A Liquid Ounce Of Prevention
So two Saturdays ago, on the May 24th we set forth out on a journey half way across the United States to go to our relative’s house. As I have mentioned before, we had a great computer incident wherein computers and puke contacted one another and it cost me some money to get replacement components to keep working while on the road. We’re home now in Aurora, and I took my Mac Book Pro into the Apple Store at Cherry Creek Mall and asked what it would cost to have it repaired. Gulp. Wow. Blurp. Narf. Pretty much the cost of having the Mac Book Pro repaired was going to be the cost of a new Mac Book. A new Mac Book with a smaller screen, but with everything else faster and better than I had on my Mac Book Pro. I’d not lose the use of the Mac Book Pro, but I would lose its portable usefulness since the screen is damaged. So after discussing things with my wife I opted to scrape out some cash from the emergency fund and buy a new Mac Book. I have to have a laptop computer and I have to have a keyboard and screen that work.
Why did repair cost so much on a computer that should have only needed a new display and keyboard? Because puke is a bio-hazard. Shipping and handling of the computer suddenly sky-rocketed because the laptop had been violated of sanitation. Of course keyboards and computers are notorious for harboring germs, so this seemed a bit of an over-statement, but company policy is company policy. The new computer is almost up and running with what I need to take the Mac Book Pro out of service. I have to install some more software for development work, and some Adobe graphics stuff. It’s not how I wanted to spend this money, but at least I had it.
The moral of the story is that when you travel with a laptop you risk its damage or loss. Don’t discount kids, thieves, other passengers or travelers. Real life happens and having an emergency fund is just about one of the smartest things you could do.
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June 4th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Ugg. The case for my screen is now broken at the left hinge. So I can’t close it. I have to move it very carefully. Not covered under warranty because it’s “cosmetic”. And so my lap top has become a kitchen table desktop. But at least I don’t need it like you and Mike.