The computer saga
I have a few things I’ve been wanting to share with you, when I got a chance. Hmmm… this moment really needs a photo too, doesn’t it? hmmmm… I think that’ll be tomorrow’s post (details to follow).
I’ll tell you all of this in chronological order, I think it is easiest.
First, let’s go back a few weeks. I mentioned to some of you about how I didn’t have access to my danielleblog email. Well, part of the reason was that my good ol’ laptop died. Normally, this is the sort of situation where HB jumps in and figures out what is wrong. But he was in MN and I was in MA and there’s only so much jumping one can do from half-way across the country, you know. So, I took it to the Geek Squad at Best Buy. Now, they had said 48 hrs. for a diagnosis. Before I ever took it in, HB and I discussed ‘worst case’ scenarios. In the best case, they’d fix it and I’d happily plan to write my thesis on my ol’ trusty laptop. In the ‘worst case’, I would prematurely make the leap to using mac software because we would buy my mac laptop NOW instead of waiting until I start my post-doc. You see, the lab I will be in for my post-doc is a Mac lab, while my current one is Windows. I had really just wanted to do my thesis on my Windows laptop, because I fear having all of my graphs get screwy moving them from Windows to Mac. Plus, I have to be able to email back and forth with my advisor using track changes in Word to get corrections on all of my drafts of my thesis chapters. That is a long-winded explanation for why getting a brand-spankin’ new laptop would be considered a ‘worst case’.
And then I waited. I waited 48 hours for the diagnosis (and called). And waited 72 hours.. and then we hit 4 days… and 5 days… and HB ordered me a new Mac. An iBook G4 to be precise. Because at that point, I was barely going to have time to receive it at school and move my 4 Gb of data onto my new iBook before I had to leave. You might be able to imagine the panic that was starting to set in.
On the 6th day, they figured out that the power supply in my Windows laptop was loose, and they easily repaired it by screwing it in tighter. I imagine that the power supply has been loose for a while; it probably happened back when HB took my laptop apart to fix my fan (and clean out the cat hair). But it wasn’t until I turned it on its side and carried it in my back-pack to move to Lola’s that it was josteled enought to really matter.
My iBook arrived. And LET ME TELL YOU she is sooooo beautiful!
I squealed when I saw the box and the beautiful white shiny laptop inside. I haven’t had a NEW computer since I entered undergrad… which was, hmmmm… (you know how I am about math and years and all…) 13 years ago! All this time, I’ve just been using hand-me-downs from HB.
For my first hand-me-down, I had to press really hard on the top of the lid while turning it on, to get it to start, because he’d managed to somehow break a power connection inside. Sometimes, I’d press and press and it would take 3 tries to get it to start.
yeah. That was really not so great.
The second hand-me-down always had to be plugged in, because the battery was totally ruined. Oh, and then the fan broke. And then well, you know the part about the power supply.
And you know what his first thought was about switching me to Mac right? “Oh, well, I’ll just give you mine and that way I can upgrade to a new one.”
!!
I put my foot down on that one.
I get to have a NEW ONE this time! NO more hand-me-downs with dysfunctional parts!
So, back to my beautiful new baby. She shines! And is pretty!
And she ate my powerpoint presentation that I had created in Windows and moved onto her and puked up this mess of ruined error bars and skinny little lines for the line graphs.
I became less enamored of her at that point.
However, HB tells me that there are special ways to save things that I’ve created on my Windows computer. And move them and that there are probably software patches and whatever to make her treat my Windows things right.
For right now, the jury is kind of out about whether or not I’ll use her to write my thesis. I’m still worried about stuff getting screwy if my advisor and I transfer documents back and forth.
So… we’ll see.
But she sure is pretty. And clearly works well for blogging.
I guess this is long enough for now.
I’ll tell you tomorrow about, the seeeeekrits that HB surprised me with last night when I arrived in MN!
I might even have a peeeeeeekture that is fitting for Flowers for Friday!
Did I mention that we are both taking these 4 days off? Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
We are going furniture shopping as soon as I post this.
teeeeee-heeeeee!
cya!
