Back in Business—Computer Fixed! |

« Currently Out of Service – Hardware Problems

Photograph of the Day: Turtle and Goldfishes »

Back in Business—Computer Fixed!

December 8, 2009 by Omar Upegui R.

Late yesterday afternoon, I got my computer back. Due to a strong December backlog, Planet Computer Store was not able to fix my computer within a reasonable time period of three days. Instead, the technician took eight full days. Meanwhile I was pulling my hair and biting my nails.

In less than one year, my monitor went sour, my hard disk went loco; and finally my power supply fried up. Each time I had to interrupt my blogging activities, which I terribly detest. There is nothing worse for a blogger, than missing a daily post. I feel I’m letting my readers down. But without a computer, I was pretty much immobilized. That is one of the many problems of technology, it can sometimes be cruel and merciless.

Anyway, I’ve checked it thoroughly and the computer seems to be doing its chores dutifully. I stayed up late last night, answering e-mails and reading comments left at Lingua Franca. It felt so good having a computer again. In less than one day, I was transported from the Middle Ages to the Twenty-First Century.

The services charged by Planet Computer Store were:

Cost of power supply: $19.95
Labor cost: $35.00
Taxes (ITBM): $2.75
Total: $57.70

I thought it was a very reasonable cost. They secured the internal cables to prevent the computer from vibrating, checked the operating system, and vacuumed all the dirt and dust inside the guts of the beast. For only $57.70; I think it was a Christmas present.

In order to avoid any interruptions in the future, starting next January I’ll open a special savings account at Banco General to buy myself a brand new computer for my next birthday. It will probably be a HP Pavilion P6200LA with the following specs:

CPU: Intel Dual Core T6400
RAM: 4 GB DDR3
Hard Disk: 500 GB
Optical Drive: DVD-RW
WiFi: 802.11 b/g/n
Monitor: 20″ LCD TouchSmart Full HD
TV Tuner
Operating System: Windows 7 – Home Premium
Price: $869.97 plus Sales Tax of 5 percent

I’ve entertained for a while, the idea of buying a portable computer, but finally decided that I don’t need it. With a WiFi cellphone I can handle my portable communication requirements. In a future post, I’ll explain my WiFi mobile phone project.

That’s it guys. I’m back with a fully operational computer. I’m organizing a whole bunch of photographs taken at Albrook Mall and Cinta Costera, which I know will knock your socks off.

Thank you very much for your patience and loyalty. I regret all inconveniences caused. Good Day.

About these ads

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Blogging, Computer Repairs, Computers, Hardware, Power Supply, Technology | 14 Comments

14 Responses

on December 8, 2009 at 9:57 am | Reply Richard

Hooray! All’s well with the world this morning. Omar’s back.
on December 8, 2009 at 10:04 am | Reply Omar Upegui R.

Hi Richard:

Thank you Richard. Right now I’m working on tomorrow’s pictures about a recent visit to Albrook Mall on the outskirts of Panama City. The themes, colors, shapes, faces, textures, and patterns will knock your socks off.

Stay tuned. You won’t regret it.

Bye,

Omar.-
on December 8, 2009 at 11:47 am | Reply Jaime

Omar:
Me alegro de que todo este bien con su computadora. Estuve viendo sus post de Junio a Octubre y me encanto ver la forma como capta en palabras y en fotos, nuestro querido Panama. Me considero saber mucho de Panama pero aprendi y sigo aprendiendo de mi pais a traves de su blog. Se le ve lo orgulloso que esta de ser panameno.
Posiblemente deba invertir en un Power Protection strip para que lo mismo no le pase en el futuro.
Jaime^
on December 8, 2009 at 12:02 pm | Reply jim and nena

Yay, early Christmas present, Omar is back!!

Thank goodness it was a power supply and not a disk crash. Much easier to recover.

jim and nena
fort worth, tx
- on December 8, 2009 at 12:09 pm | Reply Omar Upegui R.
  
  Hi Jim & Nena:
  
  Yes, the harm was insignificant. Nothing really happened to my information. Lately, after my hard disk drive went bad in May, I have most of my sensible information on the Web. In case the HD goes sour again, I can always access my information on the Web intact.
  
