As we prepare for some remodeling, we're trying to get rid of things that are simply taking up precious space. I've been lucky to sell a handful of things on Craigslist. We've also made several trips to Goodwill for things that aren't worth selling or are too time consuming to deal with.
On this trip, we dropped off an old CD-ROM read-write drive, a box of random kitchen items, and a 27" Sony television with its original remote and box.
I have lurked in a couple of the local Goodwill stores for the past six months, but Tim hasn't been inside a store since he first moved to his last apartment some eight years ago. He was curious so we took a stroll through the store. I think he was also curious to see what might happen to his tv.
As we entered, it was clear that Sunday is a popular day to shop at Goodwill. The parking lot was pretty much full and the store was bustling. At the far right wall, we could see televisions displayed along the wall. Just over to the left there was a couple and elderly man examining a tv on the linoleum floor, preparing to plug it into the wall.
Tim spotted a large Sony XBR tv and noted that the price tag read "$69.99." Not a second passed before the elderly man helping the couple pointed at the tv and claimed it was his. There were a couple other people looking at the selection of electronics and discussing with others the selection of tvs available. I felt kind of sad to think our effort to keep Tim's tv pristine and well-packaged would be for not once they dump the tv on the store floor and the remote into a box of tangle cables and random remotes.
I guess with the switch over to digital television, this is a good time to cheaply upgrade those little 20" tvs. While the better off upgrade to LCDs and plasmas, the financially challenged get to enjoy bargain prices on big tvs. Do you think all these buyers know that they need to be a DTV converter? I suppose it's nice to know that someone will appreciate the tv.
On our way out of the store, I realized why there were so many people in the store. A small board posted days when the store offered additional discounts on selected items. It just so happened that Sunday from 3pm to 6pm, the entire store was an additional 30% off. Wow, what a deal on electronics and anything else in general. It's definitely like going to a collection of garage sales - go early and often.
It's rare I find anything I want to buy at the thrift stores, but I must say they can be a great place to pick up deals. You can bet that when it's time to buy my kid kitchen stuff for college, it's going to be second-hand stuff.
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Monday, February 16, 2009
Friday, August 29, 2008
More or less?
I'm avoiding cleaning to do something more fun. Since I don't want anyone attending the wedding to guess at what it may look like, I'm asking you dear friends to help me with your opinion on colors.
The background that's important to know is that our wedding colors are burgundy and golden yellow. Our invitation were inspired by this illustration. Basically, we have a lot of color options.
Our reception's dance area is a beautiful glass ceiling. But as night falls, it will be black. I thought it would be nice to continue the outdoor feeling by adding some paper lanterns. Based on discussions with the hotel, it is only possible to hang lanterns on wires that will run the length of each pointed ceiling section (there are three sections, each with a chandelier).
For the sake of cost, I've decided that if I do decorate, I'll have them set up two wires in the middle section. The center or middle area where most people will dance since the left side is where the DJ will set up (see black speaker) and the right side is where people come in and out of the ballroom area through the arches. The lanterns I hang will be tied to different lengths of fishing wire to add dimension.
The big question that I must answer by the end of the weekend is what color lanterns to buy. So I've generated two mock ups of what the room might look like once set up. (Thank goodness for Photoshop!) Obviously there are caveats to keep in mind when looking at this. For example, I don't know that these are the actual sizes of the lanterns. These simply represent size proportional to other lanterns. All in all, I think this is a pretty good visualization of what is possible.
The difference here is that one color has been removed:
I don't have a preference at this point, just thoughts about why one might be better than the other. They both look nice, it's a question of what seems appropriate for a wedding evening.
The background that's important to know is that our wedding colors are burgundy and golden yellow. Our invitation were inspired by this illustration. Basically, we have a lot of color options.
Our reception's dance area is a beautiful glass ceiling. But as night falls, it will be black. I thought it would be nice to continue the outdoor feeling by adding some paper lanterns. Based on discussions with the hotel, it is only possible to hang lanterns on wires that will run the length of each pointed ceiling section (there are three sections, each with a chandelier).
For the sake of cost, I've decided that if I do decorate, I'll have them set up two wires in the middle section. The center or middle area where most people will dance since the left side is where the DJ will set up (see black speaker) and the right side is where people come in and out of the ballroom area through the arches. The lanterns I hang will be tied to different lengths of fishing wire to add dimension.
The big question that I must answer by the end of the weekend is what color lanterns to buy. So I've generated two mock ups of what the room might look like once set up. (Thank goodness for Photoshop!) Obviously there are caveats to keep in mind when looking at this. For example, I don't know that these are the actual sizes of the lanterns. These simply represent size proportional to other lanterns. All in all, I think this is a pretty good visualization of what is possible.
