I'd like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for your very generous contributions for Chris' Computer and and extra special thanks to those of you who also chose to make a significant contribution to support ETS in general. We'll be working this week to get out the required receipts for your contributions.

Chris' computer is on its way to him today. While not too fancy, it is a reasobly robust machine that should serve us for many years to come. It's a Dell Dimension Pentium 4 2.8 GHz with 512 MB memory, 80GB hard drive, CD-RW/DVD (added primarily for back-up), modem and a 17-inch LCD flat screen monitor, plus an extended warranty/service agreement. I have loaded a freeware anti-virus program recommended here and a firewall, as well as spell check programs for both IE and the added Firefox browser that I have made its default.

BTW, just FYI, these two programs are essential software as far as I am concerned:

Internet Explorer: http://www.iespell.com/
Firefox: http://spellbound.sourceforge.net/

Once again, thanks very much for your generosity. If you have not yet made a contribution and wish to help ETS continue to serve your needs, the original thread with contribution links can be found at: http://www.equipped.org/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Board=survival&Number=45996

HIp, hip, hip.....hourrah.....

Should we prepare ourselves for a flood of pent-up thoughts and gems of wisdom from Chris, given his intermittent exile from the forum over the past month? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I want to know how the other one died. This is Chris we're talking about it... it didn't just stop working. Something interesting caused the failure. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I was thinking that the conversion of potential energy in simple nitrates into kinetic energy had something to do with it. :P

Great news, Doug.

High speed lead poisoning?

Or did you mean a more direct application?

Probably the former.

Great news Doug. Can't wait to have Chris return to the forum. He's more than just an admin. He one of my most valuable sources of information too!!! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Actually, my 5 y/o computer was consumed in an apartment fire caused by faulty wiring. I budgeted a new unit from the insurance that went to the owners of the horse I evacuated. I lost the case and will say no more <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> I bought a $50 used unit from a computer geek acquaintance with a wrought iron door for the coal. I had made a backup disk for my files that survived the fire. Sadly, my nephew who lived with ( on) me had visited certain websites infamous for carrying virus programmes. They overwhelmed this older unit . A medieval scribe copying THE BOOK OF KELLS could upload a webpage faster.

Horse evacuation???!!!! <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

I hate it when that happens. All that mess to clean up. I can see why you'd want to make an insurance claim.

I am glad you now have something 21st century again. What are you going to do with all that free HDD space?