There I was, tapping away at my ancient but rugged IBM laptop, minding my own business when it finally happened. I should have known it was coming. I should have been better prepared. Maybe I was in denial? I don’t know. But at about 9am last Friday morning, my until-that-point trusty laptop decided to turn itself off, never to be turned on again by me. I’m heartbroken and not sure what to do with myself. It was so sudden.
I had been in the middle of typing up my earnings report which, for the first time, came in at over $3000 for the month (a detailed post will come later). It had done that sort of thing before. Turning off without warning, not turning on when I needed it most. But it always seemed to revive itself if I gave it a break for awhile. But this time, my laptop’s day has come and I have said my goodbyes.
In truth, I think we’ve been drifting apart these past few months. I’ve noticed my eyes drifting off to Macbooks, coveting their sleek exterior and mysterious (to me) ways. I’ve been debating for a few months whether to ditch my little IBM friend in favour of a Macbook and it seems like the joke is on me. It’s for the best, I think. I want to get more into photo, video and design stuff, maybe take a few courses here and there, and I don’t think my IBM circa 2006 would have cut it. So it’s with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to my old friend.
But as much as I loved my old laptop and as great as it’s been these past few years, it dying at this exact moment is pretty bloody inconvenient. I’ve got about three more weeks left in Haiti which means I won’t be in touch quite as much as I would like. I won’t be able to stay on top of advertising requests or do much ebook promoting either so I could go from my best month ever to one of my worst months…. it’ll be interested to see, for sure.
So I guess this update is to say that I’m kind of screwed as far as getting online goes and May will be a quiet month. I guess I’m on vacation!
It must be sad to say goodbye to and old ‘friend’. I’m sure once you got your MacBook you IBM will be forgotten soon. It’s not so hard to become attached to a Mac.
Sorry to hear about your laptop troubles Kirsty. It sounds like it was about time to upgrade anyway. It just sucks that you didn’t get to decide when that upgrade happens. I’m sure you’ll be caught up in no time once you get a new laptop or macbook.
Hey, the good news is that laptops can be had pretty cheap right now. And they get better and have more features and HD space too! Sorry to hear that it happened the way it did. Did you do your back-ups? I remember you had a Free Agent drive to back up your work, I think? Hope it turns out alright for you.
I just got the new Mac Book Pro and I’m really loving it. Time for you to switch!
Hey Kirsty,
Glad to see the money is picking up, just in time for your new laptop.
What do you put the increase down too? Summer holidays or have you been doing alot more work?
Glad everything is going go for you.
Regards,
Steven
It’s not so hard to become attached to a Mac.
Computer troubles are never fun – hope you had good backups. On the other hand, excuse to buy a new computer!
I recently switched to a MacBook and it is easily one of the best computing decisions I’ve ever made.
I’ve heard it said that Windows is great if you like to tinker, but Macs are better if you just like to get things done and, speaking solely for myself (don’t want to start a flame war!), I’ve found this to be totally true. Everything just works like expect it to – no conflicts, no driver issues – it’s just really easy to use.
Congratulations on your fruitful month!
Kirsty, I feel for you, as I enjoy reading your interesting items. (I also admired your E-book, and I keep intending to send you a few comments.)
Last year I was looking for a reconditioned laptop, but I then discovered Netbooks, of which I presume the Macbook is one type. I was amazed to find that they are better than laptops in every way (size, up-to-dateness etc) and ALSO PRICE (they were as cheap as the reconditioned laptops I saw). I can carry it in the inside pocket of a daypack, so it’s protected and hidden from view and doesnt need its own case. It works on wifi without needing one of those things that you plug in to the USB port. Pity the mains lead is so heavy. Anyway, that would be a good way for you to go.
Good luck,
Peter
Kirsty,
Trust me, the leap from PC to Mac is no leap at all – especially if you’re travelling (and that’s what we’re all doing, right?!)
I might suggest spending a little extra for an Apple MobileMe account, if only for the peace of mind you get from ‘cloud-based’ storage. It’s saved my backside many a time. Plus, it’s just a really handy off-site storage utility.
And Steve is right… the new MacBookPro’s are pretty amazing!
Randy
I had a lenovo 3000 n200 for 12 months and 2 weeks old.
It broke down lastnight, and it seems a complete motherboard replacement is the fix.
So I guess the way to go is buying a new one.
Sorry to hear about your laptop.
But as you said, it gave you a nice run so be thankful to it for its great service. 
Till then,
Jean
did you get a new one?
When my laptop died, I was really sad. She was old and slow….. maybe that’s why saw it like a good old pet dying