My laptop has stuck out AGAIN! Second time in under a month that pushing the power button to turn it on has no effect at all. The power light indicates the thing is fully charged, and the built-in DVD player still works. But it straight out refuses to boot up. I priced a nicely configured Dell Inspiron 1720... it cost $1338. Dell has a coupon right now until May 29th that gives 30% off (code is H873GJC2846CV5), which makes it $936. Add tax and that brings you to about $1016. That is really cheap, but still... might as well be ten thousand for all it matters. Until it gets to about half that, I can see it's not going to happen any time soon. The only thing that sells for half that would a little 15.4" integrated graphics number ... I'm not interested in that, that's the same as what I have now (although yes, I do concede it would at least boot). What I'm saying is that those things about my current laptop already irritate me, so I see no point in spending that much money on main features that I already know will irritate me.

About the only thing I can say is that I hope the google ads start getting very interesting to you folks. I'd never say for people to click things just because I need money, I'm sure that would be against AdSense's policies... but maybe you need Printer Ink, maybe you need to buy a new Dell Laptop too, or maybe you're suffering from Asbestosis... and today is the first time you see an ad and you think "Wow! I should click that!". I mean, if that is the case... I'd be a sorry person to tell you not to click it .... wouldn't I? :)