A random thought just popped in my head and I thought I'd post it before I forget. There is a certain type of user we've discussed who needs to memorize all the steps they need to do in order to carry out the computer-related tasks of their jobs. (Like, an exact order to do things, clicking on a certain menu, a certain sub-menu, etc. - they memorize and/or write all this stuff down.) And when more computer-literate people try to explain to them the why of what they're doing, they refuse to learn it - they only want to memorize the steps they need for the particular task(s) at hand. I wonder if these people are intimidated by computers in the same way they might be intimidated by a class they don't like. Maybe their approach to school was to just memorize everything without really gaining an underlying understanding of the subject at hand.

Maybe these people are a product of a school system that places too much emphasis on rote memorization.

Hmmm... this seemed more profound when it was in my head before I typed it out. Anyway, there ya' go....

thanks for the monitor help. I'm hoping for a widescreen, but a basic 18" would make me giddy. They're so beautiful and light. My god, never to lug a CRT around again . . . How fragile are flat screens? I assume poking them with sharp sticks is a bad idea, but what is their life expectancy etc.?

Mine has been durable and my usage is heavier than most people's, what with lugging it around to conventions and such.

My experience with LCD monitors is that they last longer than CRT monitors and can handle more abuse. I own quite a few computers for rental and I used to have all CRT monitors for them. I switched to LCD about 3 years ago and they stand up great and if they can survive as rental gear then they are doing pretty well.

Want: [link]

Does the CD drive ave a pinhole? Perhaps pushing a straightened paper clip into the pinhole will move the mechanism into full receive position.

Yeah, I tried that at various points during the process. It really didn't do anything.

so I'm ahemming and the finished files are reading as MKV files and RO files, even though "avi" is in the file name. Is there any way to convert these or are they junk?

MKV files are video files, VLC can play them. Some people like them more than AVIs. Just change the filename and try playing it?

yes, mkv should remain as the extension and try vlc player.

I HATE mkv files - 1) they usually are of poorer video/sound quality than avi and 2) they are ALWAYS bigger. Goodness.

Okay, by changing the file name I am changing just the name or the file type?

I got rid of VLC cuz it fucked up my DVDShrink software, and I don't want to just play the file, but edit it.

eta fluffy buddha, I just went to videohelp.com and looked up how to convert, and it's ridiculously convoluted with the need for five different kinds of software (at the least that's the first thing I've found so far)