Okay...this is perfect....just freakin' PERFECT....after posting the above response, I was in the process of entering a more thoughtful, insightful and thouroughly entertaining (if I do say so myself) response...I was working on my fourth paragraph, when my Windows XP locked up. blinked twice and REBOOTED...all of my hard work, my inspiration, my furthereance of the world's body of knowledge with regards to Windows....gone.....poof!...AAARRRRGH!!!!!
So, for the benefit of all my friends here at SRP and the world at large, I shall TRY to reconstruct the posting, but be forewarned.....technical/informative/creative writing is a lot like sex, in that, once interrupted, it's difficult to pick up where you left off and get going again....(actually, in reflecting upon it, sex isn't like that at ALL....restarts take, what?...nano-seconds????)...anyhoo, try to keep up...
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It all started on Sunday...the modem in my Dad's Windows '98 laptop finally gave up the ghost, and, with Father's Day peeking over the horizon, Mom said "Just go get a new laptop, and we'll call it your Father's Day present". She gave him a budget of $1000.
So, being a man wise beyond his (considerable) years, he called me to ask for advice (yeah, I know....I couldn't believe it either!). I unloaded with both barrels...told him EXACTLY what I thought of anything Windows, and strongly recommended a Mac laptop (which would give ME the opportunity to get some 'hands-on' Mac time). So I did a little research, and the closest place that carried Macs was BestBuy in a town (Coeur d'Alene) about 45 minutes away. The cheapest one was $1100...hmmmm, a little over the budge, but hey, what isn't right? Plus, it was Mom's money we were spending, anyway.
So, Monday after work, the old boy picked me up and off we went on a technology field trip.
Our first stop was at a Radio Shack so Dad could pick up an amplified telephone for Mom...while he was paying for the phone, I went over and browsed their (rather limited) display of laptops...and there, on the top of the heap, was a Compaq laptop....$549. Good Grief...a lbrand new laptop computer for $550!!! Since the only one they had left was a display model, they said they would give us an extra year of warranty....
...as much as I hate Windows, I just couldn't bring myself to recommend that he/she spend an extra $550 (ie TWICE the price) to go with a Mac. Dad forked over the dough, and we marched home with a laptop loaded with Vista....I haven't had a chance to play with it, but I'm pretty sure, it will probably suck too, but hey!....we saved Mom $550.
Actually, the ONLY thing that Dad does is cruise the financial sites on the internet...no applications....he occassionally prints up a page or two, does a little email and saves pictures of the grandkids, but that's about it....so he's probably safe there...but, damn, I sure would have liked the opportunity to play with a Mac!
I'll check out the Vista and get back and let you know just how MUCH it sucks...but, be assured, suck it shall!
-whatever
-Lou