Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Well. My T400 Lenovo Thinkpad arrived yesterday. No shipping problems to speak of. UPS even managed to get here early enough in the morning, so that I didn't have to track down a UPS center to pick it up the next day because I missed the delivery. 

First impressions. Yes, not as sturdily built in some places as I was expecting, but coming from a Mac, more sturdily built in others. The display hinges for example. Got it up and running, and I have to say, other than having to register absolutely everything ONLINE, I find it to be a fascinating machine. Vista I enjoy at least as much as OS X.4.11.

But of course I have not had it long enough to see the problems and glitches that so many people complain about. We will see. 

In the meantime, I have been listening to this

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Is it really the technology that we fear? In waiting for my new "brick," as the Thinkpad fans call their machines, I have been reading a whole host of good and bad reviews about the T400, the particular model I have purchased. 

It brings to mind all the expectations we all hold when purchasing new consumer equipment. Do we really expect that all these pieces of plastic and (sometimes) metal will respond how we want?

Many years ago I received a musical instrument. It is hand made of metal and string and solder, and naturally, since it cost at that time about $5600, I expected that it would function perfectly. Of course it did not. 

But I love it all the same, even though I have not played it for several years now. In a way, its faults became part of its character.

Something to be appreciated.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Which direction?

Still waiting on Lenovo, or rather UPS. They had to send my new computer from Ontario Canada to Anchorage, Ak, before I can see it down here in Arizona. hmmm....

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Entering a new technology enviroment

So. Here comes the experiment. I will be going from MAC to PC. Yes, like those commercials now running on TV, I will be able to say, "I am ________ and I am a PC." Well. I purchased a Lenovo ThinkPad T400, which should arrive any day now. I look forward to exploring the PC environment and I want to, through this computer, understand mathematics and technology better.

Currently I attend a major American university, studying a field that does not delve into questions of technology as often as it should. In my opinion. So we shall see.