I attepted to sendthis message out some two weeks ago,
the list refused to accept same.
I was using a borrowed PC laptop and for whatever reason
was unable to send the e-mail as plain text as demanded
by the iMac list.
No matter, herewith the tale, and a followup;
more the edification ofthe list than anyhting.
In looking at new PC laptops BTW find they are far and away lower in price
than comparable Macs, and for my limited usage am really wondering if I
should revert back to a PC...
Originally purchased an iMac to get away from the stupid operating
methods. and related hardware for PCs based on the Windows design and
Microsoft.
The iMac lasted two years before it bit the dust as a result of a logic
board failure and a flaky hard drive. BTW when the iMac died of the six gig
hard drive, five gig were free; am of the old school, if isn't required,
removei t!
Shades of ten meg hard drives! <g>
Purchased an eMac 700 Mhz to replace which promptly had its
own set of problems including an early version of OSX. The eMac was
back to the dealer twice in six months for various problems. One of the
problems was me; not liking OSX (and I still think the program is
far too fancy for my purposes at least.)
The eMac died one Sunday afternoon while I had a deadline facing me. Of
course the deadline came and went and was unable to complete the assignment
Loss of income was a direct result .
In desperation saw the dealer Monday, sold the eMac, at a considerable
loss incidentally and purchased a 15" G3 iBook, which has lasted until
now.
The iBook has both OS9.2 and OSX. In the one year since have
replaced the screen and the hard drive TWICE and the logic board all
under warranty
Purchased the
extended warranty (and more about this further down!)
One of the things I like to do is do ATCS (Automatic Train Control
System) as a railfan. Alas alack, it only works on a PC,
so found a used IBM
PC laptop for C$400.00 with a 90 day warranty. Had to replace the hard drive
in the first week however has performed happily since. The MS operating
system is a pain for me I rate it as the MS version of OSX,
not good for me, superb for many others!
I use the iBook for web browsing as well as doing writing for my
journals which are published
for income, hence a lot of word processing. Oh and also e-mail as well.
And it is on the PC machine I am doing this note.
As explained above however it got no further :>(
Why? Well the iBook died today, again. Now the logic board has died,
and
the dealer confirmed the screen has also started to die again The
general manager at the shop asked how much I used the machine...told
him about ten hours or more a day.
I do all my writing on it and do a lot of web surfing. If I go out
track side it
goes with me. Along with the PC as well
He told me point blank, "this machine was never intended for that
kind of hard abuse, better buy a hefty Powerbook, oh and learn to use OSX..."
If you don't, we're under no obligation to repair your equipment..."
Hmm should have told him shove it where the light doesn't shine and
walked out then and there.
Apple at the time was shut down for the US Thanksgiving holiday
so repairs won't be speedy..
.
Am wondering should I just keep the cheap PC laptop and sell the
Mac? This s getting just a bit nuts...and of course without the extended
warranty
I'd be up the creek for expenses...Macs for me haven't been durable!
Given the prices...am really wondering...
and in the interim...the conclusion sort of..
It has now been two weeks since the iBook failed.
Yes the logic board died however lack of quick repair
was my own fault.
I had purchased the extended warranty for the iBook this past spring;
before the one year initial warranty expired. Thought all was well and good.
Seems "I" had to register the computer myself with Apple!
Was on the assumption once purchased the warranty would be entered
by the dealer;
sort like purchasing an automobile, the dealer looks after the extended
warranty.
Not so, seems the warranty is like purchasing an accessory "you
have to register the machine, not the dealer!" Nary a word about
this from my dealer at the time!
So numerous telephone calls meant a facsimile copy of the receipt
and a covering letter
to Apple Warranty in Austin Texas was required. That was done the same day
the iBook was taken to the dealer. I thought; this should be quick, not!
Seems these requests are inspected for accuracy and then entered
into the system manually.
Discovered this after a few more telephone calls (toll-free
numbers are great!)
Was advised a week and a half later the required parts were now on
hand and the repair
could proceed.
As mentioned earlier have had horrible hardware luck with Apple products.
I have roughly two years and a bit extended warranty remaining;
if the iBook dies again, which I suspect it shall
before the warranty is expired, will Apple repair the equipment?
Suspect warranty
work is optional work, "they" don't have to repair same if the suspect it is
throwing good money after bad. Even though I've paid for the
warranty suspect Apple can just
as easily return the balance of my warranty money and tell me goodbye.
At which point I could be up a creek. As mentioned before I have no
love for any version of OS X.
My seven year old printer would require different drivers, I
don't require all the software included with OS X, including
iPhoto (my old digital camera works
just fine with 9.2) iChat (who has the time to waste talking/writing
to others on a computer. garbage (to me) such as iPhoto
(and my old digital camera won't like anything new under OSX)
oh and finally I use an older version of Quark. And the Quark I use
came from a friend many years ago version 3?), and I certainly don't
have the money to even purchase a new version
of same. Mind Quark gets used infrequently, still it is "handy to have."
My mindset is to not have these things wasting space on the hard drive,
regardless of the size of same.
And really somebody should look at the X colour schemes they use, cool
blue or graphite for OSX? Steve Jobs comment it was good enough to lick???
Give me a break, scalding orange or passion purple at the very least please.
Oh & I prefer my desktops to be matt black, after all it
is a black and white world at times isn't it?
The iBook has been repaired, however am still having my long-term doubts.
Anybody else have simialr problems or is it just me?
One person suggested I look at Linux, as an operating system.
I guess what gets me is a basic PC laptop here is roughly $1800.00
a Powerbook 15 inch with Superdrive is $3299.00.
Given my history with Apple products am really wondering...for the long term.
Bryce Lee
Burlington, Ontario
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