So okay, just work with me on this one …
Today I was at the Corte Inglés supermarket with Nog, getting a few things for tomorrow’s “baby step brainstorming” lunch with Pip. Being a Saturday morning the queues were just awful, so I asked Nog if he’d mind waiting in line while I nipped upstairs to have a look at the computers. And ten minutes later I was in love!
Meet the HP 2133 mini. Tiny and perfect, 8.9″ widescreen, 2 GB ram, 160 GB memory … and an almost full-sized keyboard. In short, the ideal item for taking around to prospective clients to show them powerpoint presentations of the Sevilla Tapas blog. It weighs about a kilo and can fit into a handbag. And unlike last year’s heart’s desire, this one is 1/4 of the price … 500€. If I take advantage of a VAT refund offered for both this and the iPhone, it would bring the price down to 400€.
Was chatting with Pip about this on IM earlier and she suggested that I use it as motivation to get some paying clients for the tapas blog in March, and if that happens then I can buy it … but the catch 22 there is that having this baby will actually help me to get more clients. Imagine. It’s always in my handbag, just like my camera always is, so whenever I’m out having tapas or whatever, if I happen to meet someone who might be interested in either the tapas blog, the clothing line or the computer classes I can whip out this little darling and show them my stuff on the spot. And it’s a given that it’ll be much easier to take “Pipe Dream” (Pip’s name for my newest heart’s desire) around for scheduled appointments. Sexy Beast is not only massive with her 17″ widescreen, she also weighs about 5 kilos … and I’d really hate to damage her in any way.
So, whaddaya think? Should I get this on credit card now and say goodbye to Greece (which of course would have also been a credit card purchase) … because you can’t have everything. And yeah okay, I suppose I could say goodbye to both, but wtf. The Greece trip for me was already an almost given – a “fuck the expense, you only live once” kinda option.
It may sound crazy, but I would rather forgo a holiday and instead have something new in my life that could really help me with my biz plans. And anyhow, Beth says she’s coming here after Crete … right honey?
What should I do?
hp mini 2133
casa azahar 
I’m using an Acer 8.9 ” screen model, very portable, 2.2 lbs and it fits in my purse (granted, it’s a hobo bag). I’m using here at She’s Geeky and am very happy with it. It’s not as powerful as the one you’re describing but it sure works well for what I’m using it for. 1 GB ram and a solid state hard drive so WHEN not if I drop it all is not lost. It was cheap, about $329 retail at NewEgg.
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Go girl, go!
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Oh, it’s preeeettttyyy. And yes, you’d use it.
The reasoning that you’d get the money to buy it by buying it and using it to get the money to buy it is a little troubling. It would make the display aspect of the sales talk easier…
Ack! Don’t listen to me. My man is laid off and I’m getting ready to buy my must-have toy: a Canon EOS 40D.
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I’m currently in a similar mood… been drooling over netbooks on the infernalic web all evening…
Me wanna have such new toy!
…or the more adult part of me reasoning more logically and sensible of what USE I could have of a such gadget… Well with both Hex jr and Terminatrix behaving erratically lately I might need a back up computer thingy…
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Very pretty! Me, I’d go for Greece, or something more in the price line of what Beth described, which is about half what you’re talking about. And I’d love to have one, too. Not gonna happen after I spend all my money going to Colorado. I’m even having to have a hand-me-down cell phone after I lost mine. But I’d wait until at least after you get news from the tests before you go spending the money, honey.
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you should buy the computer
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That’s a very serious-looking camera, Lori.
I’ve seen the Acers and really don’t like them, Beth. There were a couple of cheaper minis (400 €) in the store yesterday, including a rather nice-looking Compaq, but I would never buy another computer that only has 1 GB of ram. The HP was the only one with 2 GBs.
And no, I wouldn’t even think about getting out the plastic until I have the test results back. However, if I do get the “all clear” for the next three months, I’ll need to use that time as best I can in order to set up work that will see me through the next recurrence.
So, this computer wouldn’t be “a new toy”, though of course there is always a thrill for me about getting a new gadget. And if it’s a choice of this or a trip to Greece (or anywhere that would cost about the same) then there’s really no contest.
I’ll still be able to do “mini-trips” with Pip and other friends. And who knows, if I get enough money coming in from the tapa blog and other ventures, then perhaps I’ll be able to afford Greece when the time comes.
Meanwhile, I still have a lot of work to do on the tapa blog before I’m even ready to do the powerpoint thing with Alvaro. Busy, busy, busy…
Thanks for the feedback, guys. 🙂
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£189.97 – £205.83 in the UK. That’s about half price.
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Wow! For the very same model, alji?
Anyone from the UK coming to Sevilla in the near future?
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Well, buggers, I don’t think I’ll get to visit casa Az when we’re in Greece, but maybe! It’s not that far, right? It couldn’t cost much to get over to the villas on Crete, either, and then it’s a free ride.
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http://www.ebuyer.com/product/145008
1Gb ram 120Gb hard drive. £189.97inc vat
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It’s the same except it only has 1GB of ram, alji. I’ve read that Vista needs a minimum of 2GBs to run properly.
It might be cheaper to buy direct from HP online. Will check that out.
The thing about Greece, Beth, is that I wouldn’t be able to make any plans until the next CT scan (end of April). But if I get the “all clear” this week, then this is a positive step I can take to try and get myself set up for “next time”. I reckon the mini and the flights would cost about the same.
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“It’s the same except it only has 1GB of ram, alji. I’ve read that Vista needs a minimum of 2GBs to run properly.”
Are you sure it runs Vista, az? Most of the netbooks I’ve seen run either XP Pro or the high end Home XP. I’ve been looking at those too, but would have to wait until after I get another gig or win the lotto (and then I’d have to hide it from the roomie, who’d nag me endlessly for having spent the money!)
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Also, could you take the cost off your taxes? Don’t know how your tax structure works over there, but here you could do that if it was used primarily for your biz. Meaning over 75%, I believe.
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