How to prepare

Preperation is something that you get better at with experience, but all the experience in the world is sort of useless if you are uncertain what conditions you are preparing for. I know that I'm going to need a personal computer of some kind, and I'd like to have a laptop for the sake of convience and mobility. I even ordered a pair of netbooks off the internet, but today I am making my last ditch effort to put software onto them that will make them reasonably functional. I have been at this since they came in a week ago, and I think I simply have to accept that I made a mistake in buying them. I have never sent anything back before, so I'm a little unsure how to go about it, and I of course have to justify the return at least in my own mind. They may ask for an explination where I purchased them, they may not, but I think I have a reasonable excuse either way.

For those of you who know a little about computers, you might do well to know that I am a proud Linux guy. This means that I don't use Windows for my computers. Mac people likely understand this at least a little, and it's always been in my nature to be a little countercultural and defiant. I like that it's free, and that I can try new things at will, but some Linux perple can be a little preachy about freedom and whatnot. Me, I just like that I can fix it when it, as all things do, breaks. If you're interested in Linux, I have some really great sources for you to check out, but moving onward.

I bought these 2 machines because knowing that if I had an example with me would make it more likely that
I could replicate any problems the wife had with hers and that I could instruct her on what to do over the phone should something be amiss. I think it was a good plan, but I skimped on hardware, and I think I'm paying for it. I've found that if you buy a computer that has either Linux or, nothing, pre-installed, you can save a pretty penny. If you really must pad the pockets of the Microsoft corporation, you can do that later, and being a menber of the Army, I'm pretty sure I can get it at a discount if I really need it.

I'm going to have to get hopping on this. I'm short on time. I've got just 2 and a half weeks to get ready, and there is a lot of unrelated things to get done. More on that later... for now, I am ready to make my last attempt. Wish me luck.