Ever have this problem?

[Emily Meeks]

Ever been unable to concentrate on your work because not only are you in a chaotic environment, there's ALWAYS f***in competition for the computer??

Only time I get any peace to work is in the wee hours of night when people are asleep. Then, come the gripes of sleeping in...

>.<

Sorry, just had to bitch about that for a sec.

[designbuyers2007]

In order to compete on the computer, and I suppose you are the winner the best for this, as no one can compete with you and you now know a lot about computers I suppose.

And the competition is a good thing, and if there was no one else on the competition you will not do better than that, you have what it should be you.

And they do not take it seriously, even to get something bad from you, as soon as you get home you will find personal computers that awaits for you and can do what ever you want to do with it, or can even buy a laptop and a day.

My advice to you, when you go to bed just do not think about it, think about everything good, and forget everything bad from your mind, yes just clear your mind...

[Steve Peters Benn]

Even with IM, I find a good third of my work can be done on paper. I realise that sounds crazy to a lot of you, but that really works. It's not that there is competition for my computer, there isn't - its just paper lifts my game up. Seriously.

[Fernando Veloso]

Emily,

Maybe you can buy an second hand computer for $150 or similar? That's the way to go: a computer just for YOU.

Steven, Totally agree with you mate. I get lot's of things done in paper. And I mean a lot. In fact, my office has this strange walls with papers notes all over the place. Methods, Ideas, Tips, Names...

My wife hates it, I love it.

[Steve Peters Benn]

Ahhhh! Fernando - I no longer feel like a freak! I got through a scary amount of jotters and notebooks.

[JeffLam]

Same here Steve and Fernando! I don't feel alone now.

You know, there's a study that proves that when we WRITE on paper, it stimulates something in us that is more beneficial than typing on the computer. Something with ideas and all that.

Emily, perhaps investing in a notebook/laptop may be the best choice you ever made.

[Kirahster]

Emily,

I bought my computer on Ebay for $180 and I know that there are cheaper ones. It is a refurbished computer but the guy that sells them has a great reputation and my father has bought from him before with great luck also.

The computer came with everything except the monitor and I was able to pick a monitor up for free from craigslist.

The computer has everything that I need. My little brother, who knows a lot more about computers than me, says that it is a decent computer.

Hope this Helps!

[Buildingfutures]

I had your problem for a while Emily, but then I started really getting into my own programs and stuff and NEEDED a computer of my own that I could do my work on, school and otherwise.

Just recently I had to have my folks help me out to get a new computer. I needed it for the 3-D animation class I'm taking, and damn, it was well worth it.

Like all the boys before me said, write it down! I've got a dozen journals I write in, and just write all my little ideas down. I think it would be easy to keep the ideas, just finding the time to implement them when you have to fight for a computer is a hassle. :/

Good luck to you! and I'll get right on finding out a good place to get a cheap laptop. I know ebays there, but there are other places I'm sure as well.

[Diana Lane]

I had to fight for time on other computers in the family and compete with their owners when my own was out of action earlier in the week, but thankfully that's behind me now. I so understand where you're coming from about the 'no peace' thing though.

I work up here from a corner in my bedroom because I don't like TV, especially when I'm working, and this is the only room in the house without one. Sometimes I can get reasonably long undisturbed stretches of silence, but I can never predict when they're going to be. The rest of the time, my bed seems to have a magnetic attraction for the rest of the family and probably sees more passing traffic than Spaghetti Junction.

There's invariably somebody sitting on it, anxious to discuss vital issues such as why all boys are losers and all teachers are dim (my teenage daughter), the merits of Spongebob Squarepants v The Simpsons (younger daughter) or That Little Bit Of The Carburettor That Makes It So Endlessly Fascinating (husband). Then there are the friends who think that working from home means that you're permanently available to discuss the latest scandal and the shocking price of cabbages.

Since me and husband don't sleep in the same room due to his snoring, I do at least get to get some work done after everyone else has gone to bed, often until three or four in the morning. This either means spending the next day walking around like a dying duck in a thunderstorm, or being on the other end of a lecture about sleeping in. Naturally, this will be delivered by someone sitting on my bed as I'm trying to debug a piece of php...

I would not exchange my family and friends for anything, but I do share your problem and sympathise

[Chrissy Allen]

Hey,

Yes yes yes I had this problem.

My wife bought me a laptop for Christmas last year BUT amazingly hers broke in the February i gave her mine cause she is a big big ebayer bigger than me.

Then my kids got in to the face book thing and msn chat etc

They were coming home from school saying DAD when ive done my homework can i go on your laptop etc etc

Anyway The answer was to simlpy get more laptops, now my wife has a replacement. I have mine back, my son has one and ive just got another for my daughter for Christmas.

The other thing is i didnt realise is that XBOX has added facebook and twitter aswell as MSN chat for members and we have 4 xbox's in our house so My laptop is well and truly MINE lol

Chunkynuts

[Jon Tees]

It really depends on whether the person is doing anything productive or not. If they are just goofing off, and you have an idea you want to write down or put into action, it can be somewhat annoying and frustrating at times with shared pc’s.You can even feel as though the person is costing you money. But I promote my business online and off so don’t really feel the need to spend that much time online.