The difference here is that one color has been removed:
I don't have a preference at this point, just thoughts about why one might be better than the other. They both look nice, it's a question of what seems appropriate for a wedding evening.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Makeup is a Mystery
There are times when I seriously think I should have be sent to a workshop on why I need to do all the things that women do when planning a wedding. I’m a very organized person, so getting things done is not the issue. The big problem for me is understanding why certain things are done and in what manner I should do them.
Frankly, I probably rushed into a lot of things because I didn’t think my final choice would matter all that much. In some situations, I had the impression that I did not have the time to do the research I needed to do.
One of the most foreign subjects for me has been hair and makeup. I didn’t start moisturizing regularly until my mid-twenties. I didn’t start moisturizing before bedtime until five years ago. Eye cream is something I dabble in when I remember. Exfoliation is something I started doing only because of the wedding. Facials? I’ve never had one – ever. It’s been a very slowly evolving process.
As for makeup, the only thing I can say I consistently do is fill in my brows. That’s something I remember picking up after reading some Glamour magazine article talking about putting on a minimum every time one steps out of the house. The logic made sense to me and I’ve found that the few minutes it takes to add a bit of shadow is worth how it frames my plain face. Most work days, I’ll also throw on a bit of neutral eye shadow. Lipstick is unlikely because I’m not one to remember to apply it every couple of hours. I stand a better chance with tinted lip balms.
With all that, here’s what I have done in the past four months. In May, I had my first makeup test with a recommended Channel artist. She did a very nice job, but given that it was my first run. I just felt it average. Also, she charges $300 which was above what I had budgeted. After thinking about it for a month, I told her that I couldn’t go with her due to price.
In June, I went for a trial run with an Asian beautician who does both hair and makeup. I think she thought it a bit odd that I wanted to do a trial run of the makeup. It’s like she expected me to just show up on my wedding day and have perfect makeup. Yeah, right. Inside the salon, everything seemed to go well. I was a little frustrated with how long everything took but felt I couldn’t complain much for the price. Hair and makeup would be less than $150 though I’d have to drive 20 minutes to her salon. I felt like it was put on pretty thick to cover my freckles and blemishes. (There’s an Asian artist for you.) Unfortunately, when I recently looked back at the flash photos we took afterwards, I realize that I look like a ghost. No kidding! She tried to lighten my skin color and so my face doesn’t match my neck one bit. Yuck!
Technically, I’m still booked with her, but this week I need to tell her that I just want to do my hair. The debate is whether to bring a picture and tell her the truth to see if she can change things, or just say that I’ve decided to do my makeup myself?
Last month, my friends took me to Nordstrom’s to help with my frustrations over makeup. They sat me at the Bare Escentuals counter where a decent woman applied my makeup. It was an introductory job, and we all felt very satisfied with what she did. It looked natural and didn’t feel heavy. I talked with her and negotiate $100 for makeup (and she’d come to the hotel).
I went again this weekend to experiment with colors and try out my individual, false eyelashes. Since I wear very little makeup on a daily basis, it was hard to gauge what was the right amount of makeup, plus the store lighting was awful. I knew that I would need to go outside. Even just walking through the mall, I felt like a clown, probably due to the long false eyelashes. Driving home, I could see in my visor mirror that the pinkness of the makeup on my face did not match the natural color of my neck. It felt wrong.
I happened by another makeup store. I was curious to check out a new sheer foundation by a local makeup artist. The guy at the store approached me and we talked about the product. He offered to try some on me but I explained that I was already wearing makeup for a test run. I told him I was wearing Bare Minerals. I took advantage of the situation and asked what he thought of it. He said it looked fine for day wear and that the lipstick color was perfect for photos. He advised that you want to go a little more dramatic than normal for wedding photos. He cautioned me that Bare Minerals while a great everyday product, is not ideal for photos. He says it has a finish that shows up poorly in photos. He definitely encourage me to try the foundation that I picked up. When I left the store he also offered his services for my wedding.
Tim’s probably not the best person to ask for makeup opinion, but in the grand scheme of things, his opinion matters most because I want him to think I look beautiful at the wedding. He said it looked a bit dramatic. I asked if he recalled the other times I’d had makeup trials and he seemed to like those other times better.
We snapped a couple pictures. The ones in the shade looked fine. However, whenever we used flash, be it to reduce the harsh sunlight or illuminate the inside of a building, my face looked a bit shiny. Granted, I have oily skin, but it had only been a few hours since the makeup session. I can’t imagine I got that oily. Plus, the shine was consistent all over my face leading me to believe it was something about the makeup.
