Puntabulous

The New Love of My Life

It’s true. I’ve fallen in love. Allow me introduce you to my Acer Aspire One Netbook. Let me preface the story of how we met by telling you about my laptop. The one I got three years ago and had grand plans of taking it everywhere. And my everywhere, I mean it never left my desk once.

But then I read about these things called Netbooks on Gizmodo and they’re super portable laptops. They don’t have the best specs out there, but the 1GB of RAM and 120GB of Memory beats the pants off the 512MB of RAM and 80GB of Memory on my big clunker laptop. Did I mention that the old clunker never left my desk once?

But there were so many different kinds of Netbooks, I had no idea what to choose! There was the ASUS Eee, the MSI Wind, and of course the Acer Aspire One. Note that none of those link to the $399 version I bought because I got it a week ago so naturally it’s already outdated. But that’s okay. So I researched my booty off. Seriously, I don’t know where it is. If you find it, please get it back to me. And don’t do anything dirty to it please. Pervert. But anyway, after all my very sophisticated research, I settled on the Acer because I feel like I got the most for my money. And it came in blue.

So I got my shiny blue Netbook in the mail the other day and it has been magic ever since. Magic, you ask? Yes, magic. Because I can take it anywhere I go. Like my bed. And the couch. And um, all the other exciting places I go. But wait! It get’s more exciting. I can take it on the train to work, where I have a full hour every day where I am forced to focus on writing my children’s book, which is currently up to page 21, thank you very much. So basically I’ve set up some sort of children’s book writing sweatshop for myself. Grand.

RANDOM | Craig | September 10, 2008 5:20 am

59 Comments

By John, September 10, 2008 @ 6:44 am

Techno-love is the most fleeting of all. Enjoy it while you can.
By Tam, September 10, 2008 @ 6:49 am

Well, I for one am eternally grateful to Acer if it gets you writing up a storm. Its so tiny and cute. Guess good things do come in small packages.
By john, September 10, 2008 @ 6:55 am

Either that is one tiny little lap top or you have some giant hands! I’m a Mac man myself. I love my MacBook Pro (though it is a ball burner sometimes).

Love the shirt by the way.
By Dave S., September 10, 2008 @ 7:12 am

I’m totally with Tam — if it gets you working on that kick-ass novel of yours, then Acer beats out Apple. But in all other things, Apple wins.

Enjoy your new pet!

Craig’s hand…………….Snuffelupagus
By Sam, September 10, 2008 @ 7:20 am

Hold on? You bought you, because it was small? OMG that’s so excessive! Have you seen the video I made of my laptop? It’s a few posts back, but its ridiculous! I’m happy for you though. Are acer big in America? Their kind of unknown here…
By john, September 10, 2008 @ 7:21 am

To avoid a possible flame war, I was in no way trying to state that Macs are better than Windows machines. I was merely stating what I use.

With that said, excellent choice in the Acer Craig!

Dave S.: Perfect call once again, but does this mean Craig’s hand may not exist?
By Dave S., September 10, 2008 @ 7:24 am

I’ve been around Apple too much — I’m amazed that that thing only cost $399! That’s pretty incredible. Nice job on the investigative shopping!
By Craig, September 10, 2008 @ 7:26 am

John: Don’t worry. Surely it will be lost and forgotten under my bed by year’s end.

Tam: I wouldn’t know. This is the first thing I’ve owned that’s so small. Wink.

john: I kept telling myself that my next computer would be a Mac, but they’re so dang expensive. Plus the Air while thin is still wide, and wouldn’t give me the transportability I wanted.

Dave S: Kick ass? You flatter me.

Sam: Yes, it’s a bit excessive, but my quiet lifestyle (that’s how I’m delicately saying I have no life) allows me to save money for fun toys. I think Acer is pretty known around her. Not huge, but respected.
By Dave S., September 10, 2008 @ 7:48 am

I love the plethora of electronics equipment in the background. And in the midst of it all (of course), SpeedStick.

