genius bar

We have an appointment today at a local Apple Store to see if there is any hope of restoring my old PowerBook G4 for the kid to use (and also so that she won't constantly be bugging me to get on my laptop). It has been in endless boot mode and is rather hot to the touch, so I'm frankly not too enthusiastic, especially if repairing it would be costly, but it's worth a shot. I have learned through other misadventures with computers that it is simply not possible for me to have a PC at home. The last time we had a small PC it suddenly transformed into German-language only mode. Ach du Lieber! I need Macs in the house, PCs are fine anywhere else.

I just hope that if there isn't much we can do for this 'puter that I don't get myself talked into purchasing some other shiny gadget to fill the gap. But I don't rule out that as a possibility, either. I know myself too well. I do have a birthday coming in a few months ...

That endlessly spiraling circle is getting annoying

Update: The geniuses can't fix anything that old, but they suggested a Mac specialty store that could — I actually have seen it, it's near my acupuncturist. For $150 this old laptop gets a brand new hard drive and my kid gets her own computer in a week. A good deal, and way less expensive than I feared. And now I have a new resource of helpful, geeky Apple enthusiasts. Win win!

hopefully the apple won't fall far from the steve

Steve Jobs resigned as the CEO of Apple yesterday (he wants to step back and be Chairman of the Board) and I'm sure all the Macheads out there, myself included, gasped and said a silent prayer that it's not for dire health reasons.

Jobs has been more than influential for the computer industry, he has been inspirational. I wish him and the company continued success.

Steve's letter:

To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

Steve

Best of luck, Steve in your new role. I know that Apple will continue to turn out cool stuff and get us all to "think different."

computer + drinking = no

I just got my beloved MacBook Pro back from Apple. A week without one's computer can be quite tense, let me assure you. Amazingly, even though it required seven new or refurbished parts to get my lifeless life extension back to its old self, not one of those parts was the hard drive, so all of my data was fine.

This is a lesson kiddies, they're not joshing when they say to keep a glass of something far from your computer. Of course, after more than a decade of owning computers, using them at the workplace, and, I cannot lie, eating and drinking all manner of things in their vicinity, this is the first time something of this kind has happened. But be warned.

The other signal that maybe my recent series of unfortunate events may be taking an upturn is that all the work that went on under the hood cost me not a red cent. Thank you Apple. Thank you laptop gods. I got the message. I am a new woman. Now excuse me while I get up a find my glass in the distant kitchen, as all of this typing makes a girl thirsty.

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