shopping

looks like it's time to buy a new computer... and what a miserable time to do so. on top of the financial factor (just paid tuition), there's the vista issue. i will NOT buy a computer with vista on it, and as much as comps cost, i don't feel i should have to wipe a drive and install an OS. most everything online that still has XP is refurbed, which is probably what i'll end up getting-- not my choice, but options seem to be slim. dell still offers builds with XP (as well as open source-- sweet), but they take too freakin long to put them together & ship 'em, and given this laptop's shenanigans of late, and school about to start, i don't think i have time to wait. yet again, i have the best coworkers a gal could want-- i mentioned that i needed a new comp & would probably have to go with a desktop price-wise because of tuition, and voila, they decided to give me a $1000 expense check. took quite the load off, stress-wise. since i'll probably go refurb anyway, i'm thinking i'll add that to what i was already going to spend and get a desktop AND a laptop. that way, i can do all my multimedia stuff on one & keep some of the bulky, problematic software off of the other, & thus hopefully extend the life of the work/school comp, and still be able to haul the latter around. it's a theory, anyway. another advantage: i've been saying for a few years that i want to try going completely open source but not til i have an "extra" computer, so i can learn and experiment without compromising work or school (in case i screw something up). best case, this one will last a little while longer once i wipe it. not particularly optimistic about that, though... i thought this one was two years old, but two years ago i'd just dumped P and gone to florida, and i got this one when he dumped a drink on the old dell, so it must be three years. not too bad, i suppose, considering the heavy use, hundreds of random downloads, and loads of relatively unknown software i've put on the thing. meanwhile, i've been hoping to get out of town any day now, but the last thing i want is to haul a bunch of new computer boxes up the stairs and then leave & have someone steal them while i'm gone (or try to, a la the aformentioned fla trip), nor do i want to order them & then not be here when they're delivered. more annoying scheduling "problems" (read: excuses) to keep me from getting off my ass and into the car-- just what i needed.