In yesterday’s post I mentioned that I was dedicating my old XP to writing, so today I figured that I would talk about my setup.
My computer is really old. In the 11 years that I’ve had it the battery has died and the speakers have started failing. It is currently on its third keyboard, and even that is starting to fail. At one point I even had to replace the processor fan when it died. Even with all of that the poor thing is still ticking, though I’ve created a few workarounds.
I hooked up an external keyboard to solve the typing glitches, added an external mouse because the buttons on my touchpad tend to act up, and then tossed in an old monitor that I’ve had for years. As a result I’ve created a dual monitor desktop system out of this ancient laptop. That allows me to have two files on full screen, which makes working a lot easier.
Here is a picture of my setup:
Even better; I worked this up using stuff I already had. It literally didn’t cost me a penny! I set up an old folding table in my kitchen (my favorite room for writing) so now I even have a dedicated writing spot. I’m hoping that this new setup makes me more productive.
On another note, now that I’ve got my issues fixed I’ve been making steady progress when it comes to formatting the new Shoestring Girl for ebook format. Hopefully it will be finished soon so that I can move on to my next project.
It’s my contention that new does not mean improved. Chaining old together to make things work for you is an excellent thing to do.
I feel more successful about a project when I do manage to do it using stuff I already have. We have been taught for so many years to buy, buy, buy, that a part of me now likes to do it for pure orneriness 🙂