I looked at the pictures again later and checked my face in various lights. I felt uncomfortable. Wearing the makeup for more hours did not change the shine. I also noticed my eyes felt a little agitates and tired. I don’t know if it was the eye shadow products or the false eyelashes. When I took off the makeup, my skin felt slightly irritated. I don’t recall any of this happening as a result of the other two makeup trials. Am I imaging things? Am I allowing myself to be influenced by the concerns I’ve read on the Internet and by the makeup store guy?
I wrote the makeup gal late yesterday evening. I told her that I am not confident in the makeup and explained my concerns about the pinkness and shine. I asked her for suggestions on what might be done to correct the problem. Part of me wants to stick with her, but another part of me just wants to do it myself.
So now, I truly understand why it's so important to start shopping around early. I know that I shouldn't make commitments until I've experimented with many products and talked to several people. It's tiring, but not I see why it would have been better to have several sessions over a period of a couple weeks so I could compare more easily. Leaving it until two months before the wedding is stressing me out!
I hate confrontation and I’m getting *uncomfortable* telling these people that I’m unhappy and trying to give them direction on how to make things better. Do I give the Asian woman or Nordstrom gal another try? Should I grovel and try and get artist #1 to take me back for the $300? It just seems so expensive… . ARGH! Now I really wish I'd learned better techniques for applying makeup. HELP!
Frankly, I probably rushed into a lot of things because I didn’t think my final choice would matter all that much. In some situations, I had the impression that I did not have the time to do the research I needed to do.
One of the most foreign subjects for me has been hair and makeup. I didn’t start moisturizing regularly until my mid-twenties. I didn’t start moisturizing before bedtime until five years ago. Eye cream is something I dabble in when I remember. Exfoliation is something I started doing only because of the wedding. Facials? I’ve never had one – ever. It’s been a very slowly evolving process.
As for makeup, the only thing I can say I consistently do is fill in my brows. That’s something I remember picking up after reading some Glamour magazine article talking about putting on a minimum every time one steps out of the house. The logic made sense to me and I’ve found that the few minutes it takes to add a bit of shadow is worth how it frames my plain face. Most work days, I’ll also throw on a bit of neutral eye shadow. Lipstick is unlikely because I’m not one to remember to apply it every couple of hours. I stand a better chance with tinted lip balms.
With all that, here’s what I have done in the past four months. In May, I had my first makeup test with a recommended Channel artist. She did a very nice job, but given that it was my first run. I just felt it average. Also, she charges $300 which was above what I had budgeted. After thinking about it for a month, I told her that I couldn’t go with her due to price.
In June, I went for a trial run with an Asian beautician who does both hair and makeup. I think she thought it a bit odd that I wanted to do a trial run of the makeup. It’s like she expected me to just show up on my wedding day and have perfect makeup. Yeah, right. Inside the salon, everything seemed to go well. I was a little frustrated with how long everything took but felt I couldn’t complain much for the price. Hair and makeup would be less than $150 though I’d have to drive 20 minutes to her salon. I felt like it was put on pretty thick to cover my freckles and blemishes. (There’s an Asian artist for you.) Unfortunately, when I recently looked back at the flash photos we took afterwards, I realize that I look like a ghost. No kidding! She tried to lighten my skin color and so my face doesn’t match my neck one bit. Yuck!
Technically, I’m still booked with her, but this week I need to tell her that I just want to do my hair. The debate is whether to bring a picture and tell her the truth to see if she can change things, or just say that I’ve decided to do my makeup myself?
Last month, my friends took me to Nordstrom’s to help with my frustrations over makeup. They sat me at the Bare Escentuals counter where a decent woman applied my makeup. It was an introductory job, and we all felt very satisfied with what she did. It looked natural and didn’t feel heavy. I talked with her and negotiate $100 for makeup (and she’d come to the hotel).
I went again this weekend to experiment with colors and try out my individual, false eyelashes. Since I wear very little makeup on a daily basis, it was hard to gauge what was the right amount of makeup, plus the store lighting was awful. I knew that I would need to go outside. Even just walking through the mall, I felt like a clown, probably due to the long false eyelashes. Driving home, I could see in my visor mirror that the pinkness of the makeup on my face did not match the natural color of my neck. It felt wrong.
I happened by another makeup store. I was curious to check out a new sheer foundation by a local makeup artist. The guy at the store approached me and we talked about the product. He offered to try some on me but I explained that I was already wearing makeup for a test run. I told him I was wearing Bare Minerals. I took advantage of the situation and asked what he thought of it. He said it looked fine for day wear and that the lipstick color was perfect for photos. He advised that you want to go a little more dramatic than normal for wedding photos. He cautioned me that Bare Minerals while a great everyday product, is not ideal for photos. He says it has a finish that shows up poorly in photos. He definitely encourage me to try the foundation that I picked up. When I left the store he also offered his services for my wedding.
