Computers!! Computers!! All around….Which is the finest amongst you all?Often times, I have no answer to this question. Having grown up with computers for the most part, we’ve grown dependent on them for almost everything. Since I spend most of my time staring at it and working with it – I have tried having conversations with it (yes!! I do speak to my computers) – So, that my computer and I could build a personal relationship. Thus to me, my computer is much more than an inanimate object. Here are some excerpts from my conversations and experiences with my latest – My SONY VAIO.
Main aur mera computer, aksar yeh baatein karte hain -Tum Na Hote to kaisa hota?Tum Na hote to… we’d still be writing with kaagaz and kalam and some of us may still have been able to boast of good handwriting; Tum Na hote to there wouldn’t be digital cameras and we’d be still shooting using film (which many of us still prefer); Tum Na hote to, there would be no internet and no websites telling me to keep my mouth-shut and write reviews…Tum…
Suddenly- I hear a ‘blip-blip’ sound. My computer starts talking to me - “Sun sako, toh suno, CPU ki zabaan, Yeh Technology Hai Jaanam -Main yahaan hoon, yahaan hoon, yahaan hoon, yahan!”
Over the years, my relationships with my computers have become progressively more intimate and I have switched, from “Desktops” to “Laptops” – after all, jo baat lap-ke upar hai, woh desk-ke-upar kahan? Despite my best intentions, my relationship with“a” computer does not last very long. Initially things are usually great between us -He does all my work, is there for me whenever I need him and never complains. But then a few yearsdown the road things start getting rough. He slows down, asks for an upgrade, gets overheated and, sometimes, in spite of pampering him, he has the audacity toshut down without any rhyme or reason.
I thought my quest for “the eternal one” had ended when I met my latest heartthrob – A SONY VAIO laptop. But alas! It appears that sooner or later, he will also be history and here is why:
*At the very beginning –The wooing/ dating stage
Lagde Kamaal SONY ve!!!** Perfect combination of great body and looks! A 13.3” wide screen display that boasts of XBRITE-ECO LCD technology and a smart display sensor. He came equipped with Microsoft Windows XP-Professional OS. He is slim (1.4 inch thick) and lightweight (4.3 lbs). The “weight factor” was extremely important for me, as I am on the move quite often and needed a “laptop” with convenient mobility. I have had heavier laptops before – and believe me it wasn’t fun!!
*Other factors that impressed me –
Hard Drive:** (100 GB, ATA, 5400 RPM) – Quite hatta-katta for someone so light and thin – I could store loads of information with him.
Optical Drive – [CD/DVDRW] Can read read/write CDs and DVDs with decent speed (likhai/padhai) is fairly decent.
Graphic Processor – NVIDIA GeForce Go 6400 with 128 MB installed Video Memory, which allowed us to play some cool video games with superb graphics whilechilling together.
Memory Stick Reader –He is kind of selfish in this aspect – he can only read SONY memory cards. But, love is blind and I didn’t care, since, I have a SONY digital camera, and this factor was in fact a big plus for me.
Wi-Fi– Although it was too early to commit, * the fact thathe came with Wi-fi facility (pronounce I =e+y, thus wi-fi = wi-fey)convinced me that he wasn’t commitment phobic and had no self-esteem issues. He allowed me to surf the net anywhere with no strings attached (read *802.11b/g wireless LAN).
VAIO Recovery Tool and antivirus software- If he messes up, he can take care of himself….That’s always a bonus!The recovery tool (generally, stored in a hidden drive, as a part of the original hard drive) allows for the re-installation of windows, drivers and other software over again. Though I prefer to create a Recovery DVD/CD and store it separately.
Multi-media -Has built in speakers and one can easily expand connectivity from the notebook PC to TV via the TV/PVR Expansion dock.
All was going well until – Dil ka Khilona Hai Toot gaya!!!
Unfortunately, three monthsdown the road, I brought my SONY VAIO with me to a conference. I was working on last minute changes on my presentation in my hotel room, when he suddenly crashed and refused to reboot. Thankfully, I had my presentation saved on a USB drive, and used my colleague’s computer at the conference. Upon return, I shipped it for repair. I was then warned that all my data would be lost as the hard drive had problems with it. So, that’s what ended up happening, allmy data was lost!!I had trusted him too much, and had not backed up anything (Silly me!). Since then, **I have had this computer for about one and half years and had to bring it back for repairs with major problems (including motherboard and the optical drive problems) on three separate occasions.
Frankly I am sick and tired of his whims now. Some other aspects that were disappointing are listed below:
Processor type & Speed - Intel Pentium M Centrino, 1.86 GHz : Aaa Dekhe zara, tujh mein kitna hai dum –Does not have much dum, especially when it comes to multitasking. Sometimes I am compelled to say “Inteha hogayi Intezaar Ki” when he just freezes on me.
Installed Memory (512 MBDDR2 SDRAM)–Certainly not enough for graphic-intensive programs or when multiple peripherals are connected and is extremely slow when many programs are running. The only good thing about his “volatile memory” is that it can be upgraded to 2GB RAM.
No infra-red port or Blue tooth technology – Does not allow exchange of information between devices such as cell phones and can be quite frustrating*.
Only 2 USB ports and one firewire port –Bahut Na-insaafi hai yeh! Most laptops have at least 3 USB ports these days.
Battery Life – Ideally, it should last for 3 hours, but usually lasts about 2.5 hrs, and goes to sleep, while I am still working…This is just not done!!
All in all its been a roller-coaster ride with SONY VAIO VGNS 560P. Would I recommend SONY VAIO to my friends – Nope!! Enemies – May be!! Depends on the extent of Dushmani really…
Meanwhile my search begins yet again…..Oh…Eternal One…Where art thou??
