Miscellaneous Computing Follies

[filkertom]

A few weeks ago, getting ready for ConGlomeration, my printer cartridges ran out of ink. For what is now the third time, I went to the store (sometimes K-Mart, sometimes Target) to get a LexMark printer -- because it is considerably cheaper to buy the printer, with two cartridges and spiffy paper, than to buy the exact same cartridges. In this case, I saved $15.

Exact. Same. Cartridges.

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Meantime, when we found out a few weeks ago that our duplicator couldn't get a CD order back to us by Labor Day no matter how much we begged, it actually made things easier. I could relax, and gear up for Dragon*Con. (The CD package is nearly ready to be sent off, and we should have everything back by the end of September. It'll be boss -- all environmentally-friendly and everything.)

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I also hied myself down to CompUSA, where it turned out that they had my chosen brand of CD-R (Memorex) on deep discount this week. Yeah!

Unfortunately, I had to hie myself back down there again this morning. After a few years of faithful service, my 300-watt power supply up and died.

What gets me is not that a new power supply is now more expensive than the same power supply and a case used to be. I understand; the mod scene clued the manufacturers in to a whole new product line.

No, what gets me is that the store-brand 350-watt power supply is $69.99, and the 500-watt power supply is $79.99, and the first brand-name (in the fiercely competitive desktop computer power supply market, sheesh) was a 400-watt for $99.99.

Which the hell one do you think I got!?

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So. Any good stories lately?