Tuesday, March 02, 2010

[O/T] Random Wants

Venturing off topic, I went shopping on Saturday. I never go shopping, for various reasons - I dislike crowds, pushy salespeople bug me and I just don't get enjoyment out of it. So when I can browse without too much hassle it's a plus.

Okay, calling it shopping might be a bit much. I just went to Best Buy and played with the toys. If I'd had my "bankroll" with me, I might have walked out with a bunch of new stuff.

Which would have been stupid. I don't *need* any of it.

Some of my random wants I can deal with. Sure I'd love to have a big TV. But then I remember that I'd have to get cable or satellite and pay for a HD package. And I just don't watch that much TV. So I don't have much trouble just oohing and aahing and then moving on.

The computer section is tougher. Again, I don't really need a new computer. The one I have works okay - as long as I'm patient and can live with the problems (like programs constantly going to "not responding" status). Much of the time it works fine.

I sure like looking at computers, though, and imagining how much better they are. I took a long look at a Gateway (ASUS) desktop model with a Core i3, 6MB, 1 TB HD, and most impressively 10 USB ports (lulz) for $549. Or should I get a laptop - wow some of those are incredible and the prices aren't much higher - instead? Or maybe a netbook would get more regular use? Should I get a monitor bigger than the 19" that poker bought me back in '04/'05?

Thanks - For the eighth time, I'm just looking. I'll let you know if I need help.

If you based it solely on the number of salespeople working at Best Buy you'd swear the recession is over and boom times are back. I think they outnumbered the customers and it wasn't like it was dead either.

I'm undecided as to what I want. Enough with the computers.

Let's see, what else can we play with?

Best Buy makes it challenging to play with the iPods, not that that is surprising. I fiddled around with the Touch a little bit - yeah, I don't forsee myself doing much typing on one if I got it, fat fingers FTL. I was also somewhat limited because the display was set on Chinese language mode and I couldn't figure out how to change it back to English. Does that make me an iIdiot?

No, thanks, don't need assistance. Just browsing.

I continue to waffle between a Touch and a Nano. Really, either would be fine. I don't need an iPod. Rarely travel. Don't commute. It's just a want - and one I happen to be able to fill with FT points.

On to the headphones section. I'm not a headphones guru and have no idea what the experts think, but I freaking love the Bose Quiet Comfort 15 model they have on display. I've tried them in store a couple times now and can't believe how comfortable they are on my giant cranium. And they seem to do a pretty good job of canceling out background noise too. If I ever went anywhere I would definitely want a pair of these. Since I don't - and since they're $300 - I'll just have to limit myself to in-store use.

Sigh.

Have I run up an imaginary tab of over two grand yet? I think so!

Last stop, appliances. With my imaginary lotto win I'm going to select the gizmo that I would get the most use out of - okay, other than a computer since I'm addicted to the internet - which is ... a new dishwasher!

{insert sound of record being slowed to a halt}

Yeah, not much of a dream there.

Never mind. Definitely a want, though, since the one I have is made by a company (RCA) that I never knew *made* dishwashers.


If I go on some kind of heater and get back up to where I was last week I think I'll attempt to cash out a chunk and do my part to stimulate the economy. Unfortunately it's too bad for our country's finest makers of dishwashers (do they even make them here anymore?) that I suck at poker.

That was about all the fun I could stand and as I made my way out the door without buying anything - I didn't even think to bring the little gift card I have with me - I found myself thinking that maybe shopping, at least when it's shopping for "toys", isn't so bad after all.

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