The Canada Revenue Agency dinged me with 12% tax on the computer (nearly $300), so I’m glad that it’s a business expense and that I will be able to claim a lot of that back on my taxes!

I’ve already reinstalled OSX on it and am now working at getting the bundled software onto it.

I’m heaps more Mac savvy than I was when I got the iMac, so I suspect that this time the transfer to a new machine will be a lot easier. Also, I’m going from Intel to Intel, which will make a big difference since I can connect the two computers via a Firewire cable.

The 17″ size does not feel as ‘huge’ as a lot of people make it out to be. I’ve only just started on it, but it feels ‘just right’ to me; a perfect compromise. The trackpad is a lot easier than I thought it would be and the keyboard isn’t bad although I will miss my number pad, maybe enough to justify the purchase of an external one.

Going to a notebook will require me to change some of my habits (eg. eating while at the computer is a lot more dangerous when it’s not just a keyboard under your food!), but I think it’s a positive change that will give me a lot more flexibility on the road.

I’m still hoping to leave tomorrow, but I’m expecting another package; a soft protective case for the Macbook Pro, for which I do not have a tracking number. For all I know, it’s in Winnipeg. 🙂

I’m going to finish prepping Miranda’s inside, leaving myself only an hour’s worth of work for tomorrow in case the package miraculously shows up. Departure can’t be any later than noon if I want to arrive in Whitehorse at a reasonable hour and mail doesn’t always get sorted early, so I’ve decided to be okay with a very early Wednesday departure.

Next step, to see if Angus connects to the internet via my aircard….

Purchasing a new main computer was not on my list of priorities for 2010. I was going to start considering it in 2011 and buy late in that year, or early in 2012. After all, I bought a brand new 24″ iMac in 2007, a computer I expected to serve me well for at least four years, which I then supplemented with a good notebook.

Without going into all the details, my iMac is slowing down; the fan went on the notebook needs replacing; having a notebook and a desktop computer and an iPod Touch is redundant; I finally conceded that a desktop computer does not fit in with my vision of the ideal RVing life; and my dream computer fell into my lap, albeit under sad circumstances.

So, here’s Angus, which should arrive within the week:

Going from a 24″ to a 17″ screen is probably going to be a shock, and the trackpad is going be an adjustment, but otherwise the change is a major upgrade and is especially sweet since I would never have been able to justify the purchase of 17″ model under any other circumstances.

This week, I’ve cleared the Powerbook and put it up on eBay and I’m now working at tidying up the iMac to make the transfer easier. I don’t want to use Migration Assistant since the iMac is experiencing some conflicts, so I’m making lists to aid in the manual transfer of files, apps, and preferences. I can’t believe how messy and cluttered the iMac is! I have gotten sloppy in my digital filing since moving to Macs since they have such a good search function.

Once everything is moved over to the Macbook Pro, I’ll clear out the iMac and put it up for sale. If I manage to sell both the iMac and the Powerbook, I should recoup at least two thirds of the cost of purchasing the Macbook Pro, which would definitely reduce the hit on my budget.

It’s going to be awesome to RV my way south this fall with my primary computer accessible at all times and internet access wherever there is cell service!

My new camera arrived today and I am so far, a few quibbles notwithstanding, extremely impressed with it!

One of the features that sold me on the Pentax Optio W90 was ‘microscope’ mode, so that’s what I’ve been playing with the most today. I can’t count the number of blurry close ups I’ve posted to this blog thinking that they were the best one could expect with a basic, inexpensive, point and shoot camera.

Take this shot of a loonie, for example. It was taken with my Casio Exilim, about four inches from the subject, with flash on, in ‘best shot’ mode:

could be a loonie…

Here’s the same loonie taken with my Pentax, about four inches from the subject, with flash on, in ‘microscope’ mode:

definitely a loonie! and is that a towel???

My main quibble is that none of the research I did told me that the AC charger is an optional accessory. What comes with the camera is a small dock in which you can charge the battery. This means that I have to open the battery compartment door and fumble with a slick and fussy piece of electronic. It’s not a deal breaker, but I did email the seller to see if they have the charger in stock and how much it will come to with shipping.

I also don’t like that I have to open up a compartment to plug in the USB cable for uploading my pictures; one false move and that little cover will snap off easily, I’m sure! I understand why the ports are behind covers–the camera’s waterproof!–but I do wish the hinges felt a bit beefier.

Finally, the inch thick manual has me quivering in my seat. Okay, that’s not a real quibble. 😀

The controls are super easy to use, even with my big fingers. In fact, this is probably the most Rae-finger friendly electronic device I have ever played with! I thought my Exilim was good, but the Pentax is infinitely superior. I like that the zoom is controlled with clicks on a button rather than an imprecise circular slider, and there’s a trash button! I can delete pictures in two steps rather than the Exilim’s five! And let’s not get started on the dedicated flash button!

But my favourite part of the camera so far? The cleaning instructions:

(picture taken in text mode!)

I’m not sure I’d have the guts to take my camera underwater, no matter what the instructions say, but I’m no longer going to worry about taking it out in rain or snow!

I thought the new camera was going to have a ‘breaking in’ period, but I doubt I’ll want to use my Exilim again, so it’s time to find it a new home. I’ll check, first, if its battery and memory card are compatible with the Pentax and, if so, I’ll have backups. 🙂