now that the internets is back i was able to download the needed firmware updater in order to install os x. the slightly over 1 mb downloaded in seconds, as it should be with dsl. not the 30 minutes then crap out after 300k bullshit that was happening over the past few days. i had been hesitant to upgrade to x as i have a program in 9 that i can't afford to buy the x upgrade for. however, it's a program i'm not very good with so if i can't use it after i upgrade it won't be that big a deal. plus i thought i could just save the files i have in case i ever try to use a recent version of the program. then i said fuck it! i upgraded to x without saving any files at all. i've already been so uncareful as to lose other files, why not these as well? que sera sera. (actually i was a bit lucky or really forgetful because i found a cd i made of some of the files that i had been bitching about losing. maybe if i rummage around some more through the boxes in storage i will find another cd of the remaining files? probably not!)

the good news is that the panther installation went without a hitch. the imac even feels faster now. it's great. that was my other fear...that my imac wouldn't be able to handle the new os and the performance would be bogged down. not at all, much to my relief. now i just need to find the box in storage that has all the software discs so that this imac can become a productive workstation. for now though it's good for the basics like email, surfing, and blogging.