Tim’s probably not the best person to ask for makeup opinion, but in the grand scheme of things, his opinion matters most because I want him to think I look beautiful at the wedding. He said it looked a bit dramatic. I asked if he recalled the other times I’d had makeup trials and he seemed to like those other times better.
We snapped a couple pictures. The ones in the shade looked fine. However, whenever we used flash, be it to reduce the harsh sunlight or illuminate the inside of a building, my face looked a bit shiny. Granted, I have oily skin, but it had only been a few hours since the makeup session. I can’t imagine I got that oily. Plus, the shine was consistent all over my face leading me to believe it was something about the makeup.
I looked at the pictures again later and checked my face in various lights. I felt uncomfortable. Wearing the makeup for more hours did not change the shine. I also noticed my eyes felt a little agitates and tired. I don’t know if it was the eye shadow products or the false eyelashes. When I took off the makeup, my skin felt slightly irritated. I don’t recall any of this happening as a result of the other two makeup trials. Am I imaging things? Am I allowing myself to be influenced by the concerns I’ve read on the Internet and by the makeup store guy?
I wrote the makeup gal late yesterday evening. I told her that I am not confident in the makeup and explained my concerns about the pinkness and shine. I asked her for suggestions on what might be done to correct the problem. Part of me wants to stick with her, but another part of me just wants to do it myself.
So now, I truly understand why it's so important to start shopping around early. I know that I shouldn't make commitments until I've experimented with many products and talked to several people. It's tiring, but not I see why it would have been better to have several sessions over a period of a couple weeks so I could compare more easily. Leaving it until two months before the wedding is stressing me out!
I hate confrontation and I’m getting *uncomfortable* telling these people that I’m unhappy and trying to give them direction on how to make things better. Do I give the Asian woman or Nordstrom gal another try? Should I grovel and try and get artist #1 to take me back for the $300? It just seems so expensive… . ARGH! Now I really wish I'd learned better techniques for applying makeup. HELP!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Our take away
If you remember back a few months ago, I was researching the ideal wedding favor. I came up with something that spoke to our travel interests and doubled as a table card - luggage tags.
Unfortunately, the tags I thought I wanted were a bit outside of the budget. Most people I know budget less than $2 per favor, but I'm willing to go as high as $3 if I really like what I find. Now that I've revisited the task, I've found some appealing options. (I also wanted to share in case someone else is interested as it's hard to find well-priced, good choices.)
1) Two-tone leatherette tags: Tim tends to prefer these. I think it the design probably appeals to the males better. It's not the greatest material but it doesn't look like it will immediately fall apart. ($2.52/each + optional printing)
2) Color luggage tags: I like the idea of selecting tags that complement our colors - burgundy and gold (brown or tan). I'm waiting for the samples to arrive to see if I like the quality of the leather. (ranges $2.15 to $2.55 each)
Honestly, I like them both. I've been trying to picture how they will looks set up on the reception table. The luggage strap allows for the tags to sit upright so people will find their names. Either way, I think it'll look awesome. I just need to figure out which color scheme I prefer. I figure I have another week or so to make up my mind.
On a funny note, remember the Crate & Barrel tags that originally inspired the whole idea? Within two weeks I happened to visit four different stores last month. Someone seems to have bought out all the neon green luggage tags at the those stores. How much do you want to bet they'll appear at some one's wedding some time soon?
Unfortunately, the tags I thought I wanted were a bit outside of the budget. Most people I know budget less than $2 per favor, but I'm willing to go as high as $3 if I really like what I find. Now that I've revisited the task, I've found some appealing options. (I also wanted to share in case someone else is interested as it's hard to find well-priced, good choices.)
1) Two-tone leatherette tags: Tim tends to prefer these. I think it the design probably appeals to the males better. It's not the greatest material but it doesn't look like it will immediately fall apart. ($2.52/each + optional printing)
2) Color luggage tags: I like the idea of selecting tags that complement our colors - burgundy and gold (brown or tan). I'm waiting for the samples to arrive to see if I like the quality of the leather. (ranges $2.15 to $2.55 each)
Honestly, I like them both. I've been trying to picture how they will looks set up on the reception table. The luggage strap allows for the tags to sit upright so people will find their names. Either way, I think it'll look awesome. I just need to figure out which color scheme I prefer. I figure I have another week or so to make up my mind.
