Tonight I purchased an 11-inch MacBook Air online from the Apple Store. With the AppleCare package, taxes, and an expedited shipment fee, it came out to almost exactly what you all donated for the cause. You guys are awesome! I’ve never been so indecisive about anything in my life. I researched this decision for days and couldn’t choose between a refurbished MacBook Pro (Nov. 2010 edition) and a brand-new MacBook Air. Could I live without a DVD drive? What about a smaller screen, less memory, and shorter battery life? On the other hand, the O/S Lion operating system is so cool and only available right now on the MacBook Air. Did I really want the same computer (basically) that I’ve been using for the last three years? And just when it’s been discontinued? Plus, the MacBook Air is so light and cool-looking. The price came out about the same either way. I think it was $100 more for the refurbished MacBook. In any case, new and up-to-date won out. I paid the $13 dollars for guaranteed two-day delivery and then realized that they’ll never get it to me in two-days because a hurricane will be going on. Doh!
In any case, thank you so much for collectively chipping in and helping me overcome my boneheaded move of leaving my laptop out in a rainstorm. I’ll be forever grateful. Hopefully my internet access will return one day and you’ll get to read something I’ve written on the new MacBook Air!
For graduation I purchased an HP Pavilion dm1. It doesn’t have a DVD drive; you won’t miss it. They’re not really needed anymore, at least not for what I do (dunno about yourself).
Yeah, and don’t do the same thing this time! A hurricane and whatnot.
If they try to deliver it during the hurricane, it’ll probably be ruined by the time I’ve signed for it.
I am already waking up in a cold sweat wondering if it’s raining and I’ve left my non-existent laptop out in the rain. Now I have to worry about getting smacked in the face?
Solution: don’t bring your laptop outside. lol
At lease you’re worried about the face smacking and not the linux learning. There may be hope for you yet.
Heh, I keep waking up worrying you’re going to do that to mine before the new one gets here…come on, UPS.
I couldn’t help this time; I’m moving and it’s putting me in debt. I’m really glad you got donations enough to get what you needed. And OMG, has it really been three years already?
Good luck with it, BooMan!
good choice. Mac optical drives are fragile in my experience (i.e. mine have all collapsed after a short time, and not always under warranty), better to take the Macbook air. maybe an external drive will work with it.
When I bought my macbook air two years ago, I spent the $99 to get the external optical drive. I’m pretty sure I used it once. Or not.
From what I’ve read, with Apple’s new version of their operating system, you should be able to connect to any other computer (including PC’s) over the network to use a CD/DVD/Blu-Ray drive for even an OS upgrade. So if any other machine in the network has the drive you need, you should be able to use it remotely. But a simple $25 portable USB DVD drive (of any brand) should work as well.
Eric Schneiderman is refusing to back down or something here Does this have anything to do with the issue with the Feds taking over the Goldman case? Or is it totally unrelated?
Good for you, Boo. We’re an all Mac family and we love ’em all. The MacBook Air is slick!
Good choice. You won’t miss the optical drive. I have one in my iMac, but I haven’t used it in years.
Had a MB Air that I gave to my brother. I don’t have the need for that much power, since I have my desktop to do the heavy lifting and an iPad for when I’m on the go. But they’re great little computers for hauling around. Your back will thank you the next time you travel.
I’m officially jealous.
You can buy a usb dvd drive for $45, but my experience with Mac clients is that I almost never have to do a complete OS reinstall.
Mac is a disaster for those of us who make a living servicing computers. I was on a tech blog the other night and one tech was actually bitching about Apple and promoting MS products for exactly that reason. We should go back to Windows 98 because it was so bad everyone had to use tech service all the time.
That’s how Microsoft makes most of their money (same with Oracle). It’s not the sale of the product, but the technical support that they offer. So even with Windows 7, they do plenty of technical support…for a fee.
Good news!
The Post Office rarely stops for a hurricane. If it was sent by mail, you’ll have it soon.
Now, be careful out there.
glad you got one, BooMan.
as an Apple fan, I’ll say it – I’m a little jealous.
I’m always impressed by how generous online folks can be. Great job guys!
I now feel slightly less stupid for spilling green tea on my modem. I did get a new modem out of the this, and my wife (who has been required to have the patience of a saint for most of the twenty + years we have been married) seems have forgiven me. The new modem is also much faster than the old one. But we paid for it ourselves.