31/05: Shopping Spree
It's known as "Retail Therapy." Sometimes it is for things you need, sometimes just for things you want. Sometimes it is just driven by our consumer programming.
I spend money on airplane tickets and hotels all the time, especially now. But I think this was my biggest "durable good" purchase. I bought one of them thar fancy new fangled Apple MacBook Pros with the big-arsed screen and the dual core processor thingamajig running at 2.16 GeegaHurtz. It's Sweet.
I promise this won't turn into another Apple ad, but I am so proud of my little company that I have to express my satisfaction. (And it is still a great time to buy Apple stock, since the analysts haven't figured out just how important one key element is just yet.)
Sadly, one of the coolest things about my new Mac is that it can run Windows at the same time it runs OS X. The dual-booting thing that Apple gives away is interesting and all, but Parallels Workstation is where the real news is. Now a company can have a migration path towards Macs, without any risk. There is now absolutely no technical reason why a consumer is forced to buy a Dull rather than a Mac! Sure, the Macs might cost a little more, but they are a much better value.
Oh, and with this Parallels Workstation thingamajig, it is really easy to protect yourself from viruses and trivial to back up and restore for quick recoveries! Things that can't be done with Windows alone! (You can also "virtualize" Linux if that is more your cup of tea.)
Whoops, didn't tell you where it started.
Actually buying this computer was no small effort. It took at least 9 trips to different Apple Stores, carefully timed to meet their delivery schedule. Thanks, Marie.
OK, with that out of the way, I just needed some software, two new telephones (to replace two that were stolen before we left), a new bag, laptop sleeve, Gatorade powder, and some kind of pillowtop thingy for our awful Thai mattress. Maybe a few more things as well... I can always buy knives or lights or maybe even some Chinese Throwing Stars! (Thank god my wife protects me from myself sometimes!)
We failed on the Pillowtop. Actually, the Pillowtop failed us. A little too bulky to travel with. We looked at REI for camping mattresses-- way too expensive and way too big. Back in Thailand, apparently nobody complains about the mattresses. (Back in the US, it took my mom quite a few years to complain enough to actually replace hers, so maybe it isn't just Thailand...) We couldn't find any add-on pillowtops, and the Thai mattresses that are supposed to go directly on the floor look like they have nails in them.
I did get a fantastic new backpack though. I can fit my 15" Dull laptop along with the 17" Mac (Name's Bruce!) along with a few bottles of water and those 15 kg Bar Bells I keep trying to buy. It's comfortable and stylish too-- a Mountainsmith Approach II had at Sports Basement for under $50. It's like a big backpack, only smaller. Much more comfortable fully loaded than the yellow messenger bag, although maybe not quite as "cool."
Anyway, thank you for viewing this commercial. For your efforts, I promise a new story every day at least through the rest of the week. Sorry I have been remiss-- sometimes it is hard to write. I might even get some pictures up soon!
I spend money on airplane tickets and hotels all the time, especially now. But I think this was my biggest "durable good" purchase. I bought one of them thar fancy new fangled Apple MacBook Pros with the big-arsed screen and the dual core processor thingamajig running at 2.16 GeegaHurtz. It's Sweet.
I promise this won't turn into another Apple ad, but I am so proud of my little company that I have to express my satisfaction. (And it is still a great time to buy Apple stock, since the analysts haven't figured out just how important one key element is just yet.)
Sadly, one of the coolest things about my new Mac is that it can run Windows at the same time it runs OS X. The dual-booting thing that Apple gives away is interesting and all, but Parallels Workstation is where the real news is. Now a company can have a migration path towards Macs, without any risk. There is now absolutely no technical reason why a consumer is forced to buy a Dull rather than a Mac! Sure, the Macs might cost a little more, but they are a much better value.
Oh, and with this Parallels Workstation thingamajig, it is really easy to protect yourself from viruses and trivial to back up and restore for quick recoveries! Things that can't be done with Windows alone! (You can also "virtualize" Linux if that is more your cup of tea.)
Actually buying this computer was no small effort. It took at least 9 trips to different Apple Stores, carefully timed to meet their delivery schedule. Thanks, Marie.
OK, with that out of the way, I just needed some software, two new telephones (to replace two that were stolen before we left), a new bag, laptop sleeve, Gatorade powder, and some kind of pillowtop thingy for our awful Thai mattress. Maybe a few more things as well... I can always buy knives or lights or maybe even some Chinese Throwing Stars! (Thank god my wife protects me from myself sometimes!)
We failed on the Pillowtop. Actually, the Pillowtop failed us. A little too bulky to travel with. We looked at REI for camping mattresses-- way too expensive and way too big. Back in Thailand, apparently nobody complains about the mattresses. (Back in the US, it took my mom quite a few years to complain enough to actually replace hers, so maybe it isn't just Thailand...) We couldn't find any add-on pillowtops, and the Thai mattresses that are supposed to go directly on the floor look like they have nails in them.
I did get a fantastic new backpack though. I can fit my 15" Dull laptop along with the 17" Mac (Name's Bruce!) along with a few bottles of water and those 15 kg Bar Bells I keep trying to buy. It's comfortable and stylish too-- a Mountainsmith Approach II had at Sports Basement for under $50. It's like a big backpack, only smaller. Much more comfortable fully loaded than the yellow messenger bag, although maybe not quite as "cool."
Anyway, thank you for viewing this commercial. For your efforts, I promise a new story every day at least through the rest of the week. Sorry I have been remiss-- sometimes it is hard to write. I might even get some pictures up soon!