This is what I sort of hated about free advertising. You had to work, work, work, and it felt as though if you stopped working for even a little while you stopped getting results. The combination of free and paid advertising is great, because to some extent even if you stop working for a bit you still have traffic coming from somewhere.

[ginagrigg]

My husband and I used to compete for the computer. I used it for work and study (and socialising on forums etc:-), he used it for playing games. It was a real pain because obviously I was the more productive one! It all changed when he got interested in the sharemarket. He went straight out and bought himself a brand new computer and an iPhone! What's up with that??? Still, I really have no need to complain now. I can use the computer anytime I want. I am in one room and he is in another and we message each other debating whose turn it is to cook!

[Kay King]

It really depends on whether the person is doing anything productive or not.

No - it depends on WHO owns the computer before any other considerations.

If you don't own that computer, time to negotiate instead of complaining.
I can tell you that if you are pacing waiting for someone to finish up so you can use the computer, they will take longer without even realizing they are doing it.

So - communicate! Ask when it's best for you to have uninterrupted time - and ask in a well mannered "let's work this out" way - and if night hours are the answer, work those hours regularly and you may have less complaints about the sleep schedule.

kay

[Heimir Finnson]

Haha, I never had this problem.
It just me and my girlfriend here so there's no distractions and I have my own workstation.

That will however change in just a couple of months when our first baby will be born

[scrofford]

Originally Posted by Diana Lane

I had to fight for time on other computers in the family and compete with their owners when my own was out of action earlier in the week, but thankfully that's behind me now. I so understand where you're coming from about the 'no peace' thing though.

I work up here from a corner in my bedroom because I don't like TV, especially when I'm working, and this is the only room in the house without one. Sometimes I can get reasonably long undisturbed stretches of silence, but I can never predict when they're going to be. The rest of the time, my bed seems to have a magnetic attraction for the rest of the family and probably sees more passing traffic than Spaghetti Junction.

There's invariably somebody sitting on it, anxious to discuss vital issues such as why all boys are losers and all teachers are dim (my teenage daughter), the merits of Spongebob Squarepants v The Simpsons (younger daughter) or That Little Bit Of The Carburettor That Makes It So Endlessly Fascinating (husband). Then there are the friends who think that working from home means that you're permanently available to discuss the latest scandal and the shocking price of cabbages.

Since me and husband don't sleep in the same room due to his snoring, I do at least get to get some work done after everyone else has gone to bed, often until three or four in the morning. This either means spending the next day walking around like a dying duck in a thunderstorm, or being on the other end of a lecture about sleeping in. Naturally, this will be delivered by someone sitting on my bed as I'm trying to debug a piece of php...

I would not exchange my family and friends for anything, but I do share your problem and sympathise

Why can't you set your "hours" and let everyone know you are working and during that time you are to be left alone? They should respect that. Let them know it is your "job" and that if you were working somewhere else, they couldn't just come in and start "yapping" at you.

You could put a sign on your bedroom door that says to leave you alone when you are working, and then when you are not, the sign on the flip side could say you are available.

[Michael Worthington]

When we got our first computer back in '99,
I was working a day job and our girls were
home schooled. (That's why we got the
computer to start with).

They had it all day while I was at work,
but when I came home, it was mine.

Since then, the girls are married and
gone, and my wife has two computers
of her own, so I don't have a problem
with that.

She works on pictures, though, and
since our desks are right together,
I'm constantly being asked "How does
this look?"

Michael

[Kay King]

Steve - There's a point you are missing....don't think it's her computer. That's why negotiation and compromise (and a good attitude) are needed.

If "they" own the computer, house, etc - you ask, not tell, or you get nowhere.

kay

[Emily Meeks]

Originally Posted by Kay King

No - it depends on WHO owns the computer before any other considerations.

If you don't own that computer, time to negotiate instead of complaining.
I can tell you that if you are pacing waiting for someone to finish up so you can use the computer, they will take longer without even realizing they are doing it.

So - communicate! Ask when it's best for you to have uninterrupted time - and ask in a well mannered "let's work this out" way - and if night hours are the answer, work those hours regularly and you may have less complaints about the sleep schedule.

kay

I never outright complain in the house - doing so would be far counterproductive (hence only a mini-mini rant ) Since there's younger kids in the house who go to bed (or at least are supposed to go to bed) by 9 or 10, I'm basically homefree after that. Even if there was no computer competition though, the kids are loud and the parents are even louder >:P

Sometimes I am able to work stuff out, particularly if I let people know that I just need to email something to myself and then can technically do more work offline. It just kinda depends.

A laptop is definitely on the agenda... I made a deal with Santa - if I reach my intended $XXX goal (or at least something very significant), I can get a new laptop for Christmas. I'll just have to see.

[Steve Powers]

Well,that's not my problem.I have my personal laptop.So I can use it anytime I want.Maybe you can buy your own computer.And then you will never worry about such trifles.After all,our work has been full related to computer.