Newsflash: This Just In

Just got a call from the guy at the computer place. The parts for my new computer came in and he is starting this afternoon to put it together! Yay!

Although he would like me to bring my old computer into his shop sometime tomorrow to do the transfer of data then to the new computer, because I might have problems getting it in there - with the kids and all - if it looks like it's going to be a major hassle for me to take this one apart and cart it in to his shop, he's going to see then about just doing the transfer at the house. For my part, that is definitely MY easiest option but may not be the best one. So, tomorrow, we'll have to see what happens and whether I have to tear this one apart and actually leave the house or if things will all be brought here and everything done here.

On another note - if you remember the post I did last week about the family in Johnstown, PA who just learned about 2 weeks ago that their first baby is going to be four babies all at once - I've been in contact with a representative of the TV station as well as the friend of the family in Johnstown who is trying to get things in place to help Mike and Tammy Atterbury with the many needs they are looking at when this big event finally takes place. I'm also looking for businesses in this area who would perhaps be willing to donate a small amount of space and serve as a "collection point" for donations to the family.

What we're trying to get here is donations of gift cards for the family for places like Walmart, K-Mart, Target, stores like that, so as their needs arise for things for the children, they will be able to fill them then with the gift cards. Our thinking here is that it would be easier for us to get gift cards to the family as opposed to trying to ship/send packages and it would also be easier for the family then as they wouldn't have to worry about where they would store say bunches of packages of pampers or formula or other baby items either.

Anyone know a car dealer who could get some good promotional value by donating the use of a van for the family. Most cars today will only seat five passengers and if you have to transport two children in car seats, that cuts down the passenger accomodations to four people then so a van is going to be an absolute necessity there.

And, just in case I don't get back to blog again today, here's the Bushism for today, Wednesday, February 7, 2007.

"The best way to find these terrorists who hide in holes is to get people coming forth to describe the location of the hole, is to give clues and data." Washington, D.C.; December 15, 2003.

Order Placed!!!

OK - I did it! I spoke to the guy at the Computer Shop near here today and we discussed my wants/needs in a new computer and prices, etc., and the order is in!

He will be putting it together over the weekend so it will be completed Monday and he will deliver and set it up for me next Tuesday!

Here's the spec sheet of what I will be getting:
AM2 - Athalon 64 3500
1024 MGS DDR2 (Dual Data Rate Ram)
250 Gig harddrive, 5 year warranty
DVD RW (Burner) Dual Layer
supercase - silver and black (no big deal there)
speakers, keyboard and optical mouse
17 in flat screen monitor
Windows xp home
They also install "Open Office" which has Word, Excel and Power Point - the 2003 version. I already do have Microsoft 2000, with those three programs, plus Access, Publisher and Front Page.
Ad-aware
Panda Titanium Anti-virus
floppy disk drive (because I have a ton of floppies)
and a 3 year warranty overall.
And, he will transfer my family tree files, documents, etc., and get me started on resetting up my e-mail program too! (I hate webmail programs and have used Eudora since I got my first computer cause I can file so many things away relatively easily.)
If they EVER get the setup in this area for DSL, it will cost me about $160 more for the stuff that will be needed to get that hooked up then!

I don't know if this is the absolute best deal ever but it sounds like a decent deal to me compared to what it would have run me for a unit comparable through Office Depot or one of the other big box type stores and they wouldn't do any set up either! It would have been up to me to make sure I had everything connected in the right little ports and compartments, etc and that probably wouldn't be the best idea for me or the computer - or for the tender ears of my two little grandchildren to hear Grammy cussing all over the place because she is lousy at following diagrams and directions!

Any one care to comment - please, feel free!

But I am so excited! I can hardly wait to have a NEW computer!

What things are different for the user when you switch from having dealt with Windows 98 for 8 years over to Windows XP anyway? If anyone has any pointers for me there, feel free to drop them along my way as well.

Now, I'm wondering if I'll even be able to sleep tonight. Or, will I be able to sleep at all next Monday and Tuesday night once I get things set up, you know?

It's sort of a belated Christmas present feeling for me!

But before I close out for tonight - here's the Bushism for tomorrow, January 31, 2007
"Free societies are hopeful societies. And free societies will be allies against these hateful few who have no conscience, who kill at the whim of a hat." - Washington, D.C.; September 17, 2004