarre part comes when we’re having a call via NetMeeting and I’m hosting – for everyone else, they see my wallpaper on half of their screen, and the actual intended contents on the other half. I figured that out the hard way when my boss commented on my Astros wallpaper.
LOL!!!
Don’t fault the tech people for having to follow such ridiculous rules. Fault the people who are the inspiration for said rules. They’re the reason every time that you call tech support, the first question asked is, “Is it plugged in and turned on?” Really makes me wonder. By the way, can anyone explain why the cupholder on my computer is broken? It worked at first, but now it won’t retract…
We had all the computers pulled out of the classrooms this summer for renovations. The computer guys put mine back together. They only come on in “safe mode”. Oh, well, they said. We were hired to put them back together not make sure they work.
okay. My last post has way too many pronouns! I hope you understand that my computers don’t work!