New Laptop!
It's going to be a fun weekend.
Last week, I had the pleasure of ordering a new laptop. My current one, while only two years old, has been giving me a lot of trouble and has the unfortunate drawback of being unable to easily run Mac OS X. It's battery died this past summer for the second time (first was spring 2006). I considered just buying a replacement battery, but what was the point, chances were it was going to die again. Everyone in my college class was given the same laptop (included in our tuition) and at least half the people I know have had their batteries die. Sounds like a faulty design if you ask me. Anyway, I saw this as an opportunity to get a MacBook Pro.
Obviously once you order something like a new computer, you get excited. The past week I was periodically checking the tracking information to see when it would arrive. FedEx informed me that today would be the day. Just in time for the weekend!
So I was surprised when yesterday upon returning from work there was a notice on my door saying they had tried to deliver the package but that no one was available to sign for it. I was confused by this, and kind of annoyed, especially since I had already printed out the signature form and was going to put it on my door the next day so they could drop it off while I was working. Upon closer inspection of the notice, however, I discovered another option. I could drive to the FedEx distribution center and pick it up that night. This sounded like an adventure, one that I would record for your reading pleasure!
A quick trip to Google Maps later I had an expertly crafted route taking me through various backroads so I could avoid the major highway that was undergoing construction. I hopped in my car and drove off. A short while later (after only one wrong turn) I found myself at the lovely FedEx facility in Mount Olive, New Jersey.
I presented the helpful employee with my notice and identification and a short while later I was in the proud possession of a new MacBook Pro. I brought it out to my car and strapped it in tight for the ride home.
I sped home as fast as local speed limits (and the cars in front of me) would allow. I really wish some people didn't think that 40 MPH means go 33 MPH though...
I managed to make it home nonetheless, and was ready to open the box.
I ripped and tore my way through the durable cardboard enclosure so I could reach the amazing Mac goodness inside. Or maybe I just took a knife and cut it open, take your pick.
Inside the box was – another box! The suspense was building, nearly too much to handle.
Once that box was breached I was finally able to get a look at my new computer. It is a thing of beauty.
I took it out, plugged it in, and powered it on.
And since that moment, there's been no looking back. I've spent the time since then installing various applications, Firefox, Thunderbird, Adium, NetNewsWire, Gimp, Office, Audacity, and many others that I use regularly. It's gonna take a while to set all that up, and then time to sync up some files with my desktop. I also have to get files off of my old laptop. Right now I'm making a VMWare image to use with Fusion, that should be fun.
So far it's been a blast. I miss my middle trackpad button for opening links in new tabs and such, but command-clicking works almost as well. I love the two finger-sensing trackpad, makes it easier to right-click and scroll, more than making up for the lack of three buttons. It's got lots of other great features too, the backlit keyboard, sudden motion sensor (there are some fun games that make use of it), and of course, all the wonders of Mac OS X. One thing I don't like it the location of the optical drive. If the laptop is on my lap, the drive if pointing right at my stomach, it makes it hard to get CDs in and out compared to most other laptops I've used that have drives the eject on the side. Still, it's just a little thing. Overall it's a great computer, one I expect to use for many years.
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