How long do you want to keep your computer?

How long do you want to keep your computer?

This was the question asked by the young sales rep at Future Shop when I traded in my recent birthday present for an upgrade. He was trying to sell me a 2-year warranty which would ensure repairs if something went wrong.

But the question threw me.

Forever, I answered, which drew a huge grin from the young man.

This was my first ever laptop, a recent birthday present that made me feel like a 16 year old again, but when I had tried to burn a backup disc following the instructions, the Acer Inspire write-failed. With this model, you only got one shot. I took it into the shop and they explained that this happens sometimes and asked if I would like a replacement model.

I immediately decided not to replace a model that malfunctioned before I had even had a chance to use it, and so I upgraded to a Toshiba Satellite, a more powerful computer at a higher price. They also threw in Microsoft Office 2007, a non-commercial version at a greatly reduced price.

The young man looked at me with some sympathy and told me that in a couple of years or more this computer could already be obsolete. I preferred to look at it as a fine violin, one that would age gracefully and be even more functional, though I kept this thought to myself.

The original present had come with a 2-year warranty and so we agreed on that. I also agreed to let the experts at the shop set it up for me and burn the backup discs so I would not have to return.

They told me it would be ready in about 5 hours. So I wandered leisurely over to Canada Place and strolled along the promenade with the tourists, looking at the plaques that describe the early beginnings of the BC travel and communications industry.

The hours flowed like molasses and it seemed that the appointed time would never arrive, so I returned to Future Shop an hour early, hoping that my machine would be ready. Nope! I had to return in another hour and so more window shopping followed.

By the time my computer was ready, I was exhausted but I relished the thought that my troubles were now over, and I could go home and get started with learning how to use it.

At home, I eagerly unpacked my computer and plugged it in. I was surprised that when I tried to open the Office Suite, it asked for my Product Key, a long series of numbers and letters that is included on sticker in the box. I thought the setup people at the shop had already done this.

So I entered it in carefully, but received the error message that it was incorrect. I tried this several times, with the same result. Then I thought eureka, I will try using the product ID, a different series of numbers which were also incorrect. Finally, after about an hour I realized that whatever I tried was not going to work. I assumed they had returned my disc in the wrong box.

Not only was I exhausted by now, but totally stressed out by the futile efforts and the long wait of the earlier day.

I was out of bed at 8:30 the next morning and at Future Shop by 9 with my product boxed and bagged, only to see that they didn’t open until 10. I waited in front of the immense industry style unrolling metal gate that closes after hours like a medieval drawbridge until finally, a man with a key appeared and unlocked and raised it.

I was the first customer to get to the repair desk and the technician listened to my problem, tried to enter the key, and then discerned that they hadn’t done they job right in the first place. The computer came bundled with a trial version of Office Professional and they had neglected to uninstall that. So while I waited the sales rep who had originally sold me the package and his department manager came over to apologize and they threw in a nice laptop case for my trouble.

This was a fair settlement as far as I am concerned, as after my two trips to the store with my computer in a box, I knew that I would have to find a more convenient way of transporting it. (The briefcase I originally thought I could use was too small.)

There was yet a 3rd trip to the repair shop, as I was convinced the keyboard was malfunctioning, but the young techie who assisted me pointed out very politely that using the keyboard was a learning curve. As I demonstrated my problem he saw that my thumb was dropping on the mouse pad sending conflicting signals. It seems I have to teach myself to type in a whole new way.

So how long am I going to keep my computer? As long as it takes!

And I still prefer the fine violin scenario!