On Thursday, November 29, 2001, at 04:51 , Eckhart Koeppen wrote:
> Hey, you're adding insult to injury ;) - but you are absolutely right.
> If you can resist, just wait and you get either a better price for the
> 1.0 version or an improved 1.x version. I did that with my iMac and the
> Newton but not with the TiBook and the iPod and got promptly burned: the
> TiBook had a defective FireWire port (they exchanged the logic board
> twice) and the iPod whines. But in the age of lemon laws, Fry's return
> policy and Apple Care, I'm willing to take the risk. And I really enjoy
> both the TiBook and the iPod, even though there are some flaws. In
> addition, I had a definite need for both products and was waiting
> already for some time that had specs like that.
With the iPod, that is entertainment and therefore it can wait. A
notebook, that is business and that often can't wait, so perfect timing
may not always be possible but one can try.
I bought the first iBook SE just after it came out in early 2000 but
only because my previous PowerBook 2400 let me down with a heat problem
that got worse and worse (had to be put into the fridge for some time in
order to make it boot - no joke). I wasn't happy about the fact that the
iBook didn't have video out because I am giving presentations on
international conferences to an auditorium and that needs a notebook to
be able to hook up to a video wall. So, only four months later the
Version 1.1 iBook SE was released with a video out. That confirmed that
my usual method (to wait) was absolutely right.
This time I didn't make that mistake, I just got a new iBook 500 from a
stock clearing sale a fortnight ago.
Japan is a very good place for stock clearing bargains, because shelf
space is a scarce commodity over here and when new products get released
then they need the space and sell everything in special "second hand"
shops (even though most of the goods are stock clearing items and new)
at bargain prices and with memory upgrades and other goodies in order to
attract people to buy the stuff because normally the Japanese are so
picky that they wouldn't buy anything that's not the very latest model.
BTW, in those second hand shops they always have a supply of two or so
Newtons, MP2Ks, also MP130s and they are usually in very good condition,
but not cheap (anywhere between 500 and 1000 USD for a MP2K). So, if
anybody is desperate for a well looked after second hand Newton and
there is a chance for a trip to the Far East, plan for a stop over in
Tokyo to get one. Best place is Sofmap in Nishi-Shinjuku.
With the Newton it would seem that second hand has always been the only
way to get one anyway :-)
I only got a new Newton once in a duty free shop at Heathrow airport and
that was by chance. Any other time I wanted to buy one the only way was
to get one second hand. Even if you wanted to order one, they said they
didn't know if and when they would get new stock. Some shops sent staff
on a weekend trip to New York and had them come back with as many
Newtons as they could get hold off, so I guess it was possible to pick
one up in the US but anywhere else I have tried to buy one it was
mission impossible.
And when my MP2K got stolen it was a disaster, though I had a backup, I
couldn't find a replacement anywhere. It took months before I spotted a
2100 at the computer exchange (second hand shop) in Tottenham Court Road
in London. This was in 1999. I think I paid 285 pounds for it but at
that time I was so desperate I would have probably spent a thousand
pounds. Lucky me that they didn't know that :-) Then I was so scared to
loose it again that I almost never used it. It almost seemed
satisfactory just to own it ;-)
So, I guess the Newton is an exception to the wait rule. I'd say the
only reason not to buy a Newton when you spot one for sale is if you
haven't got the money to get it, anything else is not an excuse :-)
>> Also, the joy of looking forward to something is part of the fun and it
>> increases the excitement when you finally get what you longed for ;-)
>
> Yes, but for me the even the time between ordering and receiving is too
> long ;)
:-) Yes, but that is different again 'cause you've made the big step -
you've spent the money and now you're committed but the goods are not
coming forward. Yes, that's painful.
rgds
BK
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