On a funny note, remember the Crate & Barrel tags that originally inspired the whole idea? Within two weeks I happened to visit four different stores last month. Someone seems to have bought out all the neon green luggage tags at the those stores. How much do you want to bet they'll appear at some one's wedding some time soon?
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Etsy
I just have to write an express my interest and excitement at finding this fun website. Maybe I'm just behind the times, but I had never heard of this.
We're in the midst of trying to design our wedding invitation. It's been a bit of a struggle to find good ideas as we don't generally like any of the offerings we've looked through at various invitation websites (or we didn't want to pay a fortune).
I have spent countless hours scanning through images on Google to find idea close to what I want. I've looked at plum blossoms, peonies, gingko leaves, blossoms, etc. Honestly, since neither of us are real artists, we've been looking something we can either "borrow" or copy easily. If we had more time and more artistic talent we'd try and design something related to the outdoors or travel.
During one of my searches, I ran across an image located at Etsy. I was amazed at all the handcrafted items that people have posted for sale. I spent most of my time in the Art section but occasionally linked to other items like cute paper decorations, quirky jewelry, and hand-knit items. I just love looking at all the styles and ideas people have. For me, it reminds me there's a whole world out there that I don't run into in my daily life. I feel like just browsing helps me broaden my outlook and view of the world.
Etsy also has some cool search mechanisms. You can search by tags, colors, styles. Even Tim was very curious after I exposed him to the website. If we do find an image that works for our invitations, I'll buy a copy of the art to hang at home. That way we'll always have a fond memory of our wedding invitation.
We're in the midst of trying to design our wedding invitation. It's been a bit of a struggle to find good ideas as we don't generally like any of the offerings we've looked through at various invitation websites (or we didn't want to pay a fortune).
I have spent countless hours scanning through images on Google to find idea close to what I want. I've looked at plum blossoms, peonies, gingko leaves, blossoms, etc. Honestly, since neither of us are real artists, we've been looking something we can either "borrow" or copy easily. If we had more time and more artistic talent we'd try and design something related to the outdoors or travel.
During one of my searches, I ran across an image located at Etsy. I was amazed at all the handcrafted items that people have posted for sale. I spent most of my time in the Art section but occasionally linked to other items like cute paper decorations, quirky jewelry, and hand-knit items. I just love looking at all the styles and ideas people have. For me, it reminds me there's a whole world out there that I don't run into in my daily life. I feel like just browsing helps me broaden my outlook and view of the world.
Etsy also has some cool search mechanisms. You can search by tags, colors, styles. Even Tim was very curious after I exposed him to the website. If we do find an image that works for our invitations, I'll buy a copy of the art to hang at home. That way we'll always have a fond memory of our wedding invitation.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Fair negotiations
Ebay is one of those sites that is a love-hate relationship for me. I think it's a great idea in principal because people can sell used items for more money than if they had to sell it to an antique store. On the other hand, I worry about purchasing stolen items and wonder how much it's caused retail prices to rise so that stores can recoup their theft losses.
The other variable factor is human behavior. I've had many very smooth experiences buying and selling. I've been ripped off once. I've had to return things. It's tricky to know who you can trust and how to fairly deal with people.
This week, I tried to buy a used veil. The title and description said this was an elbow-length, rhinestone-edged veil. It was simple with a little bit of sparkle which is exactly what I'm looking for. The start price was $9.99.
I sent the seller a couple questions which were promptly answered and reassured me the person was organized. I ended up being the only bidder and won the item.
When it arrived, it was clean and in very good condition. When I tried it on, however, I realized that it was longer than elbow-length. For those who don't know veil styles, an elbow-length is just what it sounds like, the bottom edge of the veil should stop around your elbow. That translates as around 30" in length.
This particular veil had a blusher that measured 30", but the back layer (the one that counts) was actually 36" long. Veils between 36" to 38" inches long are called fingertip veils. I checked three different websites to confirm.
So, I wrote the seller back politely alerting them to their listing error and asked to return the veil citing the error and my petite height as the reason. They acknowledged their fault for the error and said they'd make an exception and refund me the purchase price.
Before sending the item back, I wanted to verify the actual refund since I had also paid them $6 for shipping. I didn't feel it fair that I should have to pay for shipping both ways (which costs $4.60 each way) when the reason was not a simple change of heart.
The response was that they would refund me the purchase price plus the cost of shipping *minus* the cost of relisting the item as long as I provide positive feedback. Is it my responsibility to pay for their relisting? It seems to me the error was their fault, so it is not my problem once I return the item. I also checked Ebay's website and found that the basic component of the relisting fee will be credited to them if the item is resold. If that's the case, then they would be getting money from me and Ebay.
