Getting Started / Linda Knapp
Computers a big help in escape from technology

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Indeed, during the first month, my computer remained idle except for e-mail and Internet searches. It was easy to allow these transgressions, as e-mail is my main link to colleagues and searching the Net is the fastest way to get information, period.

I searched for historical-fiction books and ordered titles from the library or a bookstore. I hunted for biking trails and found I could request a free map of Seattle trails at www.seattle.gov/transportation/bikemapform.htm. I ordered gifts online and read plenty of movie and book reviews.

My interest in politics led me to join MoveOn.org and to read blogs such as WashingtonMonthly.com and DrudgeReport.com. I followed my favorite New York Times columnists at nytimes.com and international perspectives at news.google.com.

Away from the computer, I began taking loads of photographs. However, that meant spending more time on the computer to edit the images and print them.

A sabbatical is a great time to learn Adobe Photoshop, I decided, so I read "Adobe Photoshop CS: Classroom in a Book," watched the Total Training video course and started dodging and burning images and doing other tricks I haven't tried since I had a chemical darkroom two decades ago.

I also tried Microsoft's new Digital Image Studio 10 and the Epson Stylus Photo RX500 all-in-one printer. Time well spent, I figured, but I must get away from the computer, again.

While walking with my iPod mini one day, the battery ran out, again, so I decided it was time to try a MP3 player that lasts longer between charges. I tried the JetAudio iAudio 4 that's no bigger than a pack of gum and the palm-size Creative Zen Touch that reportedly plays 24 hours of music between charges.

Besides trying new things, a sabbatical is a great time to do some massive cleaning and reorganizing. So, after refurbishing the house, I decided to revitalize the computers. I followed the advice offered in articles and books about cleaning PCs and Macs. That helped, but I chose to reformat and reinstall Windows in three PCs and now they run like new. Fall cleaning is on my column schedule, so get ready.

In the summer, my husband, daughter and I go to our cabin every weekend, and during the long drive, the 11-year-old likes to play games to pass the time. By chance, I discovered Schoolhouse Technologies Crossword Factory for creating crossword puzzles and used it to make some entertaining and challenging puzzles for her (and us).

This daughter also endured a parent-assigned summer assignment to learn to keyboard. She started on Broderbund Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing, but after several sessions was sent back to review the home keys. That apparent failure was disturbing, so rather than insist she repeat the lessons, I made up practice exercises that took her through the rest of the letters and helped her become a 10-finger typist.
 
The same child also went away to camp for two weeks. It was her first sleepover, and to alleviate homesickness I made silly photo postcards of family members so she could receive a picture and message from us almost every day. I used the postcard template at www.avery.com under the Software tab and printed on Avery's postcard paper No. 8387.

While she was away, my husband and I spent six days at our cabin without a phone or computer. We cut trails, hiked, read and dreamed of doing it again. Indeed, we hoped our youngest would like camp well enough to go again next year.

That week away plus another that all three of us spent at the cabin were my only tech-free sabbatical. Almost every other day, technology sneaked in, and, I let it.

I've discovered technology isn't the bad guy. The bad guy happens to be me when I let technology suck all my time and energy. Over the past few months I've had the opportunity to get away from computers but never made a clean break because I didn't want to, and over time I've realized I don't need to if I can stay in control.

So, here I am, back again and ready to write about technology. My head is clear, I'm refreshed and ready to learn and to share some useful things. In the coming weeks, we'll cover computer cleanup, new music players, photo editing and much more. Stay tuned.

Write Linda Knapp at lknapp@seattletimes.com; to read other Getting Started columns, go to: www.seattletimes.com/gettingstarted