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| (Source) |
I went with the beast in the opening photo, I pinged The Naviguesser (our family computer genius) and he pronounced it a "nice machine." I think he wanted me to go more expensive, but the machine above has the gear I want (the picture pretty much tells you what's under the hood), a decent HD¹, lots of RAM², and a nice graphics card.
I did spring for a new backpack to lug it around in, that 17-inch screen makes it too large for the laptop bag I have. I also spent some bucks on a cooling pad. The laptop sits on top of it, the beast has a speed adjustable fan to help the built-in fans in the computer to keep everything from melting, I hope. Heat is what killed my last laptop, I think.
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| 2011 Toyota Corolla S in Black Sand Pearl (Source) |
Oh well.
Anyhoo, busy, busy, busy, no time for a long post. No doubt things will get worse when the new laptop comes in ...
We'll see.
Ciao!
¹ HD = Hard drive, where the computer stores long term stuff
² RAM = Random Access Memory, where the computer runs the stuff you need to use the computer. Operating system, games, etc. Note that the graphics card has its own onboard memory as well.
With the title you used, I thought that you meant that you killed King Duncan. I am glad you did not.
ReplyDeleteLittle phrases from Shakespeare are always dancing in my head. But ...
DeleteThe ancestral name on my father's mother's side is MacBain, who are indeed related to the ...
Macbeths.
Very nice! If you don't mind my asking, who did you end up getting it from?
ReplyDeletejuvat
Amazon, I have no qualms with doing business with them. The company which put the machine together is actually a minority-owned business in Virginia with a pretty good reputation. Amazon provides a lot of small companies with a global reach. Yes, Bezos' politics suck. But so do the politics of many people. Also Amazon provides an excellent warranty, via Asurion, for computers. After the old laptop died, we had a check for the full amount later on.
DeleteWe had a Corolla, it was a good car & yes the battery just stopped working one day. I carry one of those small lithium battery jumpers in the car now.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the laptop decision and have a good weekend!
I like our Corolla and I had to make a decision on the laptop soon, so I did.
DeleteHave a nice weekend. Rob.
Oh ho! 17-inch screen, is the HD one TB? Keep that old backpack, never know when you might need it. Have an elevated laptop stand myself that has a fan in it also. An Omen ain't too shabby Sarge.
ReplyDelete2 TB and can be expanded. The old laptop case was not a backpack, I learned that backpacks are easier to lug a machine around in on one of my trips to Sandy Eggo. So backpacks from now on!
DeleteI bought a laptop backpack the year that Mrs. Andrew was in for multiple surgeries a few years ago. Very useful for carrying, well, the laptop, charger, phones and chargers, pieces parts needed, paperwork, lunches (me and the dog) and stuff. Now it hangs next to my bed and holds all the miscellaneous computer stuff that one collects (like cables, usb expander drives, usb drives and such.) Very nice. Comfortable. And oh so practical.
DeleteThey are!
DeleteLooks very nice!! 17" screen should help with the eyeballs as well--preventing tiredness and so on.
ReplyDeleteCar batteries--they do tend to drop dead unexpectedly... I have noticed it tends to happen more often around the 5 year old age mark, so I just started replacing them at about 5 years old. Haven't had one leave me in a lurch since---knocks on wood, probably just jinxed myself---but I do keep the AAA membership up to date as a back-up as I wouldn't want to get stuck in some patient's driveway if it could be avoided.
Thursdays and Fridays tend to be my most busy/crazy days at work, so I usually do my blog reading on Saturday morning...just me.
Suz
I think you're right about the 5 year thing, reminds me, I'm coming up on the 4 year mark with my Honda. Something to keep an eye on!
DeleteWow, 5 years for a battery? Florida eats batteries due to the heat, a 4 year will last about 3 years of constant cycling and then kaput when you need it.
DeleteHappened on my Ram Promaster City. Looked under the hood and an unholy spawn of Cthulhu and The Borg was humping my battery with no discernable way to remove said almost defunct storage device. I shamefully admit I paid someone to change said battery. And they had trouble with said unholy spawn so I took no dings on my ManCard.
Hahaha!