  Thanks to your consistent supportive comments.
  
  Bye,
  
  Omar.-
on December 8, 2009 at 12:04 pm | Reply Omar Upegui R.

Hola Jaime:

Gracias por leer Lingua Franca. Comentarios como los suyos es lo que me hace seguir adelante con este blog.

Gracias a Dios, ya tenemos la computadora de nuevo y puedo hacer lo que me gusta hacer—comunicarme con ustedes, mis lectores.

Yo ya tengo un UPS, pero algo inexplicable pasó. El técnico no me lo pudo explicar. Por el momento, todo parece estar normal.

Mañana pienso escribir sobre un mall grande en las afueras de Panamá. Quizás usted lo conoce. Se llama Albrook Mall. Espero que le gusten las fotografías y la historia accesoria.

Saludos,

Omar.-
on December 8, 2009 at 1:48 pm | Reply Jim

Omar,
Good to be able to read your blog again, your words and photos help to enjoy Panama more with every post. Am very interested in hearing about your WIFI cell phone project. I just bought a new computer from Yoytec here in Panama but will look at Planet in the future to see which has the best prices.

Saludos
Jim
- on December 8, 2009 at 4:14 pm | Reply Omar Upegui R.
  
  Hi Jim:
  
  Thanks for your kind remarks. Am glad you like to read our daily posts. In time you will read about my WiFi cell phone project.
  
  Yoytec is the place to go to buy computer hardware and accessories in Panama. Their prices compete with those in the U.S. I purchased a Web cam there a few dollars cheaper than the same camera sold at Best Buy in Chelsea, Maine.
  
  Planet Computer Store does not sell computers. Their main business is selling computer accessories imported from large Chinese manufacturers. I’ve had an excellent experience repairing my computer there.
  
  For example, my hp pavilion mx704 monitor was declared deceased by all computer repair shops in Panama. They all said unanimously that I had to throw it in the waste basket, except Planet Compute Store. They fixed it for $35.00 over a year ago, and I’m still using it.
  
  Lately their customer’s queue is getting bigger and bigger; that explains the long delay in getting my computer fixed. That’s the price you have to pay for success, I guess.
  
  Best Regards,
  
  Omar.-
on December 8, 2009 at 11:35 pm | Reply jim and nena

Omar!!
Is that snow falling on your blog??? haha So Cool!

jim and nena
fort worth, tx
- on December 9, 2009 at 5:59 am | Reply Omar Upegui R.
  
  Hi Jim & Nena:
  
  Yeah, it’s a digital trick created by the developers of WordPress. I thought it would be nice to put a little extra touch in Lingua Franca. I’m glad you noticed.
  
  It’s snowing in Panama! How about that?
  
  Regards,
  
  Omar.-
on December 8, 2009 at 11:41 pm | Reply Michael

Welcome back, Omar. I missed your posts.
- on December 9, 2009 at 5:56 am | Reply Omar Upegui R.
  
  Hello Michael:
  
  Thank you. I also missed communicating with my readers. You all mean so much to me. It’s like having a large digital family.
  
  I’m so glad to be back.
  
  Take Care,
  
  Omar.-
on December 10, 2009 at 3:13 pm | Reply Alba

I´m glad your computer is back.

Thanks for explaining the snow. For a moment I thought it was a virus.

What can I say Mr. Upegui, now I´m hooked too to your blog. It´s made with love and love is what the world needs.

Thanks a lot for just being you.
- on December 10, 2009 at 4:07 pm | Reply Omar Upegui R.
  
  Hi Alba:
  
  Welcome to Lingua Franca anytime. I appreciate your kind comments.
  
  I think the falling white snow is pretty neat, even if it doesn’t snow in our neck of the woods.
  
  I’ve been reading about the Transfer Factor on the Internet. Will get back to you soon with my two cents on the subject.
  
  BTW, you can call me Omar. Everybody else does. It makes me feel younger. (Smile)
  
  Best Regards,
  
  Omar.-