I wrote back explaining this as factually as possible (minus the last sentence). I even let them know (if they were already aware) that they will get a credit for the purchase fee they paid to Ebay since I will be returning the item (credit is about 75 cents).
Does this all sound fair? Am I missing something here? I feel like they're trying to take advantage of me or blame me for the return when it was their error in the first place.
The other variable factor is human behavior. I've had many very smooth experiences buying and selling. I've been ripped off once. I've had to return things. It's tricky to know who you can trust and how to fairly deal with people.
This week, I tried to buy a used veil. The title and description said this was an elbow-length, rhinestone-edged veil. It was simple with a little bit of sparkle which is exactly what I'm looking for. The start price was $9.99.
I sent the seller a couple questions which were promptly answered and reassured me the person was organized. I ended up being the only bidder and won the item.
When it arrived, it was clean and in very good condition. When I tried it on, however, I realized that it was longer than elbow-length. For those who don't know veil styles, an elbow-length is just what it sounds like, the bottom edge of the veil should stop around your elbow. That translates as around 30" in length.
This particular veil had a blusher that measured 30", but the back layer (the one that counts) was actually 36" long. Veils between 36" to 38" inches long are called fingertip veils. I checked three different websites to confirm.
So, I wrote the seller back politely alerting them to their listing error and asked to return the veil citing the error and my petite height as the reason. They acknowledged their fault for the error and said they'd make an exception and refund me the purchase price.
Before sending the item back, I wanted to verify the actual refund since I had also paid them $6 for shipping. I didn't feel it fair that I should have to pay for shipping both ways (which costs $4.60 each way) when the reason was not a simple change of heart.
The response was that they would refund me the purchase price plus the cost of shipping *minus* the cost of relisting the item as long as I provide positive feedback. Is it my responsibility to pay for their relisting? It seems to me the error was their fault, so it is not my problem once I return the item. I also checked Ebay's website and found that the basic component of the relisting fee will be credited to them if the item is resold. If that's the case, then they would be getting money from me and Ebay.
I wrote back explaining this as factually as possible (minus the last sentence). I even let them know (if they were already aware) that they will get a credit for the purchase fee they paid to Ebay since I will be returning the item (credit is about 75 cents).
Does this all sound fair? Am I missing something here? I feel like they're trying to take advantage of me or blame me for the return when it was their error in the first place.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Among the Mac Faithful
I had a once-in-a-lifetime chance this year to attend the MacWorld Expo. Since I now own a Mac, I thought I should go and see what all the fuss is about. Maybe someday I'll find a way to attend the CES.
The Expo was split into two areas of the convention center. It's funny being at a convention center when I'm actually a consumer rather than an observer. For my job, I attend some rather specialized conventions and only have a distant interest or understanding of what's being sold at the booths.
Having some computer experience in my background, I can appreciate the idea of all the technical offerings but didn't bother stopping to look. What was fun for me was seeing how companies have created markets to capitalize on the desire to individualize and retain a chic feel to being an Apple fan.
I myself look at accessories from a more practical stand point. When I want to protect my iPod from scratching and dents, I look for a durable, scratch-resistant case. That falls along the lines of brands like Speck, iSkins, DLO, and other manufacturers of gadgets cases. There are also the boutique outfitters that cater to people who spend crazy money to show off, like the iPod cases studded with rhinestones.
What hadn't occurred to me is buying a sheath of art to protect my iPod (or iPhone). Gelaskins are these durable plastic sheets that are cut to specifically fit Apple electronics. The deal here is that they offer a variety of art covers. They can be funky anime drawings, geometric patterns, dark images, modern art, etc. It reminds me of the designs I see on kids' snowboards and skateboards. (Am I dating myself somehow?)
Did I also mention that I'm cheap? So these skins cost $15 for handhelds and $30 for a laptop. I know they'll last a couple years by which time you'll be tired of the design, but it still seems like a lot for a sheet of plastic. Who knows, maybe I'll give in next year.
All these little companies are trying to customize commodity products to make an extra buck. Another great idea I saw had these cute creatures - penguins, mini ipods, and other cute reptiles made from silicone. They stand about two inches tall and conceal usb memory stick from 1GB to 8G. So instead of paying a couple buck for a stick, you pay $20 for 1GB that happens to be disguised as a penguin key chain.
My brain was overstimulated with all the accessory booths, so I stopped for 30 minutes to hear a talk about the exciting new Office 2008. Okay, I admit it, I was really there hoping to win a prize from the free drawing. It was cool, but I'm never going to be doing any desktop publishing. Office 2004 is just fine for me.
