my computer :(

My computer was supposed to have shipped yesterday, but today I received notice that there was a production delay (whatever that means) and the estimated ship date is now the 12th.
They offered me a 50.00 coupon to use at their on-line store, but for me I think it is pretty useless. It has to be for one item, and can not be combined with any other other offers or promotions. I can't afford to spent much more right now. I went out and looked at their site and to me it looks like that most of what I might be interested in are already on some kind of special offer.

I hate that it is delayed, hope it doesn't get delayed again. Guess I am a little impatient

Fay

Stuff like that stinks. Know it is coming just not when you thought.

Excited for you getting a new computer though.

Holly,

I am not sure I can be sure it is coming - who knows. I am not sure what the delay is. When I called to ask about it this afternoon, I was told it was NOT on the delay list, then a little later I get an e-mail saying it is delayed

Ffay

Fay, check out the HP external USB Harddrives. You might find something close to $50.00. I have one of them and like it.

Rike,

I already have an external usb hard drive that I use with my current computer to backup stuff. I got it after my last hard drive crash.

I think I would like one of the pocket drives - so I could just put it in and leave it in there most of the time, or is it not good to leave them in?

Not sure what I will do. I am not even for certain I'll get the computer - evnthough I got the notice yesterday staying it has been delayed- when I go and check the status of my order it is still showing the ship date as the 5th. I'll check again tomorrrow and maybe call them.

I just have till the end of this month to use the coupon. May wait and see if I get the computer.

How are things going with you.

Fay

I know how disappointing it is to wait...it'll come. Just try to be patient. I know...easier said than done.

I called HP to ask about my computer but didn't find out very much - just said it was held up waiting on parts.

I asked about the coupon. I was told that I could apply it, even were that was already a rebate.

For instance - they have a 500G pocked drive for 124.00 with a 25 rebate makes it 99.99 - then if I use my coupon - would make it 49.99. Since I had asked about it the guy I was talking with tried to talk me into going ahead and ordering it now - I declined. I don't like being pressured and I don't like making decisiosn over the phone.

They also have a 350G pocket drive fir 99.99 with a 30 rebate making it 69.99. If I applied my coupon that would make it 19.99. Sounds like a pretty good deal - especially if it does have the software.

Don't really know what the difference are other than size. I think the specs specified that the 500g one came with backup software, not sure about the other one - will have to go back and re-read. Not sure if it matters that much.

Still don't know what I will do. Is it ok to plug in the pocket drives and leave them plugged in. Would be kind of handy.

Fay

What is a pocket drive?

Holly,

I had never heard of one till I started looking at computers. It is a small portable usb drive that fits into a slot of some computers, like the one I am getting. It can either be used with a USB cable or it can be pushed into the slot. Apparently there are personal drives and pocket drives. Not sure all the differences, I think the personal drives are larger in physical size. When I was reading computer reviews some people were unhappy that the personal drive slot had been replaced with the pocket drive slot on some computers. I am not sure why it is better. I wasn't aware of either before.

I think they can be plugged in and out of the slot without out powering down the computer - the same way it could be if using the usb cable.

But, I don't really know for sure. If anyone know different chime in and let me know.

Fay

Fay, if your computer has a "pocket" then you can plug in either a pocket drive or a personal media drive, depending on the dimensions of the pocket. I have a 1TB personal media drive and it is plugged in all the time - as a matter of fact, it is recommended in the instructions to keep it plugged in. The only problem with that is: if that's your only back-up, then if your house burns down while you're gone, all is lost. That's why I also have another external HD that I keep in my car and I back up onto it once a week my most important stuff, like photos and accounting. Then at the most, I'll lose one week's worth.

Rike,

The computer I am getting has a bay for a pocket drive. HP is offering some instant rebates right not. If they will really let me combine my 50 coupon with the instant rebate, I can get a 320gb pocket drive for about 20.00. I am thinking about maybe doing that.

I have thought about that by leaving the pocket drive plugged in that I could lose what was on it too - if there was something more serious happen than just a main hard drive crash. I already have an external hard drive, but I keep in in the desk drawer where my computer sits - probably not a good idea.

At one time I did burn a CD with some of my important data and mailed to my sister. But, I have only one that once, for that to be effective I would have to do on a regular basis and that probably is not going to happen.

Will have to figure out exactly what I am going to do.

Thanks for you input.

Fay

SO it is like a jump drive...sorry hijacked the thread

Holly,

I think the physical size it larger than a jump drive. Instead of plugging directly in to an usb port itself, you either use a cord to plug it in, or if you have a computer with a bay for it - you can slide it into the bay.

I don't know much more than that. I didn't know about them till I started looking at computers, and the one I am looking at said it had a bay (slot or whatever they call it) for a pocket drive.

Fay

Fay, make sure you get the right drive for your bay - I think there are two different sized bays - one is called the "pocket drive", the other one is the "personal media drive". I have the second one.
You may want to look for a thumb dive, they now come as big as 32 GB and the prices have come down a lot. I have an 8 GB one (it is actually smaller than my thumb!) that I found for less than $20.00. It has an "eye" that I put a chain through and I wear it around my neck like a pretty necklace. On it I back up my bookkeeping every day, since i do all my banking and accounting on line and would be absolutely lost if I were to lose any of that. You could keep it on your key chain, too or attach it to your purse. If you're concerned about it, you can get them with encryption programs so if you lose it, nobody could read it.

Rike,

My computer has the pocket drive instead of the personal drive. When I was reading the reviews, some people were unhappy that it had the pocket pocket drive instead of the other - not sure why unless they just happend to have the other drive.

Guess there are a lot of options now for backing things up. Are the thumb drives pretty reliable? I have to get some DVDs. Don't know how many I will ever use. I don't think I trust them for backups. I don't know if the DVD's you burn yourself are as unreliable as the CD's - but I didn't have much luck with the CD - seemed like they failed after being read a few times.

Got notice from HP that my computer had been shipped. Looks like it is just setting at the Fed Ex in El Paso. TX. Guess it will set there till Monday.

I have created a list of things I need to do when I get it - first thing will be to create a recovery disk and a disk image. Then partition and go from there. When I get thru I'll create another disk image. Wish I could just take off work and have get it all done.

Thanks for our input.
Fay

Looks like I waited too long on ordering the pocket drive. I just went out to order it and it was not longer showing the reabte
So guess I'll wait a while on using the coupon. I have till the end of the month

Fay

YAY!! My computer just now got here. Have to unpack it and see if I can get it set up. Not sure how far I get this evening.

Fay

YEAH!!!!!! Fay got her computer!