Everything Else
My Mac "Switcher" Experience: Deliverance
Posted by yoursinwriting in Everything Else on June 9th, 2006
Tracking my package on Fedex was like being a child and watching Santa’s progression to my house. Seriously, the last time I was this excited must have been a Christmas morning when I was very young. It’s sad, really, but good to know I can still feel this giddy.
My Mac “Switcher” Experience Special Update
Posted by yoursinwriting in Everything Else on June 6th, 2006
After yesterday’s rigamarole, I finally received my DVI-to-VGA adapter. It is very cool looking, even for an adapter. And yes, I know how geeky and pathetic that sounds.
My Mac "Switcher" Experience Part 3
Posted by yoursinwriting in Everything Else on June 6th, 2006
“I can go to the airport,” (where the station is), “show my ID, and get the package?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said.
“But I can’t tell you, the delivery people, where to deliver the package, where you will also check my ID?”
Silence.
“So as a package delivering company, you will do the ID checking part, but not the delivering part?”
More silence. The sound of frantic keyboard clicking.
“I mean,” I said calmly, “doesn’t that seem odd to you? That a customer would have to come to you to do the exact same thing that you would do if you went to them? Which is what you do? Delivering stuff? Doesn’t that seem… I dunno… a bit crazy?”
“Can I put you through to the Canadian support team?” she said.
My Mac "Switcher" Experience Mini Update
Posted by yoursinwriting in Everything Else on June 5th, 2006
My Apple gear has shipped! According to FedEx, the DVI-to-VGA adapter has already arrived in Calgary, so I may be receiving that tomorrow at school. The MacBook left Suzhou, China sometime yesterday, so no idea when it will arrive.
But considering it was supposed to ship in 7 days, and has now actually shipped in only three… maybe my subtle hinting paid off?
My Mac "Switcher" Experience Part 2
Posted by yoursinwriting in Everything Else on June 2nd, 2006
I called Apple, and the guy on the phone was as baffled as me. He checked two of the four numbers and assured me that everything was fine, I was not being billed that amount, and I should just ignore the email. So one strike against Apple for having an invoicing system with Tourette’s.
Microsoft Threatens to Help
Posted by yoursinwriting in Everything Else on June 1st, 2006
Just when you thought Micro$oft was as gross as they could be, they coat themselves in slime. A MS employee responsible for drumming up new consulting business approached a software customer with a pitch that sounded like the customer was violating their licensing agreement. In truth, the ploy was meant as a way to get “in” with the customer and sell them consulting services.
My Mac "Switcher" Experience
Posted by yoursinwriting in Everything Else on May 31st, 2006
After some initial trouble with my credit card, I was finally able to order my first Mac from the Apple Canada webstore: the new Apple MacBook. I waited on this purchase as long as I could, and it has paid off: the MacBook, announced only two weeks ago, has all the power of the MacBook Pro, at almost half the cost.
I wanted this machine in time to show my students what this Mac thing is all about. Most of them have never seen another operating system, and I want them to experience a Mac in all its glory before they make their next purchasing decision.
More Good News
Posted by yoursinwriting in Everything Else on May 25th, 2006
Just when I thought I’d had all the good news I could handle, I got another bulletin. My Assistant Principal took me aside and asked me what I wanted to do next year. “Work here,” I said. “Would a continuing contract be OK with you?” he asked. A continuing contract means that I am a Read the full article…
Where Getting Up Early Got Me
Posted by yoursinwriting in Everything Else on May 25th, 2006
Getting up earlier allows me to take the bus to work: I can read my book, listen to music, and bypass traffic jams. Despite the fact that I make two connections from my house to the school, my travel time is only about 5 minutes longer than when I drove. Plus, I save a couple hundred dollars on my insurance by taking off the work-use rider, and I’m unaffected by the spiralling price of oil. Before I went to public transit, I considered these benefits; while the idea made me happy, the reality has contributed to my contentment more than I could have anticipated.
ThinkFree.com: The Office Software Suite– Online!
Posted by yoursinwriting in Everything Else on April 24th, 2006
Today, a company unveiled a productivity suite (word processor, spreadsheet, and slideshow) that you use entirely online. ThinkFree.com not only makes all three products available in your web browser, they offer Microsoft Office compatibility and 1 GB of storage space absolutely free.
RSS Subscription
Recent Comments