Craig: Yes, kick-ass. I’m Dave Schaefer and I approve this message.
By polt, September 10, 2008 @ 8:14 am

Love the T-shirt, Craiggers….but somehow, I’d always thought you already had a place all picked out for me in your novel. I mean, I know it’s a kids book, and I’m most decidedly NOT suitable for children, but still….a cameo? The driver of the bus, perhaps? Or the doorman that says a polite hello? Or the ornary town blacksmith with a heart of gold? Maybe the King Of The Dwarves….only because I’m so much taller than all the regular dwarves?

Just trying to help…
By Dave S., September 10, 2008 @ 8:35 am

No comment on the title of the post, Polt? The first thing I thought when I read it was, “Uh-oh, Polt’s not gonna like this…”
By Craig, September 10, 2008 @ 8:40 am

The shirt was an excellent Christmas present
By john, September 10, 2008 @ 8:41 am

Craig: No doubt they are expensive! I’ve worked on both, but have always had a Mac at home. I currently work in a Mac environment as does the Mrs., so it was easiest to stay with them. Plus, we both get education discounts.

One of my coworkers has a Mac Air and it is light as a feather. The only risk is damaging it. I also read one person threw theirs away with the Sunday paper because they didn’t notice the weight of it and is it about the same size as a folded paper.

Check out Dave S. with the eagle eye. I missed the Speed Stick, but caught the glimpse of Craig’s elbow. Took me a while to figure out what your desk top image is, but I got it now.
By Tam, September 10, 2008 @ 8:41 am

You truly are on a roll with those muppet references Dave.

Actually your old computer is the exact same one we have at work. Which reminds me, not much use to anyone at work as its sits beside my bed. Guess I should bring that back. First I should clear the history. Don’t need my boss popping in here. What is your wallpaper? That’s an angel isn’t it?
By Craig, September 10, 2008 @ 8:43 am

The wallpaper on the clunker is Angel from X-Men: The Last Stand. Completely useless character but fun to look at. On the netbook is Stonehenge which I found inspiring.
By David, September 10, 2008 @ 8:45 am

Even though my hands aren’t those of a giant’s, that tiny keyboard would drive me insane. When I needed a new computer I couldn’t bring myself to seriously look at laptops because of the keyboard, and because I hate hate hate touch pads. If the mouse ever becomes obsolete, I’m sunk.
By Dave S., September 10, 2008 @ 8:50 am

Totally agree with you, Craig — what a sad waste of Angel in that movie. Of course, it’s not as bad as the sad waste of Cyclops during the *entire series*. My favorite X-Man of all time and they reduced him to a whiney bastard in all three films. Grrrr… (Don’t get me started…)
By DWQ Online, September 10, 2008 @ 8:57 am

That’s going to be awful small screen to look at porn on, but congratulations none the less. LOL It’s a cute little thing.
By Tam, September 10, 2008 @ 8:59 am

I’ve been to Stonehenge. Did you know you actually can’t go near it? There is a rope all around it (I’m assuming still, that was eons ago). I was extremely disappointed, I wanted to touch it. That and the sound of trucks whizzing by on the nearby highway kind of blew the ambiance. Still cool though.

I’ve not seen X-Men 3, heard I didn’t miss much. But wings are way cool.
By Mark, September 10, 2008 @ 9:00 am

I’m sure your bed and the couch are very exciting places!

Side Note: What is that triangular thing on your…..hold on, gotta scroll up….Oh wait, it’s cat ears on your left big toe. Too cute.
By Mark, September 10, 2008 @ 9:07 am

Is my foot fetish showing?
By Craig, September 10, 2008 @ 9:10 am

David: The keyboard is 20% smaller than a standard keyboard. Takes a little getting used to, but it’s not bad at all.

Dave S: I was more upset about how they treated Rogue in the final movie. So disappointing.

DWQ: What is this “porn” you speak of? Is it a type of cake?

Tam: I’ve never been there, but I heard it’s still there. That really stinks.