One booth wins my award for most unique booth. The booth looked like a castle or fortress with a large mobile dangling overhead. When I cam across it, my thought was that it was a cross between the artwork of Monty Python and Escher. I overheard one person described the company as Australian maker of bags. The one thing I regret not buying was this bag because I think it would be great as a way to have my purse and camera case in one for traveling. I had no idea the discounts for some items are better than prices you can find at the store AND the tax is already included in the price!
The crowds inside the Apple area were immense as you might imagine. Everyone wanted to touch the new MacBook Air. Is it really as it looks in the ads? Yes, yes it is that cool. I couldn't believe how small it was. And yet, I felt like I had ample screen to surf the Internet. If I owned this, it would probably be attached to me day and night (which Tim would be absolutely annoyed about). If I were to use one of my larger shoulder purses, it would easily fit inside with space to spare. Now if I only had $2000 laying around... .
I'm not a devoted Mac fan but I can definitely see the draw of it all. It's like when you see other kids in school and want to be cool like them. I spent more than three hours wandering the convention floor. My bags weren't filled to the brim with goodies as I left the convention center. Still, I must admit, I lost a little cash buying a silicone keyboard cover and some gorillapods. If it wasn't for the iPods, the crowds attending the show would be very different. Because the iPod is so ubiquitous it definitely attracts a wider interest be it the tech geeks, surfer/boarder crowd, business professionals, and teens. It really opened my eyes to the small world of Mac that I currently expose myself to. I'm never going to need the hardcore Adobe Creative Suite or a music studio complete with Gibson guitar, but it's fun knowing I could have them.
The Expo was split into two areas of the convention center. It's funny being at a convention center when I'm actually a consumer rather than an observer. For my job, I attend some rather specialized conventions and only have a distant interest or understanding of what's being sold at the booths.
Having some computer experience in my background, I can appreciate the idea of all the technical offerings but didn't bother stopping to look. What was fun for me was seeing how companies have created markets to capitalize on the desire to individualize and retain a chic feel to being an Apple fan.
I myself look at accessories from a more practical stand point. When I want to protect my iPod from scratching and dents, I look for a durable, scratch-resistant case. That falls along the lines of brands like Speck, iSkins, DLO, and other manufacturers of gadgets cases. There are also the boutique outfitters that cater to people who spend crazy money to show off, like the iPod cases studded with rhinestones.
What hadn't occurred to me is buying a sheath of art to protect my iPod (or iPhone). Gelaskins are these durable plastic sheets that are cut to specifically fit Apple electronics. The deal here is that they offer a variety of art covers. They can be funky anime drawings, geometric patterns, dark images, modern art, etc. It reminds me of the designs I see on kids' snowboards and skateboards. (Am I dating myself somehow?)
Did I also mention that I'm cheap? So these skins cost $15 for handhelds and $30 for a laptop. I know they'll last a couple years by which time you'll be tired of the design, but it still seems like a lot for a sheet of plastic. Who knows, maybe I'll give in next year.
All these little companies are trying to customize commodity products to make an extra buck. Another great idea I saw had these cute creatures - penguins, mini ipods, and other cute reptiles made from silicone. They stand about two inches tall and conceal usb memory stick from 1GB to 8G. So instead of paying a couple buck for a stick, you pay $20 for 1GB that happens to be disguised as a penguin key chain.
My brain was overstimulated with all the accessory booths, so I stopped for 30 minutes to hear a talk about the exciting new Office 2008. Okay, I admit it, I was really there hoping to win a prize from the free drawing. It was cool, but I'm never going to be doing any desktop publishing. Office 2004 is just fine for me.
One booth wins my award for most unique booth. The booth looked like a castle or fortress with a large mobile dangling overhead. When I cam across it, my thought was that it was a cross between the artwork of Monty Python and Escher. I overheard one person described the company as Australian maker of bags. The one thing I regret not buying was this bag because I think it would be great as a way to have my purse and camera case in one for traveling. I had no idea the discounts for some items are better than prices you can find at the store AND the tax is already included in the price!
The crowds inside the Apple area were immense as you might imagine. Everyone wanted to touch the new MacBook Air. Is it really as it looks in the ads? Yes, yes it is that cool. I couldn't believe how small it was. And yet, I felt like I had ample screen to surf the Internet. If I owned this, it would probably be attached to me day and night (which Tim would be absolutely annoyed about). If I were to use one of my larger shoulder purses, it would easily fit inside with space to spare. Now if I only had $2000 laying around... .
