Gambits

I was very excited to make the purchase of my Macbook Pro. I couldn’t wait. It’s a fun experience.

I was also expecting some compatibility issues. It comes with territory of switching platforms. I was expecting not being able to use a Windows keyboard. I was expecting to have to buy several adapters.

But the main problem I have with my new MacBook isn’t anything I was expecting. It’s actually kind of silly. My router, a Netgear WGR614v6, has always worked fine. It’s speedy, and it does everything I need it to do.

That was before my Macbook showed up.

At first, it seemed like it would work. It will connect, download my e-mail, let me chat with Adium and seem like its loading pages. It will say “Waiting on [Insert Page Name Here]…” and then never load.

After much frustration and several hours of trying to get the damned thing to work, I finally gave up. It won’t work, I guess. I’ve tried so many things to try and get it to work. I’ve changed setting after setting and even hard reset my router. Nothing.

It’s not a problem with my computer. I proved that when I was able to connect to the wireless at work and load pages.

It works perfectly with wired connection. Which is annoying, because right now that’s the only way I am able to use it at home.

Eventually I guess I am going to have to find a new router. A new N-Band router would be nice. But $100 is a little steep at this point.

I told myself that when I finally purchased a Mac I would come back to blogging. So here it goes.

Sadly, I must begin with a rant. An Apple rant.

Yes, Apple makes great machines. Yes, Apple is a great company.

But Apple has one major flaw that it must address. Their stores.

We’ve probably all seen them. The big Apple logo on the horizon. Swarms of people making their way in to test out the latest hardware. It’s all great… Until you’re ready to buy something.

I may be judged as too harsh, since it is so close to the launch of the newest iPhone. But, what happened to me on Wednesday is just plain dumb.

My first try at purchasing my new Mac took place at the Brandon Town Center Apple store. I had been in this store before, and received terrible service. But, hoping that that was just a fluke, I tried my luck again. Bad idea. My girlfriend and I entered the store at approximately 6:30 p.m. We waited. And waited. And waited. No help. We were even PROMISED help multiple times by the Apple clerks. The ones that were conveniently standing around doing nothing.

The clerk who was asked to help us (3 times I might add) blatantly disregarded our presence in the store. Moving on to help another customer who was simply browsing, and wasn’t ready to make a $1500 purchase.

So after thirty minutes of just standing around, we left. The visit was soon followed by an angry complaint call to their manager. I was also placed on hold for more than 20 minutes. Go figure.

Discouraged, but not ready to give up, we made our way to the Apple store in Tampa. I’ve visited this store several times and never once had a problem. They have always been on their game when it comes to helping me.

This time was much different though. After being told to stand in a line to be helped for no less than an hour, a worker came up to the line. Starting at the back of the line he placed customers in another line. So after the wait I had to endure in the first line, I was now at the back of another line, looking at people who had been in line a fraction of the time we had in front of me.

Finally, after another twenty or so minute wait I was finally able to make my purchase. Was it worth the wait? Yes.

1. I got a sweet new computer
2. I got a nice discount off of it
3. I got a free iPod Touch.

Turns out, the iPod touch is actually almost as cool as my new machine. I underestimated the power of these babies, but you can really do a lot with them.

But the moral of the story is: Apple needs to clean up their act. Not only was I angry about getting shafted, but there were a couple of other irate customers. If I hadn’t been so set on buying this new computer, I would of definitely moved on. 

In the end, though, I was able to get home at a decent time to play with my new computer. 

In other news, I bought the Sims 3 today… More to come on that subject.