So, I talked myself into needing a MacPro for the office. I reasoned that my Macbook was getting long in the tooth having served as my main computer for the past two years (which for me, meant running 10-12 hours a day, every day). I want the notebook to last and it’s a fine “firm” presentation machine on an ad hoc basis. I also needed to get the wrist area replaced due to orange staining and a chipped cover. I’m hoping that my AppleCare warranty covers it all, but I won’t be shocked if it doesn’t. Point is, now that I have a new computer, I can finally send it away for a couple of days to relax and recharge at the neighborhood Certified Apple Repair Shop.
With that in mind, I started shopping for a desktop with an eye to buying the Macbook Air v.2 in the near future as my new traveling notebook. I mean, I need a laptop for home use. Thus, I said to myself, I’ll need a workhorse for the office - something extensible and upgradeable, which meant a MacPro. I shopped around for price (am I really going to notice the difference between the bottom two graphics cards? Don’t everyone shout “yes” at once) and decided to go with a refurbished unit from Apple. I bought the current entry model for about $400 less than the list price. I could have found it slightly cheaper on Craigslist or Ebay, but I know Apple, he’s been over my house for coffee, and I know that in a pinch he’ll take my call, even if he’s in Canada at the time.
After the computer arrived (no thanks to FedEx leaving it in Reno a few extra days to see the “sights”), I ran Migration Assistant to move my stuff from the MacBook to the MacPro. Mind you, I’ve bought about 8 or so new computers from Apple in the last two years (not all for me, calm down) and I’ve set each of them up new and just copied over the files, applications and preferences that I needed. I figured this time that the Migration Assistant would be easier - I had work to do, dammit. Boy, was I wrong!
As soon I finished moving stuff over, I opened GarageBand to do a little audio editing (what did I buy it for, if not processor intensive work, I thought). BAM - kernel panic! I restart it and bam, kernel panic again. So, after some prompting from a friend, I called Apple to chew them out a bit and get some help.
First, a word about the fine folks at Apple support. Finest bunch of people I’ve ever called while annoyed at something I purchased. Exceedingly polite, great Canadian sense of humor - every phone call was a pleasure. All 5 of them…
To make this long story short enough to keep you reading to the end, I had to reinstall Leopard in order to fix the problem. The computer is working now, but I’m a great deal less excited than I was on Tuesday. I’m looking forward to using it and making myself feel good about the fact that I have this cool, shiny, refurbished computer. But first, I have to go re-install OSX Server.
I’m sure that will go forward without a hitch….
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For those who are a bit confused, it was a funny skit on the Chappell Show before he went wonky and ran away to Africa. A spoof on the old Sam Adams comercials with“ Samual Adams” replaced with Chappell as Jackson. The Alamo Roadhouse Theater thingy that the guys at aintitcool. com put on had a bucnh of these made up along with a whole truckload of other Sam Jackson and Snakes on a Plane themed stuff.
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