Gaia is Grateful, Too

When Microsoft ended its support for Windows XP earlier this year, I mothballed the 7-year-old Dell desktop, except for a few simple word-processing and spreadsheet applications that don't require an Internet connection.

Yes, I should probably scrap the Dell and its even older Okidata C6100 laserjet, both of which emit alarming noises at times---especially since a new, much faster system can be purchased for about $1,000.

But the fix-don't-replace mentality is deep-rooted. Uncertain about the result, I spent the weekend installing Windows 7 (disk cost, $100) on the old computer. The printer driver, Office 2007, and Quicken 2008 were reinstalled, and the data files were backed up and restored. Et voila! The set-up should be good for another two years at least.

And mother Gaia will be grateful, too, that her landfill was spared. © 2014 Stephen Yuen