I have an eight-year-old laptop that needs replacing and I’m paralyzed. What are the most reliable ones now? Do I need a desktop for CAD? Pros and cons of operating systems (and where do I find them?) Browsers ditto? Where do I find answers that aren’t just product marketing?
A library PC is not likely to let you just install whatever productivity software you want, nor is it even guaranteed to be able to run it if you could. Not to mention OP mentioned being paralyzed and there may be accessibility options with getting to a library that they’d rather avoid.
Sorry, I wasn’t clear. I am not physically paralyzed; there are so many details to getting a computer system that I am suffering from “analysis paralysis“!
Thanks for clarifying, I also misinterpreted!
It might be wise to edit the post to say something like “overwhelmed” or “paralyzed by the choices”.
This isn’t contributing to the conversation, but I just wanted to thank you for reiterating the part about being paralyzed. When I read the post I read it as simply a paralysis of choice due to lack of experience in the matter. I feel terrible and I should have taken the phrase more seriously. Thank you for opening my eyes to this.
No, you were right, and I wasn’t clear.
“Where can a Boomer catch up on current computer/software technology?”
“The library” is a valid answer to where you can find information, though I doubt computer purchasing info would be that great.
“I have an eight-year-old laptop that needs replacing and I’m paralyzed.”
If I understand correctly, “paralyzed” is being used metaphorically here to describe an inability to make a purchasing decision.
However, libraries are one of the best places people with disabilities can go. They are usually set up with accessibility in mind and run by caring people.
If you doubt the purchasing info would be that great, I doubt you’ve been to a library with trained librarians.
Good point. I live in a rural area whose librarians are enthusiastic but emphatically not trained. However, I live about 40 miles from a university; I could pop by there maybe.
Libraries and librarians are great. I agree they would likely know where to point OP for info, but I meant they probably don’t have the resources to test a wide variety of products themselves.
The library is where OP can find answers that aren’t just product marketing, to all the above questions, including catching up on technology, and there’s absolutely no reason he needs to physically be in the building to find them. However, if he’s in my city, and can get to the branch, we have workstations created in partnership with Easterseals that likely have many of the accessibility technologies and tools he’s used to using at home as a person who is paralyzed.