Fare thee well, iMac
A couple of weeks ago, I bid a fond farewell to an old friend of almost ten years:
This is my first computer, specifically, my first computer that wasn't also a family computer. It is a first generation blueberry iMac that I bought on sale in December 1999 when the second generation iMacs came on the market. With its help, I finished my BA, started and completed my MA (including a thesis!) and completed four out of six grad courses in my PhD.
I stopped using the iMac four years ago when I replaced it after getting frustrated with how slow it was. It just couldn't handle the speed of cable internet, and I had neglected to keep up with software updates, leading to a firmware issue that prevented me from upgrading to OS 9.2. Oh, and to be clear, when I bought the computer, it ran OS 8.6. 8.6!!
And speaking of electronic relics, note the little AOL Instant Messenger icon in the top right-hand corner:
And look at the generous amount of memory that it came with:
Six GB!!! This was clearly in the era pre-iTunes and pre-downloading. Current iPods come with more memory.
But even when I stopped using the actual computer, I continued to use the box in an unorthodox way:
As an impromptu bed-side table, as evidenced in the blurry video screen capture above (it's what the lamp is placed on). I started doing that in my rented basement suite in Hamilton, which was fully furnished except for a night stand, and continued to do so here because I just never got around to buying a bed-side table. I believe I might have used the box as a night-stand for more years than I actually used the computer itself.
But a few months ago I finally bought a proper night-stand, and thus the iMac and its box become 100% obselete. So when I received an e-mail about the university's annual Earth Day electronics recycling drop-off, I knew it was time to say goodbye for good.
But not, however, before turning it on one more time to wipe the hard drive. It started like a dream, fan humming and all. Say what you will about Macs and their higher cost—they are well made machines and I had no trouble restoring the original OS, once I figured out what I was supposed to do.
So after three degrees (two partial), three cities, numerous late nights writing numerous essays and term papers, one BA Honours thesis, and one MA thesis...
Good bye, sweet iMac, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
