With college looming only 3.5 weeks from now, I recently partook in what has become a rite of passage for almost college students. Buying a computer. After a few conversations with the tech gurus in my life–Tech writers, the guys at the Mozilla tent at p4k, some friends –yes, you Ronak–, and finally the Apple Store employees I made the decision to invest, or rather have my parents invest, in a Macbook Pro. Now i’m not an entirely spoiled brat, i paid for some of this fine piece of machinery as well. But basically since the moment i let my self control go (i was supposed to be cleaning my room, not fiddling with the computer), i’ve been glued. Its not that i’ve never seen a mac, or never used one, but this is MY computer. thrilling. really. I christened it by doing my very first video chat with some very good company. so excited.
The next day I went to starbucks hoping to mooch on their free wifi and my newfound computer mobility. too bad apparently starbucks sold out and now just offers two options for getting wifi: using the pay-per-hour service from AT&T or TMobile, or getting a starbucks card to pay for your coffee. If you use this card at least once a month, you are given two free hours of wifi every day. I mean, i guess i understand the angle of the card, to make sure that they are only giving away the wifi to people who are actually buying their products–and i do. certainly at least once a month. But its a hassle. I like cash. I don’t want to have to fiddle with making sure i have my card when i can easily get cash from anywhere. i’ve devised a method that would surely work for me. Create an interface to log in when you buy your drink. Enter your user name while you’re buying your coffee and then use the same username to log on to their wifi. Really. I should work for starbucks. Caribou coffee? seattles best? just email me. i’ll do you a real service. so clever.
ANYWAYS. the other part of the story is that when i was getting back in my car, saddened by the internet shortcomings, i got to thinking that this computer needed a name. I’m not usually one for naming things that aren’t my ipod (my ipods have been: gubermby-a 14-year-old’s qualification of Gumby and Uber, Black Beauty, and Black Beauty II), but something about this sleek, shiney, powerful machine just intenstly whispers Susan. Weird right? I told myself “No. You have a cousin named Susie and a song from your former band called “Goodbye Susie”. You can’t possibly name your computer such a conflicted name.” I put it out of my head and continued on with my day. But Susan wouldn’t leave me alone. So now i’ve submitted to Susans will and while I would probably be more popular if i named it something like Carlos or Davison, Susan won’t leave me alone. Honestly, i’m not going to spend much ime caling it by name or anything, i don’r prance around calling my ipod Black Beauty, but I will know that its Susan. I think she might be a lesbian.