I'm not a devoted Mac fan but I can definitely see the draw of it all. It's like when you see other kids in school and want to be cool like them. I spent more than three hours wandering the convention floor. My bags weren't filled to the brim with goodies as I left the convention center. Still, I must admit, I lost a little cash buying a silicone keyboard cover and some gorillapods. If it wasn't for the iPods, the crowds attending the show would be very different. Because the iPod is so ubiquitous it definitely attracts a wider interest be it the tech geeks, surfer/boarder crowd, business professionals, and teens. It really opened my eyes to the small world of Mac that I currently expose myself to. I'm never going to need the hardcore Adobe Creative Suite or a music studio complete with Gibson guitar, but it's fun knowing I could have them.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
The lows of resale
Reading things like this remind me of why I'm not always comfortable buying from sites such as Craigslist and Ebay. As much as I like the concept of recycling and things like the Compact, it unfortunately also encourages the evil world of theft.
"Hi - My black macbook was stolen from my car while eating dinner in SJ on Wednesday September 12th. The serial number is 4H6201HFVMN and it was in a black backpack.
I'll offer a reward (how much depends on how much of my backpack comes with it) but at a minimum i thought I'd get the word out on this laptop in case someone is thinking about buying one and finds this machine.
It's been reported to the Police and to Apple so trying to get it serviced or phone support for it will end up in an awkward conversation for whomever needs assistance with it... There was another friend's computer stolen at the same time as well as three other cars broken into and had stuff stolen so whomever is selling it is someone who makes a habit of it and doesn't deserve your money. They're a cowardly thief that makes money on the misfortune of others.
Some punk named jedi9000@yahoo.com sent me a mail claiming to have the unit and claiming to be in the proces of parting it out b/c he thinks i don't have the major module serial numbers. Well jedi9000@yahoo.com, I do have access to that (HDD serial number is ST9120821AS, the MAC address of the computer is 00:16:cb:cc:50:ba so check these things before you buy!). In the meantime, i'll leave your email address here so other lowlife dirtbags can crawl this page, get your email address and send you spam."
I love the idea of saving money by getting this on sale, but this makes me feel a little guilty. I must admit that whenever I browse the pages and pages of NWT and NWOT designer clothing makes me wonder how they get such items, especially when they are still in stores. I realize there is a group of sellers that legitimately cannot return the items and changed their minds. There is surely, however, a number of people who sell items for which they never paid.
I once worked part-time for a year in a popular retail store. For weeks, someone was stealing flatware. We joked that they were probably working to build up a set of 8 place settings. They were very smart about how to disguise the theft so that it went unnoticed for several hours. Also, when inventory was done on the smaller kitchen items, more than $20,000 in inventory was missing in a six-month period. Maybe most of this stuff was theft for personal use (or gifts), but just imagine how much more reasonable prices would be if stores didn't have to worry so much about theft.
When the time comes for me to buy a laptop, I'm going to make sure to write down all the computer information and store it somewhere safe.
"Hi - My black macbook was stolen from my car while eating dinner in SJ on Wednesday September 12th. The serial number is 4H6201HFVMN and it was in a black backpack.
I'll offer a reward (how much depends on how much of my backpack comes with it) but at a minimum i thought I'd get the word out on this laptop in case someone is thinking about buying one and finds this machine.
It's been reported to the Police and to Apple so trying to get it serviced or phone support for it will end up in an awkward conversation for whomever needs assistance with it... There was another friend's computer stolen at the same time as well as three other cars broken into and had stuff stolen so whomever is selling it is someone who makes a habit of it and doesn't deserve your money. They're a cowardly thief that makes money on the misfortune of others.
Some punk named jedi9000@yahoo.com sent me a mail claiming to have the unit and claiming to be in the proces of parting it out b/c he thinks i don't have the major module serial numbers. Well jedi9000@yahoo.com, I do have access to that (HDD serial number is ST9120821AS, the MAC address of the computer is 00:16:cb:cc:50:ba so check these things before you buy!). In the meantime, i'll leave your email address here so other lowlife dirtbags can crawl this page, get your email address and send you spam."
I love the idea of saving money by getting this on sale, but this makes me feel a little guilty. I must admit that whenever I browse the pages and pages of NWT and NWOT designer clothing makes me wonder how they get such items, especially when they are still in stores. I realize there is a group of sellers that legitimately cannot return the items and changed their minds. There is surely, however, a number of people who sell items for which they never paid.
I once worked part-time for a year in a popular retail store. For weeks, someone was stealing flatware. We joked that they were probably working to build up a set of 8 place settings. They were very smart about how to disguise the theft so that it went unnoticed for several hours. Also, when inventory was done on the smaller kitchen items, more than $20,000 in inventory was missing in a six-month period. Maybe most of this stuff was theft for personal use (or gifts), but just imagine how much more reasonable prices would be if stores didn't have to worry so much about theft.
When the time comes for me to buy a laptop, I'm going to make sure to write down all the computer information and store it somewhere safe.
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