• MacBook first impressions

    The spacebar makes too much clicking noise, but I like the illuminated keyboard more than I thought I would. I do most of my writing after dark, and while I can type, it’s still nice to be able to see the keys.

    I’m going to miss the PB keyboard overall though (dark or not).

    The trackpad is simply huge. The scheme of making the back half physically clickable (the whole thing pivots slightly), is a great idea in practice so far. Just that allows the thing to have at least a third more trackable surface, and it’s wider and deeper to boot. I never got used to used to track pads, despite logging a lot of ours on a lot of different laptops (from vendors other than just Apple). This one is about as close to getting it right of the lot.

    I might have thought of it eventually (put as much stress on the “might” as you like), but Cheryl put me on to a great idea concerning Beth’s old, hand-me-down, eight year old iBook and the dying PowerBook: swap the good (if smaller) drive on the iBook for the failing drive on the PB. That way Beth gets a “new” computer too, and my beloved PB lives on.

    I love this woman.

    —

    *Note: this whole thing was possible due to the settlement from the accident finally coming through. We were finally able to pay off the debt we had accumulated. Plus, I don’t remember if I mentioned this before, but to give you an idea of Cheryl’s progress (both physically and emotionally), she thinks she’s ready to get behind the wheel again.

    Things are really starting to look up. Well, in terms of the accident anyway. She’s still having trouble sitting up in front of a desk, but I’m hoping it’s just a matter of muscles in her neck that need to get stronger (after a long recovery).

  • Another worry

    I was going to label this post “heartbreaking news” but I thought that might worry too many folks (however accurate it may be).

    I think the hard drive on my beloved PowerBook is about to fail. I keep duplicate copies of my critical data on the iMac, plus an online server. Plus, I keep duplicates of all my photos and music on both computers. Just in case, I just did a backup of my home folder, in case I’ve missed something over the years.

    I’m not worried about losing any data, just a member of the family.

    Yep, those ominous sounds coming from the spot where the hard drive sits in the case are getting worse.

    Damn.

    Many of you, lost in the computing wilderness (commonly known as Microsoft Windows) may have no idea what I’m talking about. To you, a computer may seem like a commodity – one seeming just like any other. A few of you are familiar with Macs – how they can seem like an extension of yourself. I’ve never felt that way about one of my Dell boxes at work. Each and every one of my Macs has shared that distinction. In fact, we still have most of them – all but two of the ones I bought new still get regular use (they’re over fourteen years old). My son uses a ten year old iMac.

    I could just go out and get a replacement drive, but I’m not sure I could justify the expense on an old laptop, which at more prone to hardware failures anyway – let alone old ones.

    I could take a little joy from this. After all, it’s an excuse to buy a new computer.

    No. Not like this.

  • Breakthrough on the Cheryl front

    A few months ago Cheryl called the Honda dealership asking if they’d be willing to make a deal on a Civic Hybrid.

    “Nope,” they said, “those babies are selling themselves. We’re not making any deals on hybrids.”

    This weekend Cheryl got an email from the sales manager, telling her they’d knock $4k off the price. It’s actually tempting. Cheryl told us yesterday the doctor gave her the ok physically, and in some ways more importantly: mentally she thinks she’s ready to get behind the wheel again.

    Note: Cheryl sent him a reply, reminding him they have a new hybrid coming out… one that we’re a little more interested in. But if they’d be willing to take $6k off the price, they might have a deal.