I’ve been trolling this website to prepare for my annual post-Thanksgiving shopping expedition. Having a steady income puts some enthusiasm into a task like that. Traditionally I plan one significant present to myself – like last year’s Blu-Ray player, or the cheapo Kodak from which I’ve derived so much pleasure. This year my ambition has been to finally replace my ancient but heroic laptop – I figured months ago that netbooks would be a significant Black Friday battlefield and, judging by the circulars coming out, I wasn’t wrong.
I have enough money to probably sneak away with one of these $250-$400 jobbers, but I found myself seriously examining just what other obligations I could check off my list with that money. What would I really be buying with a new laptop? As is, my laptop is heavy as a mudderfugger, can’t get on-line, can’t play movies, and can’t survive long without an outlet. But I only use it when traveling or leaving the house to write at a coffeeshop or library – so that makes its limitations inconvenient, but not a legitimate obstruction to anything I do.
And if I am honest with myself, I know that the price in the ad will never be what I actually end up paying, once you throw in even basic software, security, and accessories. And if I’m going to do that, I should just customize the thing through the vendor rather than hope whatever configuration Wal-Mart decided to shove in a box and slap a discount on is going to suit me. I’m going to use this thing for a long-ass time.
After tinkering around on HP’s website I had assembled a laptop I liked pretty well; not too fancy, but it came with Microsoft Office and three years of Norton, and cost around $615. Feels like it would be a good machine. But I can’t afford it now. January or February; probably. It means lugging the old beast around Chicago at New Years’ again, but I’m a strapping young man and can handle it.
Deciding against the laptop has been liberating. I stopped at the Aaron Bros. on the way home from work tonight, and bought a couple of picture frames so I can use those color ink ribbons I bought for my photo printer last month. And I looked up the number of the Writers Guild’s Dues Department; because I owe them some money, and I want my awards season screeners, damn it. Getting current with them will feel good.
I don’t know what the replacement “big purchase” will be on Black Friday. As of this moment I don’t seem to mind if there isn’t one. A couple toys for me, a couple of presents for the fam and friends, and the rest – well, I always have a list of things to do with that.