As I look back, I see that the switch to the new system went better than I thought it would. There were occasional complaints and exasperated exclamations, but not as many as I had expected. And eventually, a few editors and reporters actually found good things to say about the new system.

I expected more consternation because I believe that, like me, people fear change. We complained about the old system constantly — the way it would freeze up when you were trying to save a story; the fact that it didn't work with new computer operating systems, so you couldn't look at the Internet on the same machine you used for your job; its tendency to unexpectedly crash, causing you to lose what you were working on and utter angry oaths.

Still, it was the devil we knew. And there was comfort in that.

When I went all day Tuesday without turning on my old computer, I knew I was ready to cut the cord — figuratively, of course, although there are many times I would have paid real money to do so literally and chuck the thing out the window.

I don't miss the big old machine and its outdated software. The new system is far from perfect, and we have yet to learn all of its ins and outs. But at least I can surf the Web without switching computers, and we all know how important that is when you're stuck in a cubicle all day!

I'd be interested to hear your tales of success or failure in converting to a new computer system at work. Send them along, and I'll share some of the good ones in a future column.

Or, if you have a personal-finance question or comment, I'd like to hear that, too. Send all correspondence to gkratz@desnews.com or to the Deseret News, P.O. Box 1257, Salt Lake City, UT 84110. Or post your comments online in the "Family finances" section of the Deseret News "Life Talk" message boards at lifetalk.deseretnews.com.

E-mail: gkratz@desnews.com