How techie are you?

[RobDownSouth]

I live on the bleeding edge of technology, by choice.

 

[SpeareChucker]

*chuckle*

I just got an iPhone; the last person in my family to have one.

I have always loved technology and used to be on the cutting edge of it.
But now, I am trailing the field. I just got too used to what I had and then settled...

 

[SpeareChucker]

I've been connected to the internet since about 1989. I am a Luddite, now. I haven't opened either my netbook or my laptop in at least two, maybe three years. If I cannot do something on my relatively small phone screen, I don't do it.

The last time I ordered something from Amazon all they sold at the time were books.

The last time I sold something on eBay was probably at least 10 years ago; maybe 15.

I've taken to collecting vintage technology. I have an awful lot of analog tech.

I have had a my eye on a Toyota 4 wheel drive for over a year but I've hesitated buying it. It's newer than my last Toyota and I'm seriously considering going older. Something carbureted with points for ignition.

I own a TV and a DVD player. I own several VCRs a various configurations, most of them in storage the one that I have available I'd does not rewind which is kind of a problem. My television isn't connected to anything other than the DVD player and I rarely watch it myself.

I've had satellite radio but these days I make do with whatever comes over the am or FM airwaves...and only in the car. I have set up several different radios and stereos in the house and hopes that I might occasionally use them but I find that I rarely do. I've got components for a fairly high-end 90s style stereo that I do nothing with as well as two or three turntables somewhere. I've got vinyl I've got player piano rolls I've got one of those really thick records not sure what they are or what they play on. I have quite a few 8-track cartridge has carefully selected to be 8-track groovy. Some I got specifically for an 8-track player hypothetically installed in some future hypothetical truck.

I prefer to read actual books but I've got about 15 of them on my bedside table that I haven't gotten too so there's something that kind of disconnect going on there as well. What I really want to read are a stack of daily newspapers but none of them exist that I would actually want to bother to read. Maybe I should get a subscription to the Wall Street Journal again it's been years.

I've considered picking up a vintage iPod and loading it but I don't really feel like learning how to use one. I put up with you too when I want to see or hear something specific but it's irritating to have an ad for each thing that I want to watch or listen to. I would probably be willing to pay to have that not happen except for the fact that that's what they promised us with cable TV and that certainly didn't last it it?

The problem with technology is it's ever-changing and not in universally better and more efficient ways. The learning curve for whatever the next application or device is far steeper than its utility.

Okay

Now I feel better about myself.
I shall not be throwing wooden shoes any time soon...

 

[bellisarius]

I started out on Compuserve
but soon hit the harder stuff.

 

[RocketLauncher]

I can take it or leave it. Lived off grid. Off grid living isn't too bad when you have a well, generator, propane for stove,lights, fridge (which i never hooked up, heard horror stories of them blowing up), wood stove, wood cook stove with warm water container, solar panels, oil lanterns, batteries....
Having well over a thousand books up there helps too. A lot of hard work but worth it.
Tech is overrated.

 

[Ziggins]

I avoid new tech because it's more money. When it's well past the beta stage and dirt cheap I might buy something. Many products are in the negative returns phase, when more expense and development makes them worse, such as cars, Microsoft, etc. My truck is over 20 years and I live in the salted roads belt. When it dies, the used car market may be full of buggy software or cooked hardware.

 

[Comshaw]

How techie are you? (snip)

Any more, not very. At one time I was rather good at hacking and working with computer hardware. A non-profit agency my wife worked for needed a network set up, which I did and spent a couple of years administering on a volunteer basis. I also worked in the automotive industry and became very adept at writing and modifying operational parameters for automotive controls. I still do a bit of that on the side. Even with all the computer stuff controlling the motor and supplying output data, in the end I still fall back on the time honored and accurate action of reading the color of the spark plugs.

But now? I have a flip phone that gets left on the kitchen counter more then it's in my pocket. I have one desk top computer and that's it for techie stuff. Even my primary vehicle is absent the tech, I drive a 1991 Dodge W350 4x4 diesel pickup.

Living off the grid wouldn't be a problem for me, but it's not my best choice. Growing up I was taught all those things you need to know to survive. We raised and butchered our own beef, hogs, chickens and turkeys. I was taught how to cure meat, how to sew on a treadle sewing machine, to cook on a wood stove, how to can meat and veggies. We didn't have hot running water in the house so I know what it takes to heat water on the stove for a bath. And like has been mentioned, we boiled our drinking water to avoid beaver fever (amoebic dysentery).

Over the years because of my job and interests I learned other things that would help with off grid living, how to design and build a weir flow generator, construction of a wood fired hot water heating system, the design and construction of a Russian fire place.

