June 29, 2007
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Buying Stuff
My parents wanted to get some new computer stuff. Dad's computer was a Quadra 605 running System 7.5. Mom's iMac was making strange noises and if you listened carefully you could hear satan.
Dad says get a desktop machine, and he'll share a laptop with mom, mom gives off the impression that she'd rather not share, I offer a sort of middle ground solution, but it's not my decision.
We ended up with a new iMac for mom and a MacBook Pro for her to share with dad... She needs both, actually, for various and sundry reasons I won't go into here.
So here's the scene: The Apple store, where we spend what seems like (and may well have actually been) five hours dithering back and forth on what to get, waiting for the stock to come to the checkout line, getting the car from the other side of the mall, waiting around some more, flirting with the cashiers who suddenly decide I'm a 'student,' and thus deserve a multitude of discounts and special offers...
Dad came home in shock. I spent the next day and a half setting it all up for them. Airport Extreme base stations are neeto; straight out of the box, the iMac could print to the 15-year-old LaserWriter NTR over wi-fi[1]. I wrote an Automator script that will automatically import stuff you scan into iPhoto (something iPhoto should do already, but doesn't). Taught my mom about Spotlight and 'smart folders,' because she's always telling me that she spends too much time finding stuff...
And today we set up the backups and sync stuff. W00t.
[1] Extra nerdy goodness: The iMac is connected to the LaserWriter thusly: iMac -> 802.11n -> Airport Extreme base station -> CAT-5 -> LocalTalk bridge -> LocalTalk cable -> printer. Works like a charm.
Comments (8)
What was your dad in shock?
The dollar amount.
I usually hate stores, but the New York Apple Store (especially after 2 am) is the greatest place - without a doubt.
They didn't buy you a new PowerMac? Seems unfair...
Fairness isn't part of the picture.
Actually, we got a 'student' rebate on an iPod nano. Suddeny my roadtrip is filled with music.
cool on the ipod! I've got an FM transmitter thingy unused here, I'll give it to you if you want it
I am very jealous. I recently just got a brand new Dell laptop, and am very happy with it. It's the first non-Mac I've ever had, and it's still hard to give up my loyalty. However, XP (haven't used Vista yet) is friendly enough to not bother me much. Plus the universities used to be all Mac, and of course now they're all PC, so it's just plain easier now, since school's what this 'puter is for.
Anyway, I'm just expressing my jealousy and my conflict.
I still have my trusty Blue and White in the closet, and if I had room in this small apartment, I'd have it up and running too.
nobody does truly do nerdiness like you do I confess...
When it comes to choosing computers... I seem to always make decisions for other people. I have never purchased personally a computer in my life. always get other people to buy them for me..
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