Journal: News & Comment

Speaking of old technology

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A few minutes ago I sent my first facsimile transmission in eight months -- using my Mac's fax modem and my voice phone line, because I ditched my old fax line last summer for lack of use. Like warchalking, fax machines were a good idea at the time, but when I can send or receive documents by e-mail or on the Web, faxes are unnecessary. On the rare occasion someone insists on sending me a fax, I have it go to my dad, who still maintains a line for his fax modem. He e-mails me the result.

On a similar note, I'm writing this from trusty old Mac OS 9, which I have to use to run my ancient fax modem. Although it's a bit zippier in some respects than my usual Mac OS X, 9 feels weird and clunky now. Familiar, yes, but substandard, like going back to drive the old clunker of a car you used to own before you could finally afford something brand new. Your muscle memory still tells you to ease up on the gas pedal just so to keep it from stalling at a red light, something you'd never tolerate in your new vehicle. Having an application hog my whole computer when I want to do something else is just wrong. I don't know how I put up with it for so many years.

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