Retrieving my Notebook - 3400C Computer That Is

Last Edit March 25, 1999

November 1998 I delivered my 3400C Mac notebook computer, hardly used, to a registered Apple dealer. I even wrote a story about it.
By December, I was looking for it.
By January they were apologizing for it not being ready. It was back from Apple bout not booting cleanly. Unhappy Mac on first attempt, then it would reboot on restart. Drive spin.
They offered a discount on a monitor I was planning to add to it.
I had, by this time, added a keyboard and a mouse. With the terminal, the notebook becomes a base. I need a base. Unless I am in a hotel, I prefer to have a large monitor. I still transport the extended keyboard and mouse (hate the track system, hate small keyboard). Monitors are rather hard to put in a suitcase.
I agreed to let it go back in. "Everything but the case" is to be replaced. In other words, I had a lemon.
OK. I'll wait.
By the end of February, I was a tad upset. Just a tad.
I begin looking for the notebook.
I was to head out for a company trip (department offsite) and I wanted to take it.
By March, I was rabid.
I called.
They "didn't know where it was".
I, however, had their e-mail address. For the manager.
I was polite.
I gave them 24 hours to find the computer. SVnnnnn, 3400C notebook, last serviced by xxxx. That kind of information that says you have paperwork. And they had better.
I got a voice mail. The technician had left.
The next day they said they were still trying to load the operating system. Could I take an older version? OS 8.1.
I said OK. I am still running 7.5.3 on the MacIIci. Believe me, even if you don't know Macs, that is OLD.
I'm willing to be patient. The system is to have 80MB RAM and has a 2GIG drive. And plugs into my 6GIG hard drive. And my scanner.
Make me happy.
I know I have nothing on the hard drive, They replaced that. I have to reload software. Reload the web site. Reload everything I had. That's OK too.
First time I ever had a bad Mac.
By the next day, I said I would be in Thursday or Friday. I need to pack for the trip.
By Friday, I arrived to find no operating system, a bad RAM card.
The manager knew I was there. Said he had the e-mail.
I waited.
He drove to the warehouse for a new RAM card and brought it back. I browsed.
I mentioned about the deal on the monitor.
Said we needed to talk deal.
I was well behaved. No ranting. I just stood around playing worth the G3's. The iMac. The minitower. (Nice).
We talked monitors. I picked out a Sony 17" monitor - works for me. And a second one. For the kid. His video card is better than his old monitor. His old monitor can replace the one going bye-bye on the IIci. The one with the screaming transformer. They utter a piercing tone for awhile, then die. Awhile can be weeks or months. This one has been on the way out for two years. Probably time. The life expectancy of a monitor is 7 years.
They can catch fire. (Smell chemicals? Unplug the unit. Take it outside. Wait. See smoke. Yank that cord and get it outdoors. Do not inhale. How do I know this? Need you ask?)
We talk discount.
I am wandering around.
I look at the G3s.
Notebook.
Hmmmm.
Price drop.
BIG price drop.
300MHz.
8 Gig hard drive.
14" screen.
128MB RAM.
CD drive.
OK.
Looks good.
Not in stock.
Rats.
I stand around some more.
They continue fussing about, finishing the notebook.
The DVD model is in stock.
It costs $500 more.
Hmmm.
I ponder this.
I've pondered my through several models I came close to buying and missed.
These are the last of their kind - the firewire is here.
These are SCSI.
Meanwhile, we hook up and test the 17" monitor with the 3400C. It boots. Hallelujah.
I figure what the heck.
I'll take the DVD version. I want the big drive. I want the RAM.
They give me a discount. I get it at cost ($3300). This was the $5000 model.
Good.
I was nice.
I really was.
My son would be proud of me.
I just hung around.
In their face.
Two hours.
The DVD model - last one - is refurbished.
Oooops.
The manager decided that this is not a good idea to sell me that one. No. No. No.
Good thinking.
So I will pick up my G3 next week.
The 3400C goes to Santa Fe.
I get my two monitors, a big leather protective case and the notebook. I also pick up a new Eudora Pro.
I plug in the AC adapter and charge the battery. At home I load Office 98 and Netscape 4.04.
The leather case is well buffered. I test it out. I put paperback books and papers in the briefcase section. I strap the now charged up notebook into its slot.
Ready to go.
I am happy.
So are my kids.
Now there are two notebooks in my possession. Two toys for them to fight over.
The leather case holds both of them.
"But you want the minitower," they whine.
True, just not yet.
My visa has to get over its crying jag.
It's hiding in the corner of my purse. And here comes Susan Gravor and Nolan Miller on QVC. Oh God!