(no subject)

[deckardcanine]

After much research and consultation, I have concluded that the only way to take care of the 15- to 50-minute connection wait, besides living with it, is to buy something. I could take my chances on a new wireless mini-card, much as I hate to open the CPU. I could simply deactivate the present card and resort to Ethernet, which in my case requires either a cord across the room or dramatic furniture reorganization that will hinder other purposes.

But my preference is to buy a new computer. I'd already figured on doing so fairly soon, partly because it's nearly four years old (the usual lifespan in my experience) and partly because it has acquired many minor issues over the years. Why spend good money on add-ons for a system I won't have in a few months?

I've been putting off this replacement in part because PC shopping makes me nervous. Whenever I make a major purchase with customization options, I worry that I'll overlook something important. That's the same reason I've put off personal vacation planning, tho I'm taking a more serious look this week at a New Zealand singles tour. (Chrome doesn't recognize "Zealand"? For shame.)

Thanks to my housemate Sandy, I am leaning toward Mac shopping instead. I have not owned or made much use of a Mac since the mid-'90s, so I expect a learning curve, but it sounds like they've never been friendlier to PC veterans. It may even allow me a crashless FLASH and thus more incentive to practice animation. My current scanner might not work with a Mac, but the same thing happened the last time I got a new PC. Heck, the main reason I didn't seriously consider Macs before is that they offered fewer games; nowadays I've all but sworn off computer games for good. (No, I won't change my Diablo-based screen name: It's grown on me and kinda assumed a life of its own.)

Now to find a nearby Apple outlet, since live rather than online shopping will probably go better. That said, I should wait until Sandy has passed. The hurricane, not the housemate.

Comments

[nefaria.livejournal.com]

Good luck riding out the storm.

I'd almost given up games until I got hooked on Kingdom of Loathing last December. I hope to gradually ween myself off it in the coming months; it's too addictive for OCD math nerds like me.

[octan.livejournal.com]

The thing about Macs is, they cost a lot more and become obsolete even faster, due to Apple's unofficial but well documented policy of never looking back. And yet, used ones cost almost as much as new ones, if eBay is any indication. I don't know how that makes any sense, but assuming eBay actually still lets real humans sell stuff on eBay rather than just corporate resellers, that'll work in your favor down the line.

[deckardcanine.livejournal.com]

That may be, but the only way I'll have a truly informed opinion in the PC-vs.-Mac debate is to try both.

[deckardcanine.livejournal.com]

FWIW, I've put the MacBook on eBay, and the first response is by a suspicious Nigerian.