h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

.... annouced my printer in a jolly American accent. It then politely asked for some more paper (and even said please!). I'm not sure about the "genuine people personalities" thing for computer peripherals (another DNA prediction - or perdiction as I nearly typed - that has appeared to come true).

It's not so much the talking printer I object to so much as the cheerfulness. My mouse might be a cheerful thing, but not printers. Printers are neither cheerful, cooperative or merry. Printers are nasty, grudging and curmodgeonly bits of machinery, and should speak like Dwarves in computer roleplaying games or in Tolkien films, mixing grudging cooperation with non-specific threats of violence.

But the reason that "printing started" is that the first draft of my MPhil is due to be handed in tomorrow, and it's as finished as it's going to be, because I'm tired and don't care any more. 114 pages and 52,000 words. Plus one table and no pictures.

The end, if not in sight, is at least concievable. Which is more than I can say for 114 pages of printing.

Otto

Mmm... I think all printers should talk (if they should talk at all), is like MARVIN.

No no no no. In my experience, printers aren't so much depressed as nasty and vindictive. My computer is more Marvin like in that it freezes up and refuses to do anything every so often....

Otto