[geeks] Fwd: Why I HATE buying New computers

[Michael Schiller]

On Wednesday, February 12, 2003, at 10:20 PM, Lionel Peterson wrote:

> I haven't spent that much on a computer since I got my Powerbook Ti
> last Xmas (total emotional purchase, never a moment of regret!), and
> before that, when I got an Ultra 2 (w/dual 300 MHz CPUs) and an awesome
> 21" monitor (3 years ago), or when I got my 80486 DX-33 (a real long
> time ago)...

Well, in recent history, I bought a Sun Ultra-5 with 19" monitor New 
from Sun from one of their ebay auctions for $2500 a couple of years 
ago (that was my first Ultra), and I've since sold the U5 (without the 
monitor) for $500.00 on ebay, but then I'm used to Sun stuff not 
holding it's value.

I'm not really even complaining about the newer machine being cheaper, 
I just sort of feel it's an insult to have to pay $50.00 to get the 
same software that they're giving away with the newer systems. I mean 
heck, because I bought a machine a month ago, I'm spending $250 more 
than I would have to spend now. They could at least have offered iLife 
as a free upgrade to folks that bought a new system within the last 
couple of months.

While talking about iLife, I must admit, the update is a nice one. 
Before I found iMovie almost useless for grabbing video from my digital 
8 camcorder, as it almost always gave me an error about the drive not 
being fast enough, or ready, or some such. I was using Arcsoft's 
VideoImpression software to grab the video, then iDvd to write it. With 
the upgrade, iMovie works great, and coupled with the new iDvd I can 
add chapters to the DVD, just like the laserdiscs I'm copying had 
originally.

-Mike
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