Mark: Um, cat ears?
By Carlito, September 10, 2008 @ 9:22 am

I have an acer that is the envy of my apt mates and the best thing about it is I use it in bars and coffee shops for the sole purpose of hooking up! Someone always makes a comment on it which leads to a great conversation and I have had some GREAT dates because of it!!
By Mark, September 10, 2008 @ 9:23 am

OK, If I’m the only one who sees the cat ears I will “officially” check myself into rehab, not that unofficial rehab I went to last time. Bad memories!
By john, September 10, 2008 @ 9:31 am

Mark: I think it may be the hem of his shorts?

Dave S.: Wasn’t Cyclops a whiny bastard most of the series too? (Had to go there.)
By Craig, September 10, 2008 @ 9:38 am

As a sidenote, does anyone remember this post?

http://puntabulous.com/2007/08/07/puntabulous-has-the-house-to-himself/
By Mark, September 10, 2008 @ 9:41 am

No, look at the top of his left big toe, there are little triangles on each side, then I just noticed, on his right toe near the top there are two inverted triangles.

Oh God, somebody help me. am I the only one who sees this?
By Mark, September 10, 2008 @ 9:42 am

I bet it has something to do with CERN!
By GoKitty, September 10, 2008 @ 9:46 am

I know someone didnt say Angel was their most favorite X-man? Pre Archangel and Death?? Really???
By Craig, September 10, 2008 @ 9:48 am

Mark: I think it’s just the way the pictures are compressed. If you click on it for a full size version they go away. At least I think that’s what you’re talking about. Also, stop licking your screen. It’s unsanitary.
By Tam, September 10, 2008 @ 9:54 am

Perhaps a pen name is in order Craig. All the cool kids do it. Well, maybe that’s only in the type of books I read because they don’t want their parents to know what they really do for a living. Your parents will be damn proud when you are famous. Well, more famous.
By Mark, September 10, 2008 @ 9:59 am

OK, first CERN distorts space and time and compressed jpegs, and now you have a camera in my bedroom! So now we know you’re in the pocket of Big Physics!

OK, I’ll shut up and go to bed now.
By Claudia, September 10, 2008 @ 10:12 am

craig be careful about resting the laptop right over…don’t make me say it. every time i see a guy doing that i just worry. is that weird?
By Dave S., September 10, 2008 @ 10:17 am

Craig: Since I wasn’t around these parts in ’07, I totally didn’t catch that post. That was hilarious! I gotta dig more in your archive…
By Craig, September 10, 2008 @ 10:35 am

Tam: Is it possible to become even more famous than I already am? But shouldn’t my writing focus more on making the children of the world happy, than becoming famous? Just kidding! Obviously it’s all about the money.

Mark: I’m not against imagining my feet have cat ears, even if it’s only due to a distortion of time and space. Also, I have people everwhere.

Claudia: Not weird at all. But I’m afraid keeping my cell phone in my front pocket for years might have already done enough damage. Or maybe it’s all the Mountain Dew.

Dave S: Dig away!
By David from Brazil, September 10, 2008 @ 10:38 am

Cyclops may have been a whiny bastard, but he was a HOT whiny bastard. THey should have just made some shirtless scenes where someone rips off his uniform.
By polt, September 10, 2008 @ 11:49 am

I TOTALLY agree with David from Brazil! The lack of shirtless Cyclops scenes is a travesty!.

Dave S., the title doesn’t bother me. Craiggers can have whatever love he wants. It’s LUST that I am in with him. HIm and his tallness, and wide-handiness, and freakish cat-eared toes things. Well, not that in Lust WITH those things….

“The wallpaper on the clunker is Angel from X-Men: The Last Stand. Completely useless character but fun to look at. On the netbook is Stonehenge which I found inspiring.” couldn’t the descriptions be used for either image? Completely useless, fun to look at, AND inspiring?

