As a Techie, How Do You Feel When Your Laptop Crashes or Being Without One ?

Introduction

In this digital age, laptops and other mobile devices are indispensable tools for programmers, digital nomads, tech newbies, and enthusiasts. They are our primary devices for coding, learning, and connecting with the tech community. However, the sudden loss of this essential tool can be worrisome. In this article, we explore the emotional, practical, financial, infrastructural, and social challenges faced by tech enthusiasts when their laptops crash or when they are without one.

My Personal Story

Back in 2022, I began tech by going into front end web development as a self-taught.. The ride wasn’t always smooth, especially for a junior developer eagerly anticipating his first tech role. There were days I got lost in tutorial hell, faced procrastination, imposter syndrome, and struggled to finish my tutorials. There were also days without electricity to power my devices. Despite these challenges, I kept pushing forward and made significant progress.

Fast forward to February 2023, I secured a contract role as a content writer and e-commerce administrator with an online automobile spare parts dealership. I used my devices for work (processing data, interfacing with clients and customers, carrying out sales), diligently completing all duties & responsibilities. In my spare time, I continued my tech journey, picking up PHP through online courses.

Then one day, the PC I used for work and learning developed a fault. It started with screen glitches and eventually wouldn’t turn on. The company funded the repair, but despite several attempts by a technician, it remained unusable. At that point, I was made to understand that the company did not have the budget for a replacement and that the best they had done was to try and get it fixed repeatedly. This left me without a working laptop. This incident, combined with high living costs, inflation, and societal challenges in Nigeria, inspired me to share my story and explore the broader impact of being without a laptop.

Importance of Devices (Laptops) For Tech Enthusiast

Our devices (including Laptops) are like lifelines for tech enthusiasts. They’re your gateway to learning new skills, working on projects, and staying connected with the tech community. Whether it’s coding, designing, or just keeping up with the latest tech trends, everything happens on our laptops. They help us turn ideas into reality, from building apps to writing blogs. Without a laptop, it feels like a part of our world is missing. They’re not just tools; they’re our partners in creativity and productivity.

Emotional and Practical Impact

The initial shock of a laptop crash is hard to describe. It feels like the ground has shifted beneath you, especially if you struggled to afford one in the first place. For techies, our laptops are more than just machines; they are repositories of our hard work, creativity, and dreams. When my laptop refused to turn on after a few crashes and repairs, I was without a working laptop for over five months. During that time, I realized how much I missed coding and how important continuous learning was to me. I felt a profound sense of loss, not just for the device but for the countless hours of coding, learning, and personal projects it contained. Relying on borrowing devices or using less efficient tools added to the frustration.

Financial Constraints

Replacing or repairing a laptop can be a huge financial pull, especially with the high Dollar to Naira exchange rate and inflation. Tech gadgets are expensive and the cost can be prohibitive. On top of that, dealing with Our unreliable electricity makes maintaining and using tech devices even harder. Thus, it becomes tough to stay productive.

Social and Security Concern

Carrying gadgets around can be risky, (thanks to our Military agencies). Being found with your device In some areas, They might assume you are up to no good. Something that in the end, you’d end up being forced to make a cash transfer to them before you are let to go. Also, the worry about personal safety is also a cause for concern.

To You Who are Where I was

When My laptop crashed, I had to get creative a bit and more industrious, using cloud services like google Drive, helped me access important files from my mobile device. The online Tech space is filled with quite a lot compassionate techies who want to see you keep growing.

Networking with other techies also provided support and resource sharing. If you’re in similar situation, don’t lose hope as there are ways to cope. Fast forward to May 2024, 2024, after saving my salary for months, I was able to get a good working PC with better specifications and a warranty.