I would LOVE feedback on this issue as I’m sure lots of laptop users have had this debate and I’m sure lots of desktop users thought about it to. Here’s the scoop for my personal situation.

Well, I’m in need of more power due to the processing of photos and video which I’m doing – I realize that this would be a ‘pro’ for the desktop model but I’m wondering if portability would be a factor? Liz has a laptop which I use regularly as it sits in the kitchen for the most part and is a great little computer for pretty much everything.. the only problem I find is that it doesn’t have the power of my desktop – so therefore I never use it for any photo processing.

Laptops generally however are more expensive than desktop computers – even if I was to get one on sale it would be more expensive I’m sure. That said they have the portability and with wireless networks getting so good, that’s a real benefit.

I’m stuck!! Everywhere I look they have sales on for laptops such as buy.com’s Lenovo on for $449 and then Dell has a sale on as well which got me thinking about a desktop (found the 2 day deal here). If you have any insights or recommendations – I’m welcome to it all!

I’m getting off topic a bit – but what I wanted to point across is that I’m seriously fighting the urge to purchase something. Doesn’t that sound ridiculous? I guess it does!! It’s just that I have had a few select items on my radar which are most certainly wants and not needs. #1 on the list.. an iPhone – as my blackberry is getting older, I’m finding it slower and less reliable for me – I do like the look of the 9700 Blackberries as well, but if I had the choice I think I’d go with the iPhone… problem is.. it’s over $600 to purchase and they never go on sale.. boo.

The other item on my list was something that I had before, and sold. A netbook. They are just coming down so much in price that I think it would be extremely handy to have around the house – I find lately we’ve been using Liz’s laptop in the kitchen, downstairs watching TV, all kinds of places in which a netbook would likely be the easier option. That and the fact that Shoppers had them on sale for $90 if you used 75,000 optimum points.. I don’t have that many by a long shot, but I do almost have 40,000 saved up… not bad for a guy whom usually doesn’t shop there.

And of course now I come across a buy.com flyer that has a full Dell laptop on sale for $299! With the dollar as close as it is right now, when I head to Boston next month I may have to come back with some of these sale items, that’s a great deal!

FOCUS LEN! FOCUS!!

Ok, I don’t need any of these things.. and why I’m trying so hard to fight the urge is that I still owe for things I already purchased!! Even though I’ve paid off over 51% of my debt since last year – I still have a ways to go and I want to make sure that I don’t fall of the wagon here.

I came up with an idea which made sense to me yesterday which may help. If I want to purchase one of these items.. I can’t purchase them with money that I have earmarked for debt-repayment. So, what that means to me – if I want that iPhone.. I better save up $600 by selling something, working somewhere extra, or somehow creating extra money so that my plan to get debt-free remains in tact. As much as I feel guilty about buying the Roomba (and am still very excited about it arriving), I purchased it out of extra money which I had and have already paid off – it didn’t come out of my monthly debt repayment, so that’s a good purchase as far as I’m concerned.

Don’t ask me how I’ll ever be able to get over $600 for an iPhone 3gs though.. oh well.

Small.. and on Sale

Every week, buy.com puts on a sale which always includes a number of things that I may enjoy purchasing.. or things that I may consider as great gifts.

This week I have a number of reviews that I’m going to create, but the first one is on the Kensington CI65M Notebook Wireless Optical Mouse. I never really thought about how handy these things are until you go about using a laptop on a regular basis.

Most of the day I’m in front of my desktop computer having the luxury of a full keyboard and mouse to navigate and type away. The problem with laptops however (in my humble opinion), is that they don’t have a great way to navigate the screen as quickly as one can with a mouse.

It’s ironic that with all the years of technology and advances we’ve made with computers, that we haven’t found or discovered a better way to navigate around the screen than with a traditional mouse! Of course there have been lots of different types of mice brought forth into the marketplace, but I can honestly say that nothing beats a good reliable optical mouse thus far.

And that’s another point, they now have (instead of optical) laser mice which are supposed to be that much more accurate, etc and able to use on any surface.. but really, for the price difference (usually 4x as much), what surface are you trying to use a mouse on that you’d need to spend those extra dollars? Again.. point up for optical.

I also can honestly say the proof is in experience, and as I glance down at the optical mouse I’ve owned for about 6 years.. I think it’s safe to say that I don’t feel the need to go to anything else.

Long story short, buy.com has it on for 44% off and only $14.99 USD.. nice deal for something you’d actually use.

The funny part is that I’ll likely get hits on the article that made it on the front page from now until forever since anyone that searches for ‘scorched pot’ will likely hit my site from lifehacker.. which is pretty darn cool if you ask me.

On another note, the dollar is doing what I suggested it was going to.. and that’s making it’s way towards parity at a rapid pace… as it stands right now, it’s at 97.02 cents and climbing as of 9:24 AM today.

This is going to make any sale that goes on in the USA just that much more attractive. I just noticed on buy.com that they have a Verbatim Easy Riser™ Bluetooth Notebook Laser Mouse on for $13.99 (save $36 after rebate) which is an awesome deal. Don’t know how many of you out there have laptops, but I can’t stand trying to navigate around with a trackball or trackpad.. they = suck. Go with the Laser Mouse

Anyhow, back to the topic at hand. Being on the front page of Lifehacker really was the pinnacle of this blog so far.. but I really want to have more high spots. I’d love to grow my readership especially outside of the people I know whom read it and perhaps grow a readership or a better readership around the globe.

Don’t ask me how I plan on doing that.. I really don’t know, but I’ll keep plugging away.. putting in my thoughts and ideas and good tips for everything I can. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, I know I had one hell of a dinner last night to celebrate the holiday. (Thanks Ron!)

I was browing around Buy.com’s website today, and of course I was driven to their sale page which has all kinds of good sales, the ones that really draw my eye are (as always) the hard drives. However what I like about the sale flyer is that they have all kinds of other items as well such as:

A Coffee Maker – 69.99
A Camera Tripod – 29.99
Wireless or Wired Laser Printer! – 99.99

And of course all kinds of your standard things like laptops, computers, etc.

The wireless printer is something that I would certainly purchase if I was in the market. One less cable to have cluttering around your house, and you could place it up high in your office or anywhere you can find a plug and have all of your printing needs get sent to the printer wireless. What a great idea! Of course, being a laser it’s only black and white, but that doesn’t matter.. especially when for the most part, I get all my photos printed at a shop or kodak, and all I really print at home is black and white text anyhow!

With the US Dollar getting closer to par now, this may be the time to pick up some south-of-the-border deals!