new computer, new habits
After a lot of online research, price comparisons, and visiting physical stores / trying out different things, it's finally done. I have a new laptop. I ended up switching from Windows to Mac - let’s see how it goes. Obviously the controls will take some time to get used to, but so far, I like it.
I also ended up taking a small break from the blog - I just wanted to be done with the “computer move” first, and frankly I hated typing on the external keyboard I was using on my old laptop (I was forced to use it ever since the internal keyboard gave up the ghost). Now I’m feeling excited about continuing with the blog!
Another thing that I want to use this opportunity for is re-thinking and adjusting my overall computer use habits. Over the years you accumulate a lot of baggage in your everyday behavioural patterns, and the switch to a new, fresh environment can be a chance to change onto new “tracks.” Here are some things that I’ve been thinking about:
Only use the computer at the desk
Especially in its later years, I used my laptop in bed a lot. I’d use it in the evenings after work to watch YouTube (and often fell asleep while doing so) and on weekend mornings for aimless surfing and scrolling.
For the new computer, I want to make a conscious effort to separate the “computer use” and “rest” domains. For the most part, I’ll keep the laptop parked on my desk, and I won’t place it directly on my mattress anymore. It’s bad for the internal parts anyway. I suspect me using my old laptop that way was a major contributing factor to its degradation. So I think this is a good idea in multiple ways - it allows me to be more conscious about how I use my time and also ensures that my new laptop stays in good condition for longer.
Limited social media / online community use
So far, the online two online services I’ve logged into on this computer are Google and Bear Blog. I decided against just switching everything at once and going on a case-by-case basis instead.
In terms of social media and online communities, I’m especially re-thinking my use of Reddit. In the last 2-3 years I’ve been quite active over there, but I’m also not feeling like I have gotten all that much out of it. Scrolling and commenting / replying was just something that I did because I could. But I don't feel like I'd lose anything if I stopped doing it. I’ve come to the conclusion that if I really want to post something on Reddit for whatever reason, I’ll log in and do it - but I’m going to log out after each time, just to add some friction that serves as a barrier to “mindless use.”
Keep things organized and on the minimal side
At the end of its 7-year lifespan, my old laptop ended up feeling very cumbersome and heavy (not only in the physical / practical, but also abstract sense). To a certain degree, that kind of development is inevitable. Over such a long time, the dregs will pile up eventually. But at least for now, I’m going to try and keep my computer environment tidy and on the minimal side. That means: Being conscious about what software I install, how I use it, how I organise my files, etc. This is relatively easy when you’re starting fresh, and I want to make the best of it.
So that’s what I’ve been thinking. The next step will be getting some additional stuff, like USB-C adapters for all the USB-A things that I have (like my mouse or external hard drive). And while I like the internal MacBook keyboard just fine, I’m still thinking about those nice-sounding mechanical keyboards…