Analog, dialog, monologue, analog, catalog, dogalog, analog and digital.
There’s an analog under foot, and computer owners, beware! If you own a computer which is three or more years old, then you will need to learn to speak digital because those analogs are being summarily kicked out.

     We all know that for years our watches, microwave ovens, regular ovens, radio dials, cell phones—you name it—are, today, digital. That means you can read it as 10:05 or 88.9 f.m. I reckon it’s computerese. I simply accepted the fact and life goes on. 

     There are times, when those digitals are not so easy to read. In the car, for example, on a sunny day, it’s really difficult to see the time or the radio station numbers.

     Well, if you don’t already know it, the time has come to notice. Telephone lines are being converted from analog to digital. This hopefully, won’t affect your inside the house phones immediately. That little clip at the end of the phone wire is analog.

     If you have a computer, with email and access the internet, your modem may soon be out of date. I found out the hard way. My computer is only three years old. And it’s a Mac. 

     Recently, every time I dialed to get online, it would connect, and then stall out. I have several phone numbers to use, so I kept trying them to no avail. My Internet Service Provider (ISP) has, in the past, forewarned clients of imminent changes. Not this time, however.

     Finally, I called and was told that they are changing all of their phone lines to dialog, opps! I mean catalog, opps!, not, monologue...wrong again! Digital! So? I wondered.

     Then my provider explained that they have recently deleted 20 lines on one of the numbers I use, which were analog, and converted to digital. When my computer dials, like in an office with multiple phone lines, the call rolls over to an open line.

     But my computer speaks only analog, and the new phone lines speak digital. For some reason he didn’t feel the need to forewarn his numerous clients, as he has in the past.
Breezily, he says, I can go online and download an update from the world wide web. Oh, but I guess you have to be able to get online first. Yeah!

     I reminded him that I have a Macintosh computer, and, of course, am in the midst of getting Chesapeake Style ready for press. Macs have external modems, so “downloading” an upgrade is not an option.
He breezily offered to loan me his PC laptop. How will that solve anything? I politely declined.

     However, he did give me several new numbers, which still dial the old-fashioned way, analog. But, he warned, I may have to try at 2 a.m., because I’ll never get online at 8 p.m.

     I thanked him, tried the new numbers, which still work for me, found Global Village online, located a distributor, and ordered an updated digital modem.

     I dislike making computer changes with deadlines looming. When the new modem arrived, I was able to install it easily the modem works! But, alas! the fax does not! Bummer!

     So, if you have an “older” computer, and have trouble getting online, find out if your computer speaks dialog, monologue, analog, catalog...I mean digital!!
 

© 2001 Janet Abbott Fast All Rights Reserved