My new phone cost me $728
Every time I look to my right in my office, I bite my lip. In the corner, on top of a filing cabinet I’ve yet to use for filing, is an unused laptop computer, purchased this weekend during a quest for a new phone.
When my BlackBerry went swimming last week, I decided to find a temporary phone until I could determine if the phone could be repaired by storing it in a coffee mug filled with rice for several days. I visited Fry’s Electronic Store to get the phone and a cable to hook up my duel monitors.
I was just going to walk through the laptop aisles, I promise.
“You gonna take that home today?” asked a salesman named Mr. Ngo as I stood in front of a Fujitsu LifeBook in the scratch-and-dent clearance rack. Apparently I was.
Now I have horrible buyer’s remorse. The computer was $629, and then I bought the printer that came with it for another $70 (free after rebate). My old laptop, a Sony Vaio, started getting more and more cranky about two months ago, and my original thought was to get a desktop and then take the laptop in for repair.
But I’m not sure it can be repaired, and it certainly will never have the power that the new Fujitsu has. So I went into a justification frenzy, saying it would be at least a couple hundred if not more to repair the old one, vs. $629 for a new one. And since I had saved $300 on the desktop, the new computer was practically free, right?
Umm. Wrong. The new computer was $629.
I’m still searching computer ads to see if I can find a great laptop for less. I’m still considering bringing the damn thing back, especially since I haven’t even opened it since I set up the wireless when I brought it home. Did I buy the best computer out there? Is it the best deal? It’s heavy… why did I buy something so heavy? Why didn’t I just buy a more powerful laptop to replace the old one and not buy a desktop? Why do I need two computers anyway?
When I make business decisions for my freelance writing company, I sometimes think it’d be better if someone else made the financial decisions. I don’t really know if I’m doing the right thing. Because right now, with my two giant flat-panel computer monitors (so I can write on one screen and read what I’m writing about on the other) and my FOUR computers (one really old desktop, one ailing laptop, a new desktop and now a new LifeBook), I think I could run NASA from my home office.
Stats and Updates:
- Overstock took the more expensive computer back and refunded my $799. (I didn’t want to give any updates until I knew the refund was in the bank. If you recall, I bought one for $799, and then they decreased the price to $499 and wouldn’t give me back the $300. So I bought the $499 and returned the $799. They’re back on sale at Overstock for $799.).
- I spent $499 on a great HP Pavilion Slimline desktop and $629 on a sturdy, drop-resistant Fujitsu LifeBook. Thus I spent $1128 to buy two nice computers that fit my needs.
- My BlackBerry is working fine after the bath, and I can return the $27 phone I used as a replacement over the weekend. Now I think I’ll hold out for an HTC Touch.
- As long as he doesn’t read this post, my father will receive the free printer I got with the laptop as a Christmas gift or something. That saves me money on a present.
Have I justified the expenses enough?
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Claire on 08 Jul 2008 at 7:52 am #
In January when my laptop died (a trusty ol’ Dell only three years old) I went to Best Buy and got an HP Pavillion dv6000 for just under 800. It is smoking hot, white, fast, pretty, has mega storage, and was such a great deal I bought two - one for my daughter as an early graduation/birthday present. So I truly know what you go through. My problem is I used a credit card that I didn’t know had a 14% interest rate and only half my payments - if that - go to pay down the principal. Therefore, if I don’t pay it off in huge chunks, fast, I’ll be paying for these computers for the rest of my life.
Meanwhile, I really do love the HPs. They totally won me over from Dell, that’s for sure. Now I’m soon going to be in the market for a better printer all-in-one jobby and I’ll only consider an Epson. The quality of ink and printing far surpasses my mother’s great wireless HP printer.
Ingrid on 08 Jul 2008 at 10:05 am #
I’m sure you do not want to hear/read this, but financially speaking, did you budget this into your business plan? Or do have a budget for this year or your fiscal year? Have you thought about assets and the deprciable value of the assets? Computers and software, at least in my company, is for only 3 years. After that the asset is a big fat 0 on the books. However, if you sold it after the 3 years, then you can have income from the sale. I am sure you have yet to think that far into your business. Or maybe you have? That would be great.
Beth on 08 Jul 2008 at 1:01 pm #
Claire, I’m in love with HPs as well… reasonable cost and really fast stuff.
Ingrid… you should know me well enough to be certain that I don’t have a business plan. I still think in terms of earning one rent check with a project. And as for depreciation and assets… are you kidding?
This is me you’re talking about!
steph on 09 Jul 2008 at 7:26 am #
This post just made me jealous! I wish I had the problem you’re having!!
I’m torn between wanting an iMac and a laptop. Most of the time I wish I had a laptop, but in the end, the dilemma is “mooted” by lack of money anyway.