Tory Farina

New Laptop

Elizabeth has a Compaq that her dad gave/lent her three years ago. It is FAT- not in the good way- has no battery and is acting funny with lots of pop ups telling us that it may implode at any moment. It is time to lay a dying dog down. I finally got her to realize, after everyone else on our team including the volunteer who designs our bulletin switched to Mac, that she needs a Mac. Here is my dilemma. Mac is supposed to roll out a new Macbook. Here is the leaked picture.

So, do we wait and hope it comes out in the next few weeks meanwhile pray that her current computer doesn't get tossed out a window or decide to permanently retire while she has a huge project that needs to be printed now? Or Do we buy the current version now? Passing up on the latest design that is supposed t be liter, faster and have a better keyboard, screen, and track pad.

Buy or Wait? Any thoughts?

ENTEROUGE OR IMAIL?

This may mean nothing to most of you but it is on my mind so since this is a blog about what I think about then you can enjoy.

I switched to a Mac at Christmas time. I know it doesn't feel that new to me either. I spend a ton of hours a week at my Computer every week. Probably more time than any other thing I do. I write and study and blog from my computer. I was so fed up with Microsoft I had to make a change. Along came MAC... the best hardware I have ever used and the software is just simpler. I cant totally make sense of it but it just makes my life easier.

The funny thing is that because Mac controls such a small piece of the computer pie Microsoft makes an Office version for the MAC. It is definitely not there prized child and has some quirks along with a hefty price tag for the new 2008 full version. In years past you could get a multi license of home/teacher/student with exchange server support. Awesome! for what we do that works great. We have 3 macs and it makes sense. This year with the new software release I was surprised to find out that now the home/student/teacher version has no exchange support. I am stuck having to buy full versions for 3 computers if I want to run Microsoft. It runs retail about $400 per license. Which brings me to the point of this post.

Mac comes with imail and Imail has exchange support. Hello! All of the mac Iworks software works with Microsoft and can be exported into Microsoft for $99 for 3 licenses. So right now I am testing out using iMail instead of entourage. If it works Microsoft just lost a ton of money from me. If it doesn't... I am trying to get copies from MICROSOFT employees and if that doesn't work... I may not upgrade to the new software until I absolutely have to.

There is a cost to doing business but for a non-profit or a small business it is hard to afford all of the software that one needs to do business. I have decided to be ethical in our software purchases but to try and do it the most cost effective way possible.

So pray Imail is all that it is cracked up to be. So far I like it... but I am noticing some quirks.

On another note... Check out the new Hillsong United Album! HOT!