But I don't desire to live in either world. Mine is some where in between, low tech but enough to be comfortable.


Comshaw

 

[thør]

I get by.

 

[FataMorgana]

People who have Alexa should be all culled.

 

[RobDownSouth]

People who have Alexa should be all culled.

Hush, sweet Fata.

Alexa tethered to Google Nest is the very best thing for setting the thermostat from the comfort of your recliner.

 

[thør]

Hush, sweet Fata.

Alexa tethered to Google Nest is the very best thing for setting the thermostat from the comfort of your recliner.

Pays to get outta the recliner.

 

[jaF0]

Off grid living isn't too bad when you have a well, generator, propane for stove,lights, fridge (which i never hooked up, heard horror stories of them blowing up), wood stove, wood cook stove with warm water container, solar panels, oil lanterns, batteries....

I have those by necessity. I've lost power more than once for over a week at a time. It ain't fun, but I can't get by. As long I can get on the web a bit each day to check up on the chumps. Satellite ISP that I used to have and a cell phone should allow that. DSL that I now have may or may not.

 

[thør]

I can take it or leave it. Lived off grid. Off grid living isn't too bad when you have a well, generator, propane for stove,lights, fridge (which i never hooked up, heard horror stories of them blowing up), wood stove, wood cook stove with warm water container, solar panels, oil lanterns, batteries....
Having well over a thousand books up there helps too. A lot of hard work but worth it.
Tech is overrated.

I have a propane fridge at the cabin. The horror stories you've heard are likely because of the installation, i.e. leaking fittings or installing too close to combustibles.

 

[MKvDeepSea]

Fiberglass handles on my sledge hammer and axe...

 

[CandiCame]

Nah switches of some design are standard for domestic wiring. But I have some dimmers that are plain buttons. Tap for on or off, hold for cycled dimming.

I also have fancy-ass smart lightbulbs in some rooms that I can control from my phone, or if I wanted to, by voice. But I have those mapped to wall mounted buttons too.

The reason I have those lights is not particulaly nerdy. I live way north with long, dark winters. I can control the color temperature of those bulbs, meaning I can get more sunlight-y wavelenthts indoors at this time of year.

My brother got those earlier this month when I got the fancy 'your dogs won't die' thermostat and he loves them. He's trying to get me to put them in the rest of the house since it's already wired for it and I will, eventually but Jesus Christ let me sit down for five goddamn minutes.

Seriously, I'm trying to take a smoke break and another fucking alarm went off.

Laundry. That's the laundry. Gotta go hang the laundry. Then I'll finish wrapping shit. Then maybe I can sit down for five goddamn- shit I haven't eaten but one meal today. I gotta eat.

Anyway I am gonna put those in but after Christmas because Jesus fucking Christ I'm just tired.

 

[CandiCame]

I have a propane fridge at the cabin. The horror stories you've heard are likely because of the installation, i.e. leaking fittings or installing too close to combustibles.

I also have a lot of propane stuff and I'm admitting it in front of god and everybody that I got them because of Hank Hilly. I was that influenced by the media. I just wanted propane and propane accessories.

 

[thør]

I also have a lot of propane stuff and I'm admitting it in front of god and everybody that I got them because of Hank Hilly. I was that influenced by the media. I just wanted propane and propane accessories.

The propane fridge and range at the cabin are quite luxurious.

 

[bellisarius]

People who have Alexa should be all culled.

That sounds about right.

 

[Kantarii]

I’m Sagittarius so I try to stay current on all the latest hi tech gizmo thingies

 

[Ziggins]

https://files.sharenator.com/computer0_Redneck_computer_terms-s610x2112-24413.jpg

 

[Mtnmike]

https://files.sharenator.com/computer0_Redneck_computer_terms-s610x2112-24413.jpg

Being a southern country man, that's funny as hell.

 

[RocketLauncher]

I have those by necessity. I've lost power more than once for over a week at a time. It ain't fun, but I can't get by. As long I can get on the web a bit each day to check up on the chumps. Satellite ISP that I used to have and a cell phone should allow that. DSL that I now have may or may not.

Expensive providers up there and service is spotty but the ambulance and emergency volunteers now have a cell phone tracking system so they can find you in the bush.

I have a propane fridge at the cabin. The horror stories you've heard are likely because of the installation, i.e. leaking fittings or installing too close to combustibles.

Noted. My husband wants to hook it up. I'll let him know. They wouldn't insure the place unless it was in the porch.

 

[Conager]

I’m Sagittarius so I try to stay current on all the latest hi tech gizmo thingies

They got this new-fangled technology called astronomy with telescopes and whatnot. Astrology is obsolete.

 

[sparkylitesthefuze]

https://www.barnorama.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/43-Funny-Pictures-1472.jpg