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District 3830
 

Kuro-kuro Ko Lamang
by: Rtn. Chuck Montecillo

In Golf, less is more. That's a line I saw recently in a PGA ad on ESPN. It got me to thinking about computers and their users. What's the relationship between golf and computers? Well, quite a bit, really. Let me explain.

The line "less is more", is the mode of thinking that I follow when it comes to using computers. Ever since my first computer, an IBM 386, I have never been at the forefront of technology. At that time, 486's and Pentiums were the norm. I never really saw a need to have the most up to date system. I still don't.

Computer companies and software manufacturers have made themselves rich by promoting the idea that you, the end user, NEED to upgrade. They do this by continually developing their products, requiring hardware upgrades to keep up with software upgrades.

Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against the development of software and hardware. I just don't agree with the mentality of needing to spend more money for features that we don't necessarily use.

Take Microsoft Word for example. I remember the version 5 of MS Word for DOS. It's very similar to today's Word Pad application, as far as features go, that comes bundled with Windows95/98. MS Word 2000 has many more features. But how much of it do we really use or need? Even Word 97, the version with which use to open files I receive, has too many features for me. I just write with it once in awhile because Word Pad doesn't have a spell checker and most other users save their work in Word 97 format (unreadable in Word Pad). If people would use the RTF (Rich Text Format) format, which saves all the foramtting but is readable by other word processing programs, and if I had a separate spell checker, I wouldn't want to use MS Word at all. It's a un-ituitive program that just hogs way too much hard drive and RAM resources.

Believe it or not, I still use a Pentium 120mhz PC with 16MB RAM. I've had this computer since 1995 and it still works fine for the type of work that I do. Sure its extremely slow when working with image files and I can't really multi-task very much (otherwise it takes longer to accomplish things), but by modifying the way I use and manage my files, I am able to stretch its usefulness. It's much cheaper than having to upgrade the CPU and Hard Drive every 6 months to a year.

Another way I get by with an older system is by using software that is the same of the same year or era as the computer I use. This means I don't go out and buy the latest version of any program that strikes my fancy. This keeps the system running within the boundaries of its design. Many of the new programs generally need newer system requirements.

Like golf, working with your computer its not always the equipment that needs upgrading. Most of the time, it's how you use the equipment that makes all the difference. Manage your files more efficiently, don't multi-task too much (if you have less than 64MB RAM) and be honest about your actual computer needs. I guarantee you'll get more done with less expense and lesser equipment. That equates to more money for those new golf clubs that'll cure your tendency to duck hook (yeah, right)!


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