HUGS…
By Craig, September 10, 2008 @ 12:16 pm

Mark: I just realized what CERN was! I’m an idiot for not appreciating your dorky reference earlier!
By Dave S., September 10, 2008 @ 1:15 pm

Hmm… I guess I’m *still* an idiot…
By Nicole, September 10, 2008 @ 1:18 pm

Congrats on your new laptop it is super cute!
By Dave S., September 10, 2008 @ 1:20 pm

SuperCute: The big-eyed kitten and nemesis to Evil Bunny…
By Craig, September 10, 2008 @ 1:20 pm

Dave S: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Hadron_Collider

It’s also the reason behind Google’s main page cartoon today.
By Dave S., September 10, 2008 @ 1:22 pm

Woohoo! The idiocy has lifted!
By TwoPi, September 10, 2008 @ 1:33 pm

My new love is Google Maps (with Google Earth and Google Books a close second and third).

Here’s Stonehenge from the air; note the gap between public walkway and the archaeological site itself.
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=51.179518,-1.827078&spn=0.002152,0.005955&t=h&z=18
By Dave S., September 10, 2008 @ 1:49 pm

With all that massive amount of open space around Stonehenge, why the hell would they build a frickin’ freeway so damn close?!?! The vibrations and exhaust from the traffic are deteriorating the structure.
By TwoPi, September 10, 2008 @ 1:50 pm

And then there’s Carhenge: http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?T=1&S=10&Z=13&X=3384&Y=23338&W=1&qs=%7calliance%7cne%7c

(The resolution on Google Maps for rural america isn’t very good.)
By Craig, September 10, 2008 @ 2:00 pm

That’s really cool. I’ve never thought of using Google Maps to see famous landmarks. I usually just use it to look at my house. They finally updated the satellite picture from 2003!

I also never heard of Carhenge. That’s kind of awesome. And slightly sacrilege?
By Tam, September 10, 2008 @ 2:25 pm

Well, I’m just glad Dave asked the question and not me. I should have known that CERN thing but I was too lazy to think that hard. At least we haven’t been sucked into a black hole …. yet.

Stonehenge was impressive but still somewhat disappointing considering the location and having to walk under the highway to get to it. It also costs about $10US to get “close” to it.
By john, September 10, 2008 @ 2:45 pm

Ok, I’ll say it: am I the only one who read “Large_Hadron_Collider” as “Large_HARD ON_Collider”?

I mean, I know it’s not cat ears on Craig’s toes, but it did make me laugh.
By Craig, September 10, 2008 @ 2:47 pm

john: LOL. No, don’t worry, I saw the same thing.

New pick-up line: “I’d like to make your ass a hadron collider.”
By Tam, September 10, 2008 @ 3:47 pm

That would probably get a hot scientst Craig. Most others would likely stare at your blankly.
By john, September 10, 2008 @ 4:25 pm

If he tweaked it a bit and said “I’d like to make your ass *MY* hadron collider.” I think he would clear up an confusion…

And Craig, I’m glad I’m not the only one.
By Tam, September 10, 2008 @ 5:38 pm

Well it does sound kinky, so I suppose there is the universal appeal of that even if you have no idea what he’s talking about.
By TwoPi, September 10, 2008 @ 6:00 pm

Next year’s must-have bumper sticker: “Subatomic physicists do it with hadrons”
By Tam, September 10, 2008 @ 6:06 pm

Copywrite that TwoPi, you’ll be rich.
By Craig, September 10, 2008 @ 6:06 pm

TwoPi: You are a genius. A funny funny genius.
By Chris, September 10, 2008 @ 7:22 pm

You can check out a cute LHC rap here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j50ZssEojtM .

Congratulations on your new computer. My father recently purchased an Eee PC and I have been helping him set it up. Those UMPC’s are pretty spiffy!
By Nicky, September 10, 2008 @ 8:53 pm

I got a mac a few months ago. Sure it was a lot, but I love it. And my last computer, I NEVER carried around. My Macbook, I carry everywhere. It’s amazing.
And the battery life is unbelievable! My last computer died in about 30 mins. lol. So the macbook lasting seemingly forever is pretty sweet.
By john, September 10, 2008 @ 9:11 pm

TwoPi you are my new hero.