Happy first birthday to my laptop computer

[thatcrazycajun]

One year ago today, I got my Sony VAIO NR-180E laptop after having had its predecessor, a Dell Inspiron 6000, stolen. In that time it has only needed repairs that cost me money once, and that was not its fault; it was a software problem due to a bungled Service Pack update Microsoft shoved through the Net into it and a few million other machines without proper testing.

It has traveled with me to southern Louisiana and northern New Jersey, to deepest, darkest Africa and back. It has traveled in a backpack and in the trunks of cars, by foot and plane and train and fiercely shaking safari cruisers on cratered back-country dirt roads. It has had all manner of shareware and freeware loaded onto it as well as bloatware purchases such as Microsoft Office 2007. It's been used for tasks ranging from heavy still-graphics editing to calling my Songbird in Nairobi for over an hour via Skype. And its 1.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU has kept working solidly through it all.

I haven't felt anthropomorphic enough about it to give it a name, despite the fact that my desktop computer, a Mac mini now over 2.5 years old, has been named "Catintosh III" since it arrived. But my VAIO's been a reliable friend to me, whether thousands of miles from everything and everyone I know or just sitting in the midst of a convention feeling alone despite the crowds.

Thanks, little buddy. Here's to at least a couple more years together before software/hardware upgrades render you hopelessly obsolete.

Comments

[mshollie.livejournal.com]

My MacBook is two years old (got it in October '06 shortly before my froggy and I went to Florida for his eye surgery), and it's been with me through all my travels. I've written, played on the net, processed pictures and even podcasted on location with it! I have all my web design software on it, too. It hasn't been to darkest Africa like yours has, but it has been around the USA.

I got Leopard, iWork '08 and iLife '08 for it not too long ago. I'm not sure if I'll get SnowLeopard or not...that seems to be geared more toward servers.

I'm happy with my Mac. I'd love to have a Mac desktop, but I have software that requires using a PC since Mac versions aren't available. So I have your opposite: a PC desktop and a Mac laptop.

[ericavdg.livejournal.com]

I have a VAIO, too, no idea what model. I get Karl's hand-me-downs, so this one surely qualifies for frequent-flier status on United, although I've never taken it anywhere. It's a good little machine, named Stopgap because it can fill in for Karl's traveling machine at a moment's notice. I use it with a big screen, cordless keyboard, and regular mouse (the cordless mouse died awhile back), so it sits on the desk propped open just a bit with a stuffed winged vampire cat on it. Why? Because otherwise Kimi, my Siamese, would sit on it and Karl says that is Not a Good Thing.

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

*snort* you said "little buddy" and I immediately thought "Gilligan".... but gods help you if you ever go on a Three Hour Tour.

All of my machines have had names, but then all of my machines have also run Linux (or Unix) of some sort, all but one exclusively. This one is Surprise, after Aubrey's beloved ship...

And hey, even if MSFT prices itself out of the market, I'm pretty sure the little guy will run Linux... the VAIOs are pretty good at it. (My first lappy was a VAIO running Red Hat 6.1.) And if'n you're not comfy with doing that and would rather trade? Gimme a buzz. :)

Bon Anniversaire

[sodyera.livejournal.com]

iMac MolliéRa (Molly) and I will celebrate our fourth in February. She's been a real trooper and the most reliable computer I ever had. May you and yours find your way as pleasant.

[nimitzbrood.livejournal.com]

Over the years I've accumulated a few different PC notebooks but none ever seemed to stick for me as a personal machine.

Until I was laid off in 2001 and my grandmother gave me some of the money from the sale of her land. (Long story.) She told me in no uncertain terms to use it for something fun and most certainly not to pay a bill with it. So I bought a graphite colored G3 clamshell style iBook.

I've never looked back to a PC since. That iBook was eventually replaced with a Pismo and then finally a 2.16ghz Macbook which I'm typing on now.

I still have all the others. The clamshell, once I replace the "yo-yo" power brick will become a dream journal machine right next to the bed. The Pismo, once I accumulate enough sheet brass, copper pipe pieces, and mica, will become a steampunk notebook for my workshop outside. :-)

Y'know...I've never named my Apple notebooks. I wonder why that is...