This weekend, my computer began freezing and crashing. Now, most of you probably don’t think much of this phenomenon, but since I have a Mac, I was entirely freaked out.
I packed it up in a little case and made an appointment at the Apple store, which, since it’s President’s Day weekend, was positively overrun with people who wanted to buy/repair/return/drool at iPods. I was so glad I made an appointment.
You discover a lot of things when you spend four hours at the genius bar in your local Apple store, mostly that most people don’t have the slightest clue how to work their iPods. I was one of two people that had actual computer problems all day. And one person’s computer problem was that they’d purchased a lemon. My computer is not a lemon,a nd in fact, has been working fine almost the entire time I’ve owned it. I also learned that I should have a “dot mac” account, in order to do backups. I am very happy to have this info.
So, practical upshot, my ‘puter is a very very sick little puppy. Something about the logic board, or perhaps the hard drive.
Anyway, it’s broke, and now I’m waiting to hear from the nice “genius” at my local Apple store (his name is Yousef, he’s quite the cutie, and we got to know each other pretty well during the four hours I spent at the Apple store yesterday) about whether or not it’s going to make it. The last I saw of it, they’d cleaned it all up (amazing how grubby that white keyboard can get) and made it look, unfortunately, a bit like it had been made up at an undertaker’s office for its final burial. NO! No, I won’t let myself think of that. I’m sure it will be fine. Poor baby. It was all alone there last night, sick and scared, probably… my computer, my love…
I wouldn’t want to have to buy a new one right now. It’s just… money I don’t need to be spending in this contract. Plus, buying a new computer would most likely necessitate purchasing another copy of MS Office, since I use Word, and Gates makes you pay through the nose for the Apple version of that shizzit. Though those new intel-chip ones look real purty…
NO! My computer will be fine! Yousef will save it, I know…
February 20th, 2006 at 9:56 am
Take heart, Diana!
We have the same model, no? The 12-inch G3 iBook that’s not a clamshell? Well, a couple of weeks ago, mine started going wonky. Like, the screen turning into all horizontal lines and then freezing. I had just upgraded to Tiger and thought that might be it, but when I called they said it was the logicboard.
The good news (for once!) was that it’s a repair extension on the original warranty, because it was a known issue. He was very apologetic that I hadn’t been told about it, even though I’d registered it. Sneaky Apple. The repair extension expired in March 2005 OR three years after purchase. I purchased three years ago in March. Can you believe, it went bad BEFORE the expiration?
Anyway, I don’t have a Yousef. No Apple stores around at all. So I had to get a box shipped to me and then ship my baby away. I couldn’t back it up or empty my iTunes because the damned thing wouldn’t work. But they repaired it and sent it back in less than a week and it didn’t cost me a dime. It’s all fine now, except for an unfortunate tendency to shut down without warning when the battery gets low. I have to keep an eye on that.
Here’s hoping your story goes as well as mine!
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February 20th, 2006 at 11:20 am
I have the 12″ G4 and lost my first hard drive a few months ago. I could actually tell it was going and managed to back up EVERYTHING I had to either .mac, my flash drive or my desktop.
I missed it terribly while it was gone (a mere 48 hours) and wondered if I’d abused it by mistake. You see, I never *really* turn it off…just put it to sleep, with the occasional restart to clean up the RAM.
But it was good to go as soon as I got it back.
I don’t know why, but it didn’t even occur to me to take it to Apple. I took it to an authorized service center instead. Hmmmm.
I’m sure yours will be okay. Tell it that Gina and Owl (my laptop’s moniker) send speedy wishes for a full recovery.
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February 20th, 2006 at 11:57 am
I feel like a giraffe in a polar bears only golf club (spot the reference for five points). I’m a PC user.
I’ve never had a broken computer, I don’t think. (Although I’m begging for one now, right?) I DO backup, although not as often as I should.
And I am in complete sympathy with your anxiety for your friend and compadre… Well, we spend more time with our computers than with our friends, no?
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February 20th, 2006 at 12:53 pm
Natalie, that’s what they said was wrong with mine, too, so maybe it’s the same thing. Fingers crossed!
Thanks for the well wishes, Gina! And thank Owl, too…
AL, isn’t that funny how connected we are to our computers. I feel so… lost without mine. Incomplete.
I have nothing against PC users, by the way. I’m not one of those mad Mac cultists. But I do like mine better…
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February 20th, 2006 at 12:54 pm
I’m an oddball. I have PC desktop and a Mac laptop and like them equally. I also have one of each on my desk at work.
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February 20th, 2006 at 1:30 pm
Oh, Diana, best wishes for a full recovery for your friend.
Me, I hate my computer — which is a PC and makes this annoying whining sound (probably just a fan that needs replacing).
But I’m thinking about investing in a brand spanking new one instead of another changing bits attempt… It’s only money, right? And writing with a whine in my head is not helpful. I already have my own, I don’t need any extras
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February 21st, 2006 at 12:06 am
Hey, all the boys who work at my local apple store (in Melbourne, Australia) are cute as well! Maybe it’s a worldwide hiring policy…
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February 21st, 2006 at 8:36 am
I’m a Dell girl. Have been for years. The nice thing is that if there’s a problem (which is usually caused by one of my cats sitting on the keyboard) it’s always an easy fix. Helps that my hubby is a total techie, too. Nothing like in- house tech support.
Hope your computer woes are quickly and painlessly resolved!
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February 21st, 2006 at 8:45 am
most of you probably don’t think much of this phenomenon, but since I have a Mac
LOL
PCs: the hair shirts of modern technology!!!!
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