you bought what?
Did I mention we bought a laptop? Or - to be more specific - Steven bought a laptop. Not a brand new $800 laptop (we're way too cheap), a used one off Portage Online.
Now you'd think that buying a used one would be a good idea right? Except for the few "minor" issues:
You may think these things are minor. However, once you add the cost of adding all these things to the computer, as well as what we paid for the computer, we could have almost bought a new cheapish laptop. Men. As of yet we haven't done any of these things or hooked it to the internet. I have not actually used it. Stupid laptop.
Note: Sometimes I think I write these not-so-interesting blog posts just so I have an excuse to use bullets.
In my computer fantasies I am sitting at the island with a kick-ass, real-life laptop writing a novel. Yes, I have myself convinced that the only thing keeping me from writing more than blog posts is that my computer is in the basement. Seriously, I don't know that there are going to be many novels created in this house in the near future. But there surely won't be if I have to do it in the basement.
We have some serious pest issues in the basement (hallelujah, bullets again!):
See? Just imagine what us housewives would become if only we had laptops. That worked. And held a charge. And had internet capabilities - for novel research of course.
Now you'd think that buying a used one would be a good idea right? Except for the few "minor" issues:
- the battery does not hold a charge. You can have it charged right up and if you unplug it for 5 minutes (no exaggeration) the charge is GONE. If you're going to have a laptop, isn't the idea that you aren't plugged in to the wall?
- it doesn't have the hardware for wireless internet. I called the local computer guys. It's about $75 for that.
- it doesn't have Microsoft Works, or Microsoft office. Hence, no typing program.
You may think these things are minor. However, once you add the cost of adding all these things to the computer, as well as what we paid for the computer, we could have almost bought a new cheapish laptop. Men. As of yet we haven't done any of these things or hooked it to the internet. I have not actually used it. Stupid laptop.
Note: Sometimes I think I write these not-so-interesting blog posts just so I have an excuse to use bullets.
In my computer fantasies I am sitting at the island with a kick-ass, real-life laptop writing a novel. Yes, I have myself convinced that the only thing keeping me from writing more than blog posts is that my computer is in the basement. Seriously, I don't know that there are going to be many novels created in this house in the near future. But there surely won't be if I have to do it in the basement.
We have some serious pest issues in the basement (hallelujah, bullets again!):
- spiders. damn rotten things.
- mice. or just one mouse, but he's dead now. doesn't mean his friends won't come looking.
- kids. those kids do not respect the sanctity of the computer room. you should see what they do to the stacks of cds in here. they also like to use video cameras and other electronic equipment to get a few inches off the ground so they can see the computer. they play my keyboard in here too, there is the remnants of a candy necklace stickied all over it.
See? Just imagine what us housewives would become if only we had laptops. That worked. And held a charge. And had internet capabilities - for novel research of course.
Comments
A note from a problem solver type.
Download Open Office from openoffice.org. It is a free package, and has a word processer, spreadsheet, powerpoint, database and graphics program. It is all compatible with MS Office file types.
As for the battery, it sucks, but even new laptops only stay on for about an hour or two before the battery starts to die. And the screen is much dimmer on battery power as well, so many people end up plugging their laptops in all the time anyway.