Jaci Dawn

The Gateway is Dead. I think I had it for 12 years? I’m really not certain how long it’s been around – a decade at least and no less. It’s been a decent computer and stored a lot of memories.

Memories that I backed up diligently after our brush with the Blue Screen of Death two years ago. The nice Geeks at PC Pieces in Oregon City revived the Gateway and retrieved all my old data – and didn’t charge me an arm or a leg, but a little bit of petty cash. I am forever grateful.

When I got the Gateway back, I discovered that I did not save all my “keys” to Microsoft Works and I lost my photo-editing programs. I downloaded a couple free photo shop programs (I’m in the market again) and I paid for Microsoft Office. And this time I kept my product key in case the Gateway died again.

I’m thankful I did because the motor in the Gateway gave up the ghost a little over a week ago. I’ve been using my husband’s Compaq with Vista Premium on it. I hate Vista. And the Compaq doesn’t have my files or photoshop or MS Office. My music languished on my back-up drive.

Thus began a search for a new computer. Well, a tower, really: my monitor is perfectly fine. I went to all the usual places: the local Fry’s ads, the Dell discount emails (we have a Dell discount through my employer), and going to Best Buy. I don’t like Best Buy (although I cannot give you a definitive reason why. Maybe it is the countless salespeople standing around like vultures or maybe it’s the prices… Best Buy is definitely NOT the best buy around). I like Fry’s, but I hate going in there: it’s dim, it’s noisy, it’s crowded, the aisles are so packed with items, and it’s media over-load. It’s an HSP’s worst nightmare.

The Dell discounts weren’t enough to warrant purchasing a Dell – besides I’d have to do it online and I’m a very visual person. I like to actually see what I am buying.

Thursday of this week I had a brilliant notion: Office Depot! it’s kitty-corner to where I work  and they sell computers. So I went over on my lunch hour. I found three towers in my price range. I looked at laptops, too, but I’m not fully convinced I need the Internet to be that portable. I’d just waste time on Facebook. Sure, I could say I was getting a laptop to work on my writing during my lunch, but I know darn well I’d waste the time. Besides, I have this perfectly fine monitor.

The salesman was nice enough. He immediately dismissed my interest in a slimline by HP and directed me instead to a Compaq with 2GB memory or a Lenovo with 4GB memory and a 500GB hard drive. He explained that the HP with 3GB memory & a 640GB hard drive was 1) the display model & had been turned on and 2)the slim lines are tiny, so the components are tiny. But he thought I’d like the Lenovo which was a huge monster with all kinds of ports & card readers (including a PS2 port). I decided to sleep on it.

Today I went back in. I bypassed the original salesman and went back to the computers. I thought I had decided but there I was – undecided again. This time a new salesman approached and when I explained my situation (price and the 3 computers in my range), he made a surprising gaffe. He didn’t hesitate.

He blurted out, “Well, if I was buying a tower in that price range, I’d absolutely buy that one…” and he pointed to the HP. He wasn’t intimidated by the size (or lack thereof) of the components. He admitted to not liking Compaq. I’d already eliminated the Lenovo because of its size – I have limited space in my studio with the slanted ceiling. I was already leaning heavily toward the HP.

After declining all the added-on expenses they try to sell you (extended warranty, Office Depot tech support, McAffee antivirus), I finally agreed to pay $30 to have recovery disks made. I could probably make my own, but it takes hours and if they were willing to do it… Well, I’m more than happy to let them do it.

I walked out $400 poorer but much happier.

For the next few days I will be resetting all my favorites, downloading all my old programs, getting all my old data transferred… It’s a daunting process and time consuming! But at least I had it all backed up.

And how do I like my new tower?

Well after I finally figured out that the ON button is on top of the tower (no schematics came with the computer), I am so far impressed. It’s fast. Windows 7 is a step above Vista. And I love the new keyboard.

I think we will form a very good friendship over the years.

Now – I need to find a recycler for the old Gateway (after I erase my hard drive). My old keyboard will go to work with me… I hate the keyboard they gave me at work.

I’m happy tonight.

P.S. – I paid less than the advertised price because it was “used”. 🙂