3 Laptops In Less Than a Week

I've been looking at laptops for the last month. I've been doing my research, asking computer nerds (Thanks Mike!), etc. I finally figured out what I needed (at least 3GB memory and 250GB hard drive, anti-virus protection, Microsoft Word, Excel and powerpoint, bluetooth capability, wireless mouse, and WiFi capabilities without a USB port) and was ready to make a purchase.

Through my work, I get a 10% discount on a Dell desktop or laptop...if I call in my order. I'm thinking... great deal! So I go online, figure out what I want, and then call in my order. I end up getting everything I need for $977. Not bad, but I'm freaking out because I've never spent so much money in my life and I'm super cheap. Dell emails me the reciept and I see lots of stuff on there I didn't want, that I obviously paid extra for... a fingerprint reader, a year of lowjack protection. So I call and I ask them what this is all about. I'm informed it comes with the package and they cannot take it off. I'm a little pissy and cancel my order.

I put together another package on Dell.com and call again. This time the guy informs me that I need some other shit I don't need. He offers me a package that would be even more at $1060. Psh...whatev!

So on Saturday afternoon, Johnny and I went to look around at Fry's. It must be an engineer's dream. There was so much stuff packed in there and I had no idea what 3/4 of it was for. There's blue wires, red wires, little screw things, kits to build robots and every electronic you could think of. We finally find our way to the computer section and start looking around. One of the sales people asks me what I'm looking for and I ramble off the specs (with Johnny looking at me like I'm crazy since he has no idea what I'm talking about and is surprised I know what I'm talking about). The sales guy points me to a Fujitsu computer with everything I need for $799. I specifically ask him if this particular computer has bluetooth capabilities. He says yes. I buy it...along with a three year warranty, bluetooth mouse, Norton Anti-Virus, and Microsoft Word,Excel and Powerpoint. The total is more than I want to even repeat.

So we get home and I set the computer up... which take forever. I finally get around to setting up the bluetooth mouse and come to find out, the computer doesnt have bluetooth capabilities! Bitch. I'm pissed. Then, I try to play The Sims on the computer and it didn't work. Bitch. I'm more pissed. Piece of shit laptop.

Soooo Sunday afternoon, we take the computer back. I specifically find a different sales person who is closer to my age. He looks like he's working because he's in school and not because it's his career. I tell him what I'm looking for. He directs me to a $681 laptop. Unfortunately it's refurbished and I'm not going that route. "Refurbished" is just another word for piece of shit. I once bought a "refurbished" cell phone and had to return it in less than an hour because it quit working. But, I digress. The sales man then points me to a $581 Toshiba laptop with everything I need, except bluetooth. At this point, I'm fine with that. I end up getting the laptop. The laptop, plus a wireless USB mouse, Norton, Word, Excel and Powerpoint, a five year warrantly and a laptop bag...comes to $950. Yep, that's the total.

Did I get a good deal? I don't really have any idea. I think it's a good deal. And I love the laptop. It's easy to use and took me all of 10 minutes to set up. So shoutout to the young salesman for not trying to sell me something more expensive that I didn't need.