LadyBug says:
Oh, holy crap, Danielle, I had totally forgotten you were going to MN this week!
*SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL*
I’m so happy you and HB are reunited (and it feeeeeels so goooood). I know you’re much, much better now (and so are HB and Girlie-Girl).
And your new love? What is her name? (I’m thinking “Cami”, because it’s “iMac” backwards.)
Amber says:
Did your old second hand happen to be an Acer? Oh grrr. Andy gave me his old Acer laptop. Same *exact* problems as you described. It now sits in the den room, lonely, because I have my shiny new iBook G4.
Did you get the 14 inch screen? Hmmm…?
I think that before you know it, you will be a Mac freak.
And I’m with Ladybug, what did ya name her/him?
(Ladybug says Cami, I say Koobi. Either way works.)
Yay you are back with HB. I am glad you are getting to spend so much time with him on your arrival! yay!
victoria winters says:
No fair!
No, that’s awesome for you. Huz’s laptop is about to die too, so we’re getting him a new one for his bday next month. He’s contemplating a mac, but isn’t sure.
HB says:
Acer? ACER?
No, we only use quality machines here.
The hand me downs were Sonys.
HB
Alex says:
ohhh, a g4 powerbook brand spankin new! how nice
. That’s what I got in my postdoc lab…and i had to transfer my thesis presentation on there to give to thelab for my interview, as well as word docs back and forth to old lab and new– a little more than a pain in the ass, especially when you have lots of data to deal with. but i think you know more than i did about transfering.
enjoy
Squirl says:
Wow, a new notebook and you’re with HB and Girlie-girl! You must be walking on air.
I like the names that both Ladybug and Amber came up with.
I’ve always been a Windows person. All the people who do artistic things.
Momo says:
How cool! I too have a hand me down laptop, but I’m not complaining, mine is in awesome shape. The warranty isn’t even up yet.
YAY, you are home with HB and Girlie Girl! I’m so happy for you. Enjoy your welcome home weekend.
Amber says:
Only quality machines? I wish that was the stance at Andy’s school when he had to get that laptop for school. Acers suck.
I love our Macs. Andy’s Powerbook is still going strong after quite a bit of years, 3 drops, 3 jammed plugs, and a few spillages.
I can only hope mine can last that long.
Have fun, you two.
Ern says:
Wow, all sorts of good things! I am a big Mac fan, but it might be easier to finish your thesis on the PC and use the Mac for new stuff. Just because those transitions can be a beyotch.
Oh, and have you ever noticed that ‘Macs’ sounds just like ‘Max’ and it confuses people?
Danielle says:
Ladybug, SQUEEEEEEEAL indeed. And now I have that song in my head.
I like Cami, precisely for the reason you gave. I wonder how many women have named their imac’s Cami? Ah well, doesn’t matter.
Speaking of names. I did 2 photoshoots yesterday with Dee-Dee. Gosh it felt great to spend some time taking pictures.
Amber, yep! It is the 14″ screen. Quite an improvement, I might add over the smaller screen of my last one. I see HB already informed you about the previous laptops.
Alex! Yay! I was thinking of you the other day. Thanks for the notes on your personal experience with moving things back and forth. Right now, I’m kinda leaning toward just using my Sony… I fear wasting too much time trying to move things around. But I’ll tell you what, Cami is so much nicer to use that I’m awfully tempted.
Squirl, ‘I’m walking on sunshine! ye-eah, and it feels so good!”
(hey! alright now!…)
Momo, I love hearing that you are excited too. ‘Cause _I_ sure am!
Ern, I hope mine lasts a long long time too. And we _are_ having fun.
Well, except that today we have to go get our driver’s licenses and plates. *bleck* ;-p
Wooooo boy, party party, I tell you.
Do we know how to have a gurta time, or what?
Ern, I think I had that issue last night talking to my parents on the phone the whole Mac/Max thing.
And thanks for your opinion too on the transferring thing.
LadyBug says:
P.S. I’m ASSuming that, once you and HB have, ahem, “caught up,” you’ll be posting pics of Cami? Yes. Yes, I thought so.