Possibly a Shiny New Computer Thing?
Right now, I am using an external enclosure and an 80GB hard drive for an external memory device to back up stuff I need for my computer, and to keep things that are too big to conveniently store on my computer's 40GB hard drive (like my iTunes music). Unfortunately, this kind of setup isn't really meant to be used so often or for sustained periods, the way I've been using it, and I think it's on its last legs. When I connect it to my computer and turn it on it seems to work, but then, when I try to transfer files, it starts doing so and then says it can't find the file. After that the external drive, though it registers, is effectively useless because it can't read any of the files. It might just be because of the one file I'm trying to transfer - an AVI that seems to have other things wrong with it. I will have to experiment later to confirm this.
I'm a bit upset because I bought the hard drive and enclosure less than a year ago. If it is indeed broken, and not just having issues with a particular file, then I may very well lost what I have on it. However, some of what's on there is already on my computer (just backed up), and the other stuff is replaceable. It will just be a nuisance to get it back.
Maybe I should get a real external hard drive. When I last looked for one, I couldn't find a USB drive that met my needs and my budged. However, I may have found what I need. While searching on Ebay I came across this company called Grassroots Computers that sells, among other things, external hard drives. They have a number of small, very durable USB drives with a decent amount of memory that need no external power source. They aren't cheap, but they're a good deal and I could afford one, although if possible I would like to pay by monthly installments instead of using some of my savings. I've only really looked at their Ebay store, so I don't know if they have such an option, but I asked.
Next year I think I will have to buy a completely new computer - my laptop, being 3 years old, is already obsolete. It still works pretty well, although as some of you may remember I have had to replace the fan, hard drive and CD drive. Maybe next I will get an Apple laptop with Boot Camp, so I can have Windows to play games on. However, since I am more used to working with PCs and don't really do anything with them that could be done better on a Mac, this might be a stupid idea, especially since Macs are more expensive. And, if a part breaks, you have to send the whole thing in to get fixed, instead of just getting a replacement part that you can put in yourself. I'm also wondering if I just want a Mac because they seem to be the "in" thing among people my age. That's not a good reason to buy anything, especially a computer.
I've also put some thought into getting a used laptop - something in good condition that is less than a year old. But that will limit my ability to get the features I want. I might just get one from Dell again, since my current Dell has held up okay (mostly) and they were good about getting it fixed, although I did have some problems with their customer service. I don't know.
One thing is for certain: I don't want my parents to buy it for me, or even chip in. I want to buy it myself with my own money. Since the money would likely come out of my savings (I put about 120 dollars in my savings account every month), I think about the costs in those terms. A top-of-the-line MacBook (not Pro, I don't need that much)would cost a little over a year's worth of my accumulated savings: the mid-line and lowest-priced model would cost almost eleven months worth and about nine months worth, respectively. The best kind of Dell laptop that would suit me would cost only seven and a half months of savings, but that's before any customization. It would also be a bit oversize, like my current machine. I don't think I want that.
This entry went on a lot longer than I planned...
I'm a bit upset because I bought the hard drive and enclosure less than a year ago. If it is indeed broken, and not just having issues with a particular file, then I may very well lost what I have on it. However, some of what's on there is already on my computer (just backed up), and the other stuff is replaceable. It will just be a nuisance to get it back.
Maybe I should get a real external hard drive. When I last looked for one, I couldn't find a USB drive that met my needs and my budged. However, I may have found what I need. While searching on Ebay I came across this company called Grassroots Computers that sells, among other things, external hard drives. They have a number of small, very durable USB drives with a decent amount of memory that need no external power source. They aren't cheap, but they're a good deal and I could afford one, although if possible I would like to pay by monthly installments instead of using some of my savings. I've only really looked at their Ebay store, so I don't know if they have such an option, but I asked.
Next year I think I will have to buy a completely new computer - my laptop, being 3 years old, is already obsolete. It still works pretty well, although as some of you may remember I have had to replace the fan, hard drive and CD drive. Maybe next I will get an Apple laptop with Boot Camp, so I can have Windows to play games on. However, since I am more used to working with PCs and don't really do anything with them that could be done better on a Mac, this might be a stupid idea, especially since Macs are more expensive. And, if a part breaks, you have to send the whole thing in to get fixed, instead of just getting a replacement part that you can put in yourself. I'm also wondering if I just want a Mac because they seem to be the "in" thing among people my age. That's not a good reason to buy anything, especially a computer.
I've also put some thought into getting a used laptop - something in good condition that is less than a year old. But that will limit my ability to get the features I want. I might just get one from Dell again, since my current Dell has held up okay (mostly) and they were good about getting it fixed, although I did have some problems with their customer service. I don't know.
One thing is for certain: I don't want my parents to buy it for me, or even chip in. I want to buy it myself with my own money. Since the money would likely come out of my savings (I put about 120 dollars in my savings account every month), I think about the costs in those terms. A top-of-the-line MacBook (not Pro, I don't need that much)would cost a little over a year's worth of my accumulated savings: the mid-line and lowest-priced model would cost almost eleven months worth and about nine months worth, respectively. The best kind of Dell laptop that would suit me would cost only seven and a half months of savings, but that's before any customization. It would also be a bit oversize, like my current machine. I don't think I want that.
This entry went on a lot longer than I planned...