geek help needed

[mimicucumber]

Today mum put £250 into my account for the express purpose of buying an eee pc. Wgbgaaagh! Good god I was so excited. And ran down to TCR - I went in every single shop, it took hours - but all they have is the Windows install. Well, they have a couple of linux ones, but in black, and I want purdy pearly white.

It's apparently the OMGest thing to

Comments

[mentalist_2000]

There ae other mini laptop pc's that are like the ee-pc which come with linux (to buy) online but it would depend on if you could get it delivered or not.. its usually cheaper too as windows & office is a lot more expensive...

I would research but I can barely type this as it is

[mimicucumber]

OMG WHY YOU NOT DO MY RESEARCH FOR ME HUH?

Yeah, I've looked at others, though only the Acer with any detail, and I think the majority are more expensive. PLus, I'm so indecisive I just know it'll take me another week to umm and ahh if I'm offered more options!

[mentalist_2000]

Also, in a shop you can haggle!

[mimicucumber]

Good point. Did you see that londonpaper article about haggling today? I reckon I'm going to try for a credit crunch discount tomorrow.

[talkingtocactus]

you lost me at "eee"... *confused*

[mimicucumber]

hehe. http://www.trustedreviews.com/images/article/inline/7755-7344IMG3341s.jpg

*sigh*

[faded_thoughts9]

Bah, I totally get what you mean about the condescending computer guys. To their credit there is a ridiculous gender imbalance in the world of computers, but it really sucks when they just assume you're a moron.

Then again, a lot of those guys are condescending to everyone so half the time it probably has nothing to do with gender. :p

[mimicucumber]

occasionally I have a feeling it's just comic book guy-ism as the default mode, but in the 'are you SURE you want linux?' questioning and in the attempt to answer an intelligent question with fundamental info, it was a gender thing.

[mr_clarinet]

i understand almost nothing about this post.

[mimicucumber]

and that makes me feel clever.

[codeinconnu]

I find the computer/electronics shop people treat me the same way so i dont think its gender specific, they are just cocks.

PC World do a thing where you can order online (at online prices) but collect and pay in store rather than get it delivered. Of course if they don't have the model you want in stock then that won't be much use.

btw have you tried John Lewis? They may sell it and will price match if it is cheaper elsewhere.

[mimicucumber]

I tried PC world, but thanks for the tip. And John Lewis is a good idea, plus I seem to remember they offer better warranty deals than even the standard computer company one. Nice!

As for the gender thing; maybe, at a stretch, it's a consumer-microsoft ting - ie them never expecting linux customers. Essentially I wanted to be treated like any other consumer who is not an expert but has done 'his' research on the product; if they couldn't answer my questions, they could just call over the 'linux guy' in the shop (as some of them did, to their credit) and left me with them, instead of patronisingly telling me what I logically must already know to be asking my question in the first place.

It's like asking 'what spf should I use if I go to a hot country and spend three hours in the midday sun?' and being told: 'you should be careful of sunburn'. You only get that if the person assumes you're stupid.