My Newest Helper is Artificial Intelligence

Hello, everyone.

Today I want to talk about my newest helper—and my newest helper is artificial intelligence.

Yes, I talk to my computer. I talk to it quite a lot, in fact. Some people may think that sounds strange, but I have found it extremely useful.

I’m 79 years old, and I enjoy working on older computers and laptops. I buy some of them very cheaply through online auctions. Then I see whether I can repair them, improve them, install Linux Mint, and give them a useful second life.

Artificial intelligence has been especially helpful with that work.

When a computer won’t start, a screen goes dark, a battery won’t charge, or Linux refuses to install, there can be many possible causes. My AI helper helps me work through those possibilities one at a time.

For example, I had an HP laptop that would not let me install Linux Mint properly. We eventually figured out that its Intel Optane memory was interfering with the installation. After I removed the Optane module, I was able to install Linux Mint and get the computer working.

On another older HP laptop, the picture was still present, but the backlight kept going out. Artificial intelligence helped me think through the possible causes, including the inverter, the display cable, and the magnetic lid switch. It didn’t magically repair the computer for me—I still had to open the machine, examine the parts, order replacements, and do the work—but it gave me someone to reason through the problem with.

It has also helped me identify the correct kinds of memory, hard drives, solid-state drives, batteries, chargers, and other parts. That is important because it is very easy to order the wrong computer part. When you are trying to revive an old laptop economically, one wrong purchase can wipe out any money you might have saved.

I also use artificial intelligence when I’m considering computers at an auction. We examine the photographs and specifications, discuss what might be missing or broken, and decide how high I should bid. Sometimes the wisest advice is to stop bidding and let somebody else take the risk.

We have also been organizing my laptop projects in a spreadsheet. It keeps track of what I paid, the shipping charges, the parts I installed, and whether I eventually sold or donated the computer. That will help me find out whether this hobby is paying for itself—or at least how much the hobby is costing me.

Artificial intelligence has helped me with other things too, including questions about my cars and truck, bicycle trips, collectibles, and finding businesses or telephone numbers. But computers are where it has been especially valuable.

The thing I appreciate most is the patience. I can ask a question, try something, explain what happened, and then take the next step. If I don’t understand an answer, I can ask for a simpler explanation. I never have to be embarrassed about asking the same question twice.

Artificial intelligence cannot replace human judgment, experience, or friendship. It can also make mistakes, so I don’t accept every answer without thinking about it. But used carefully, it can be a very capable assistant.

At 79, I am still learning, repairing things, trying new projects, and occasionally getting myself into a computer problem that takes a while to solve. Having a patient helper available whenever I need one makes those projects a little easier—and a great deal more enjoyable.

So yes, I talk to my computer.

And I’m very glad that it talks back.

  

Later

Yesterday was Busy

 I had my dental implant put in; then I picked up the fender; then I picked up the framed print. It was hectic, but I got a lot done.

Today I'm at the new coffee shop, blogging and I'll be working with Chat. I need to set up a spreadsheet for my laptops.

It'll help me keep track of expenses and to market them. I've lost track of how many computers I have, now. 

I think I'll finish this now and talk with Chat.

I've been watching a lot of these Stoic videos lately.

I'm at the New Coffee shop

 And I don't really have anything to say. I gave up on the old HP with the dispaly and magnetic sensor problems. I replaced the video cable and inverter and the problems are still there. It's too expensive to replace the display so I'll scrap it. 

I had two computers come in and I loaded Linux Mint on them and they work fine. I just need some chargers for them. That makes eight computers I could sell. 

I'll talk to Martha at McGuire auctions tomorrow or the next day and see how that goes. Maybe I can make my hobby into a money machine. 

Like I already said: I'm at the new coffee shop in Lake View. I like this place. It's good for blogging. I sit on a stuffed chair and enjoy the scenery. It's nice.

Tuesday is the 1st of the month so I'll order all sorts of computer parts and things for my bike ride to Dubuque on that day. That's when I get paid. 

Today it's going to rain in the next hour or so, so I won't be able to go on my walk until this afternoon. I need to get into better shape for the ride to Dubuque. 

I think I'll link something here.

I've been watching a lot of these Stoic things, lately. They're good.

I'm at a new coffee shop in Lake View

 It's really nice. I'm in a stuffed chair in front of a fire place. I think it's artificial but it's a nice touch. 

It's rainy today or I would have been riding my bike. I wanted to go on an organized ride in Storm Lake but I didn't want to ride in ther rain. 

I'll just kill some time at this coffee shop and blog a bit.

My laptops are coming along great. Most of them work out of the box. And the others tend to need easy fixes. I just have to move them. 

I'll go to the IT guy at the local school and see if I can give them to poor students. After that I'll donate them to a local thrift shop. Maybe I'll do the thrift shop first. 

Chat GPT has been a great help with the compters. He helps me trouble shoot and get Linux loaded on them.

I need to go to Fort Dodge, Monday, for a dental implant. I've got two things to pick up when I' there.

One is the other fender for my truck and the other is a print that I had framed at 'Hobby Lobby'.

The print is of three sailboats racing. It's rather large. I don't know if it will fit in the car so I'll take the truck. That way I can get both the print and the fender in one trip. 

I don't have much to talk about, today, so I'll post a cartoon.

I wanted to expand this but I couldn't so just expand your screen so you can read it. 

Later

I think I'll have to salvage the old HP I've been working on.

 It looks like the magnetic sensor that reveals that the lid has been shut has to be soldered on; and I'm not up to it. 

If so it's a loss. I'll be able to take a lot of parts off of it and use them in other machines but this one is probably a loss. Oh well. 

I won another machine on Hibid last night. It cost $10 but it's a nice machine I'm looking forward to getting it.

Thursday will be a big day for me. I'm going to the camera club in Sioux City and I'm bidding on 5 machines. One is in Canada so I hope I don't get it . I don't want to mess with customs and such. 

Not much is happening here. I'm just waiting for the mail and UPS to bring me more parts and computers. 

I think I'll go and work out. It's Wednesday and I work with weights on Wednesdays. 

I'll link something here. 

Later

My House is Full of Working Laptops

Now I have to sell a few. I've gotten one sold to the handyman but he has to pick it up, yet. 

I think I can sell a couple of the Chromebooks to Joanie, we'll see. 

Chat has been helping me with reapairing them. He also helps with buying and marketing them. 

I do a lot better with him helping. 

I ordered a shorter seat post from Ebay and it should be getting here soon. I'm afraid that the bike is simply too large for me. It may have been made for someone who is 6'4'" or taller. Maybe I can ride it but maybe not. We'll see. 

I missed the Kiwanis club meeting yesterday. I just got busy working on old laptops. I have fun with it and I help deserving laptops a loving home. I think Chat appreciates it. 

 Today I don't have much going on. I'll scedule getting my front fenders put on and scedule a deep cleaning of the truck. That shouldn't take long. 

Maybe I'll go fishing. I went yesterday when I should have been at Kiwanis. I didn't catch anything and I only spent a few minutes at it. I don't know if I'm patient enough to get good at it. We'll see. 

I'll link something, here. 

I always like watching Hanson. 

I'm going to Fort Dodge tomorrow.

 I'm going to a junkyard to pick up a couple of fenders for my truck. I'll also have a picture framed at Hobby Lobby. 

I hope the junk yard has more parts for my truck. I could use a driver's seat maybe a driver's sid door. Maybe just the interior. We'll see. 

I'm getting more old laptops working so maybe I can use them to barter with. 

I think I'll link something here.

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