that's over 80 in computer years, right?
My laptop - a Toshiba Satellite - is nearly five and a half years old. The CD/DVD reader is kind of wonky (I mostly use an auxiliary one, which is also the only way I can write DVDs), my hard drive is a laughable 30GB (although I remember the olden days when I happily shelled out for a 40MB auxiliary hard drive for my very first computer - a Mac Plus!), the only way I have USB 2.0 is through a PCMCIA card, and the replacement battery only gives me a bit less than two hours of life. Even though major parts started breaking last year, I still clung feverishly, hopefully, desperately to my antiquated computer. But I cannot remain in denial any longer.
For the last week or so, the screen hinges have been loose, such that if I tipped the screen forward a little, the laptop would slam closed, although the screen would stay upright through friction once I got it to the right position. But now the hinges are completely useless, and I have to prop up the screen in order to keep it upright. B. disassembled the laptop this morning, and it was a mess; not only were the hinge pieces broken beyond repair, other bits inside were broken as well. (And when he put it back together, there were extra screws left over. Um.) It's clearly only a matter of time before the darn thing quits working altogether.
So, I turn to you. I know some of you (malnpudl? lamentables? Who else?) have recently bought new laptops. Recommendations? Anti-recs? (I'm only considering Windows systems, because after reading about ignazwisdom's experiences switching, I am pretty sure I would be even more stick-in-the-mud and bound to my existing software.)
For the last week or so, the screen hinges have been loose, such that if I tipped the screen forward a little, the laptop would slam closed, although the screen would stay upright through friction once I got it to the right position. But now the hinges are completely useless, and I have to prop up the screen in order to keep it upright. B. disassembled the laptop this morning, and it was a mess; not only were the hinge pieces broken beyond repair, other bits inside were broken as well. (And when he put it back together, there were extra screws left over. Um.) It's clearly only a matter of time before the darn thing quits working altogether.
So, I turn to you. I know some of you (malnpudl? lamentables? Who else?) have recently bought new laptops. Recommendations? Anti-recs? (I'm only considering Windows systems, because after reading about ignazwisdom's experiences switching, I am pretty sure I would be even more stick-in-the-mud and bound to my existing software.)