The usual response I get from people entering my home office is something subdued, along the lines of “Sweet Lord! Look at all the computers!”
I just counted. I have eight computers in my office. That’s shameful.
Even more shameful: There are probably another 10 more computers out in the boneyard. That’s a lot of technology.
Why so many? Well, obviously, I work in the technology field. Having a variety of computers, tablets, and phones festooning my office is a necessity. Upon reflection, it’s also not anything new.
I first doubled-up on computers back in the late 1980s. I had an original IBM PC. I also had a contract to write two books on the Apple IIGS, so I had to buy that computer. Thus began the dawn of my multi-computer insanity.
Eventually I replaced the IIGS with a Macintosh SE. I wrote a book on the SE, but also used that computer for my books’ illustrations. Since that time, I’ve always had a writing computer and a Mac or other PC used for illustrations, graphics, and creativity.
I purchased a third computer was back in the early 1990s. I needed a “test” PC, something on which to run unstable software — like Windows/386.
The total PC count rose to 4 when I wrote a book on Windows NT.
In the 1990s, PCs didn’t last as long as they do today. You generally had to get a new computer every 18 to 30 months because the technology improved so quickly. As the older computers still worked, I assigned them to different functions: One ran Linux, for example, one ran next oldest version of Windows, and so on.
When a computer was depreciated (financially), I’d let the kids use it for games, homework, or what-have-you.
Today I use only two computers, a Macintosh and a PC. The Mac is now my writing and design computer. The PC is still the “test” system. I also have a laptop for when I travel.
The rest of the systems in the office are older computers my kids use as gaming machines. Each one has a different version of Windows or Office on it, so I can still test things.
Computers last longer today, so the total number of PCs inhabiting my office will eventually decrease. My test PC is due for replacing soon. As the kids leave for college or jobs, they’ll most likely take their older systems with them. My eventual goal is to arrive at a sane number of computers, say 3. That’s still a lot, but I have a job to do!
