Chris and electronics
The most important tool of Chris is his computer. His window to the world, Chris uses it to connect with his fans and to espouse his way of life. Needless to say, just like everything else he has, he ruins it in some way.
Type of computer and equipment
Currently, Chris uses an HP Pavilion desktop computer,[1] situated in the kitchen at 14 Branchland Court. The computer runs Windows XP.[2] It's equipped with a scanner and a printer (or perhaps a scanner/printer combo), allowing him to scan comic pages and print artwork. He also must have a broadband connection to the internet, since he's been able to connect to Mumble voice chats. The computer has a version of Adobe Photoshop installed on it,[citation needed] which Chris primarily uses to type in text bubbles in his comics or to alter the truth.
Despite taking a course in computer construction,[3] Chris did not know the difference between RAM and HD space.[4]
Computer Troubles
To hear Chris tell it, his computer is on its last legs. In his conversations with Alec Benson Leary, Chris complained that multiple power surges (resulting from blackouts in his area) have disabled his computer for days at a time, forcing him to restore it constantly. In mid-February 2010, this was his excuse for failing to regularly upload new comic pages. When Alec reasonably asked him why he didn't just buy a new, more reliable computer, Chris claimed that he doesn't have the money. (A low-end replacement for his current machine, powerful enough for his purposes, would only cost a few hundred dollars, but apparently Chris has better things to buy.)
Months later, his computer became one of the biggest hurdles in his relationship with Jackie (second only to his PS Triple addiction). Chris was often unable to upload videos for her or chat with her via instant message because he couldn't get his computer to start up, causing him much stress and discomfort over the possibility that she would feel that he is neglecting her and break up with him.
Chris's Computer Maintenance:
- STEP 1: Turn computer on.
- STEP 2: Wait for computer to start up. If it fails, go to Step 1.
Chris would sit in front of his computer and repeat this process for hours, admitting that he turned it on and off literally 200 times in a row without any success.[5] Chris continued to complain that he didn't have the money for a new PC, all the while continuing to buy new video games for his second PS3. To make things worse, Chris later revealed that there was a second, working PC in the house, and the only reason he didn't attempt to use it is because it was blocked by a pile of clothes (which incidentally is the same excuse he uses for not showering).[6]
Chris and digital piracy
Since Chris uses Photoshop to work on his comics, he presumably has the technical skills necessary to acquire and install bootleg software. It's very hard to believe the alternative, i.e. that he would spend an enormous chunk of his gaming and McDonald's budget on a legitimate copy of the program. Knowledgeable trolls also confirm that Chris knows how to set up and run a Bittorrent file-sharing client.[citation needed]
However, whether it's a matter of ignorance, laziness, or unwillingness to cross some moral line, Chris doesn't seem to swipe digital files with abandon. Most of the movies and TV episodes that he's downloaded through the PlayStation Network are also easily available in bootleg form by way of public Bittorrent sites. He could have swiped all those Family Guy episodes for free in no time flat, instead of paying the $100 or so he spent downloading them through the PSN.