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Notebook Laptop:
As most of you know, I fancy myself a writer. I actually consider
that to be a valid profession. So, like any professional, I need
tools to do my job. I used to think, that a regular desktop computer
with a few peripherals was sufficient. That was before Mrs. Gaffer
complained that we don't travel much anymore. She feels we should
get out and about while we can still walk.
I allowed that she had a point. Then I thought about how I could do my work and keep up with Wesoomi Publishing while traveling. Wesoomi has no money to pay for things like that. You may know that Wesoomi does not make any money and that I work just for the pure joy of it. I wish it were not that way. That's just how it is.
After some though, I decided I could get by on the road with a notebook computer and a cell phone with a built in modem. With that, I allowed that I could stay in contact, no matter where I wandered. In theory, I can connect a notebook to this cell phone and dial into my ISP no matter where I am. I would not need external power, nor a land phone line. To be sure, that theory is yet to be tested.
To begin my new adventure, I bought a cell phone. I finally bit the bullet and did it. Mrs. Gaffer went with me. We did not buy one of those $17.95 specials, nor did we get a free phone. I paid big bucks for a modem phone. This thing has more gadgets, doodads, and functions than a pipe organ. All I wanted was a modem phone. Honest.
I think it is the gadget freaks who are driving all of this craziness, not human beings. Most of the stuff on this phone is just plain crazy. Honestly now, how many people do you know who check their portfolio and buy and sell securities through a cell phone? It's the new-stuff, gotta-have people who make this silliness work. Neeto! Years ago, these same people bought hoola hoops, chrome plated bumper guards, and fuzzy dice.
Along with this phone, I bought a contract from Verizon Wireless. This is strange, because for $25.00 per month, I get 75 minutes of air time in the entire continental United States. There is no long distance charge. There is no roving charge. 75 minutes per month is considerably more time than I normally use the phone.
Now I am beginning to understand why everyone has a wireless phone. It's less expensive. At least it is for me. I'm one of those old fashioned fools who uses the phone to communicate important information and for emergency communication. I say I am old fashioned, but, in truth, that's how I used to be. Now I use E-mail for most of my communication. I am still very brief however. For the real interacting type of communication, I want to be with the person, face to face.
My next step was to consider a Notebook computer. Nomenclature does change over time. These used to be called laptops. Now, I understand that the term became passe after a few stupid people burned their parts through constant exposure to a computer on their lap. Now notebook is correct. However, Mrs. Gaffer still has a laptop. His name is tiger and he keeps her lap warm as long as she will let him. No keystrokes are required. Just an ear scritch now and then, and he has never burned a lap in his life.
Actually laptop and notebook are both rather new terms for an old guy like me. I can remember when we had a thing called a portable computer. What the manufacturer did was to put a handle on a full sized integrated computer. It weighed about 45 pounds. Most strong folks could carry this thing a short distance. We had one at my last place of employment. The young woman who used it most hauled it around on a luggage cart. She did not call it a portable. She called it a luggable.
So much for history. With a wireless phone in hand, I was ready set about procuring a notebook computer. Since there is a "Well Known Brand Store" in our neighborhood, that was my first point of investigation. I was very sadly disappointed. I need to make an important point here. I believe it is an enormously serious mistake to put fools at the first point of contact with your customers, yet this is exactly what most firms do.
It is what I encountered at the "Well Known Brand Store." They put an untrained, cutesy-mouthed, twit-brained, pretty, women at the first point of contact. Of course, they lost the sale. This is bound to happen if the client is at all thoughtful or knowledgeable. A customer, even an experienced sophisticated customer like me, should not know more about the product that the person who is commissioned to explain and sell it.
This woman was very attractive and she smiled and swished a lot, but she did not know beans about her product. Her answers were quick, off the shoulder, and wrong. I knew they were wrong because I am one of those irritating people who does not go shopping without doing my homework first. I gave her easy questions and she gave me wrong answers.
After that experience, I went home and got online. I was able
to comparison shop for the notebook computer which fit my needs.
I finally ended up ordering a Dell, Inspiration notebook with
all of the bells and whistles I need. I expect to receive it in
about a week. Then I will find out if I really can connect to
my ISP from anywhere. If so, Mrs. Gaffer and I may go traveling.
Either way, I'll tell you about my adventures, with the notebook
and with the traveling. I'm sure we'll work it out. Mrs. Gaffer
can be very insistent, when she is of a mind.
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