My friend Heather Clark (on Facebook) made a good tech point when she said she had an old printer that she tried to hook up to a new computer, and the tech was so old, the prompt just said "exit". My computer, as of this coming December, will be 10 yrs. old; my old Zip drive is much older, maybe 12 to 14; the scanner (yes, a stand alone scanner - works best for scanning traditionally rendered art) is 8; the printer is 6; the camera is around 13 or 14; my CDRW burner/reader, is non-existent on the newer computers - mine is currently built in. I've got a truckload of saved art, info, & pics on those CDs. The CDs will lose their info, over time - I've already lost stuff on them, because the files were "old tech". Now I've got thumb drives all over my desk, and in an article I recently read, the info on them won't last forever either, like the CDs. My latest and somewhat 'youthful' pen tablet is 4, but it too, is on it's way to being obsolete.
My computer, printer, scanner, camera, my old Zip drive, and pen tablet; all, still work well. So far. But once again, updates are needed.
So, here are my questions.
When will it end? When will there be, let's say, software, that lets me use an older machine and it's hardware and software, with newer machines? Some sort of "Grandfather System", if you will. Why should I toss equipment that still works, because something else won't work with it, every couple of years? Yes, I understand and use the cloud, updating, security, compatibility, new drivers, yadda, yadda, yadda, all of that.
I read a story recently; on a blog I follow; about a writer, who was trying to retrieve his work - on floppy disks. This writer was dying, and for whatever reason, wanted to revisit his older work. But, he didn't know how. I hope, for his sake, he was able to do it. It made me sad.
To that point, I still have floppy disks, that I have real slim hopes of ever retrieving anything on them. Why do I have to keep backing up files to newer tech, every couple of years, because I may actually need those files, somewhere down the road - only to find that that newer software/hardware won't be able to read them anyway? I'm not using crazy files - I use standard JPEGS, PDFs, etc. And I'm not complaining because I'm lazy - re-backing up (if there is such a phrase) is a lot of work; but I still do it. Yes, I'm sure you'll say, 'just back up what you'll need' - how do I know what I will need in the future? An example: last year, I was asked to send art to a client, as they were using the same art, but changing the copy. I did that art and saved it on a CD, well over a decade ago. Because the art was done in an older version of software, it was neither compatible with mine or the client's newer software. Some of it had to be recreated. Example #2: a few years back, because of a server 'melt down', I had to supply old art files, of older work that was needed to save, to a client. And, I will bet they had a hard time of it, with those older files.
I already have boxes of equipment that are 'obsolete' - even thought I know they still will work. But there are no more updates, or drivers or software to make them compatible. Over the past 20+ years I've spent a small fortune on machines, hardware, memory, software - because the tech is too old. I find myself on that precipice, again.
Anybody have any good ideas? No, really. Must I dump another bucket load of money on things, that I might eke out 5 or 6 years of use? The thought makes me tired. What is my alternative, at this juncture?
I have used a computer, et al; for about 20 years of my career. It bothers my creative sensibilities that, though I have a boatload of real, tactile, put-your-hands-on art boards and papers; I also have a 'virtual boatload' of virtual art. Yeah I could print it all out, another small fortune in ink and paper. That's if I can actually find the time to print out everything, before I update or upgrade. I'm sorry, but tactile, immediately visual, art is just what I grew up with, grown accustom to. Have a human respect for. The mind is used to create; using your hands in the act, is being human. Act of humanity. It's no wonder, as I'd read, Elon Musk has a problem with AI.
Maybe I'll take all those colorful floppy disks and make a mosaic, or some thing...
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