The Woes of the Computer Nomad
So many of you know that several months ago (see last April/May) my computer of a couple of years began acting up. The motherboard was failing. Now the computer was not that old, but I’d certainly had it a while. The next thing you need to know is that I go to a school and study a field that is predominantly run by Mac users. So every time my Windows computer would act up, one or more of these mac users would say to me “You should get a mac, they NEVER have problems.” *snort*
If you’ve read the entries about my internship, you will recall that I walked away from that with a MacBook Pro as payment (August). Why? Because that is what the industry uses, and if I want to get by, I’m going to need the tools.
Now, the computer wasn’t perfect, there were a few times when the iTunes would freeze right at the beginning. One time, when the light went all wonky and I called tech support (had the computer for maybe 2 weeks at this point) but a simple reboot solved the problem before I was even off hold. The guy on the phone assured me that even though my computer was refurbished, it was as good as a new one would be.
Now I find myself about three months into the ownership of my Mac and I am computer-less. I took it in last Sunday to find out why it kept locking up. The mouse and or keyboard would stop responding all the way, or at all. Sometimes just one, sometimes both. Often to the point where I would have to reboot and would lose all my writing because I can’t save. Let me just say, when you have less than a few hours to get approximately 9,000 words out, this is NOT helpful. (I ended up with about 6,000, but it was cohesive if not short.) That’s not the point. The point is that I took it in and the guy said I had a faulty logic board. (fan-freaking-tastic) But they would have to order the part and it wouldn’t be there till tuesday.
Now I need my computer for school, I have typed assignments due like weekly. So I tell the guy, I can’t let it go that long. So he tells me they’ll call when the part comes in and I’ll bring it back then. Fine. But no way in hell am I leaving the computer if they don’t have the part.
Now the part is supposed to show up on tuesday…I get no call. I call Wednesday, and lo and behold, they have the part…in fact it came the day before. THANKS A LOT.
So I take the computer down, cry over it, hug it and leave it. I’m told it will be 3-5 days but since I have the magic membership card, I get pushed to the front of the line. Plus, I told the guy about NOT getting my phone call about the part and he apologized profusely and made all kinds of notes to call me for sure this next time. (good, cause I NEED my computer)
So I go back Friday, not to the apple store initially, but to another store at the mall. And I figure, what the heck? Might as well go and see how it’s doing, there’s a project coming that’s due Monday that I need to get started on, so if it’s ready awesome.
Turns out, not only is my computer NOT ready, but the part that I MADE SURE was there before I left my computer in the hands of the “tech support” was faulty and they had to order a new one. WTH? It’s Friday, so it MIGHT come on Saturday, but the lady can’t be sure. Let’s just say be glad my friend was with me or I might have really done some damage to the mac store.
Of course then the area right near the mall catches fire…so I somehow doubt they got a delivery on Saturday.
So it’s Monday, and still no call. But I’m going out to the mall tomorrow morning, another store to pick up my pre-ordered copy of Wall-E as well as to go with my friend (who is also having mac issues) to the apple store. If my computer is not ready, heads will roll. If it IS ready, that means they failed to call me and heads will roll. Regardless, I’m walking out of there with a computer, even if I have to convince them to give me a dang replacement.
Meanwhile, I travel from computer to computer. It took me 6 different computers to finish the assignment I had due today. I used one roommate’s computer till she came back, emailed the file to myself, jumped to another computer and repeat. Over and over and over…
I feel homeless, I never know when I’ll be able to get on and check my email, or how I’ll do my next assignment. I have things on my computer that I can’t access (can’t get off my hard drive either cause apparently my computer formatted it so only my computer would talk to the hard drive). And I sit here on one roommate’s computer, after being kicked off the other’s and wonder when my roommate will be back. Most likely when I least expect it.
Until the next time I can find a set of keys and a screen (hopefully, I’ll be back tomorrow with MY computer (or my NEW one)). But damn if Apple doesn’t suck.
To all you who said “Get a Mac, they NEVER have problems.” You all lie and I think I hate you just a little.
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