DeleteAs a dyed in the wool shade tree grease monkey, I recommend getting your alternator tested. You may not be getting enough voltage out of it to keep the battery where it needs to be. That said, batteries are notorious for crapping the bed at the least convenient time. Here in TX, the heat kills batteries pretty quick. We are lucky to get 3 years out of a quality battery. - Daddy Hawk
ReplyDeleteThat was my first thought but it tested out fine, this battery died during a wicked cold snap. Batteries don't like cold either!
DeleteWas the alternator tested under load? If not, find some place that tests them under load. Seems alternators can get fickle about that no load/load thingy.
DeleteTested under load.
DeleteGood, very good. The electro-force is with you...
DeleteIt must be, I get a shock every time I walk across carpet!
DeleteAnother is the simulated dead battery. There is the main battery cable connection, along with a much smaller wire that actuates the starter solenoid. That little wire often corrodes first. The symptoms are that nothing happens turning the key to start the car (instinctive thought is a dead battery). Diagnosed a couple of those. A nice lady coworker leaving work said her battery was dead. "Then why is the dome light on? Turn on the radio". "But the battery is dead"! "Turn on the radio". She complied. "If the radio is playing, the battery is not dead". I wiggled the little wire, and the car started. She thought I had performed a miracle.
DeleteOn my first VW Beetle if it didn't start, you gave the solenoid a smack, then it would usually start.
DeleteYou must have had a couple of bucks saved up for something else. Automobiles can sense this and demand that it be spent on them.
ReplyDeleteYeah, for retirement!
DeleteBeen through four batteries since '14 here at the beach. They try to tell me it's the salted environs. I got one of those things you keep in the glove box and it has worked well, twice. Good investment for an older car (mine's a 2013 Highlander). Thinking about it, that shouldn't be considered an older car. I had my Porsche for fifty years and it was more reliable in some ways. Maybe simpler, I guess.
ReplyDeleteThat's a lithium jumper in the glove box I'm thinking...
DeleteLt - The salt air can play havoc with such things!
DeleteI need to look into one of those lithium jumper things, next door neighbor has one and he swears by it.
DeleteThermal cycling occurs around water areas. Which sucks the life out of batteries.
DeleteOh yes it does!
DeleteI still do my own mechanic work. It's how I keep fit! My old 99 Yukon hated low voltage. It would sputter and die if it wasn't above 12 volts. I used to be exclusively an Interstate Battery guy, but now, they all die off early. Macht nichts.
ReplyDeleteI have neither the patience or the tools for all that. Not to mention the lack of a garage!
DeletePriority projects all got done. Now get the happy couple hitched today, then on to whatever fun stuff you want!
ReplyDeleteJB
Roger that!
DeleteI bought less bells and whistles to afford a 17" screen on my laptop. I think it's one of the best decisions I ever made.
ReplyDeleteGood to know, Jess!
DeleteProject Farm has his latest test on battery jumper boxes if you want to make some comparisons.
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/bMXyoIBJyJA?si=05MZZqV4V738GEH5
Nice video, good data. Thanks, Kurt!
DeleteFunny on those batteries. I'm told they're only expected to last about 5 years. But recently I had to replace the 12-volt battery in my 2012 Prius (I'm not worried so much about saving the planet, but 40+ mpg saves my wallet). Turns out it was the original battery, making it 11 years old! The parts tech at the Toyota dealership was impressed.
ReplyDeleteOh, why was I buying a new battery at a Toyota dealership? A Prius does not use a standard lead-acid 12-volt battery. It uses one called an AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) battery. Why? Because the 600-volt battery that saves you so much money in gas is directly behind the rear seat in the trunk/hatchback area, and the 12-volt battery is behind the passenger side rear quarter panel. While the 600-volt battery is well encased structurally it was considered a bad idea to put a lead-acid battery back there in case an accident broke the battery and got acid into the 600-volt battery's enclosure. Come to find out that Sam's Club et. al. don't stock AGM batteries and the Toyota dealership was the cheapest alternative. A lead-acid battery will work right initially but will not last long (according to what I have read on line) because the charging system won't charge it properly.
The hybrids will definitely save you money on fuel. Didn't know that about the batteries, interesting!
Delete