My new old computer "Tom"

My new old computer "Tom"
By David Verveer
My grandson Tom (10 and a half year old) uses his computer to make his homework for school, to read and study subject given by the teacher, in order that the children do their own research, besides this, he plays games, especially football (soccer) games. And after loading the computer with endless programs, it became extremely slow, and his mother decided that he should have a new machine, and thus I received a computer, full of software, slow or not responding.
I started to unload the games and un necessary rubbish, run some anti virus checks, tried to install a new copy of Windows XP, but it refused by stating that the version of XP installed is more updated than my disc, thus I started experimenting with this computer, and found it quick and better than the other computers I use at the moment, a perfect machine for using it as my online writer.
It is funny to know that you do not need today the latest version of computer hardware if you intent to use the computer for everyday uses, such as browsing on the internet, or writing blogs, and even though, the cost of a new computer is getting cheaper by the day, an old software updated computer can do the same job, with much lower investments.
It is of course important to decide beforehand, the functions for which you intent to use this computer, if you intent to use it in order to Google the globe, better use a new computer with better screen settings, but even for use as Skype phone, this old computer serves perfectly.
The fact that a computer becomes old stuff, the moment you bought it, is a fact of live, but really all the improvements, the new gadgets, the new software, do you really need it, and are they cost effective, for example, getting the newest office software, or operation system, even when they are not very expensive, you will find that you got so used to the old well known features, that in actual fact you will never fully use those new tricks.
A computer's live span is 3 to 6 years, until you get persuaded that it is better to buy a new one, rather than upgrading, specially as the parts of the old versions are not anymore produced, that is what the computer guy tells you, and of course, you have not the knowledge or time to investigate if that is true or not, it might be that the repairman prefers to sell a new computer rather than deal with repairing an old one, he makes much more money on the sale of the new computer.
It is true that there is equipment which can not run on a older computer, such as computer games, due to insufficient memory available, but you should know, increasing memory through buying additional memory, is of course much cheaper.
My message is, don't hurry in throwing your old computer in the trash, see first if it can function as standby, or the computer for other members in the family, and if it really takes up to much space, think of friends, parents or in general older people, who really want to try too, the new possibilities of using a computer, and do not need (and wont use) the newest features available, for you it is a valueless peace of equipment, for them, it is an opening to a new world. I think that in today's world, everybody needs to be connected to the internet, like in old days, the wireless radio and later on the TV.