I'VE been struggling with a new computer this week, trying to get it to talk to all the other computers in my life. I'll be using it to read and write stories for the newspaper, look at pages before they are printed, send and receive e-mail, handle company finances and correspondence, find stories in our electronic library, call up reference material from CD-ROMs, connect to the Internet and, of course, play solitaire. The curse of a new machine
The new machine takes the place of three others, each of which did only one or two of those jobs. My desk, stacked with computer monitors, has looked like Mission Control for the last nine years, but now that's changing. This is called ''Converging Technology.''
My work requires six essential computer-to-computer connections but so far only four will agree to work. When I try to reach the library computer over the network, the computer dials the phone instead. I'm lost in a sea of Extensions, Preferences, TC/PIP protocols and Control Panels. This is called ''Plug 'n Play.''
Because the hub of this convergence is a new laptop computer of the Macintosh variety, I must be converted from a ''PC person'' to a ''Mac person.'' Ten years ago, I gave up my Mac for a PC and it was difficult to leave the mouse for the ''C:'' prompt. I expected my return to the Macs to be easy and joyous -- a prodigal son returning to the bosom of the family, so to speak. But while I was away, Macs changed. This is called ''Progress.''