Giving Up the Ghost
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (118442)
Gainesville, Florida
April 25, 2021 9:31am CST
No, not me, if I was to give up the ghost it would have happened back when I had Covid a few weeks ago. I’m talking about my laptop. My 10-year old MacBook Pro finally died on me. I’m sad to see it go, as that computer was good to me over the years. She and I have been through a lot together. But it was never meant to be a forever thing.
The laptop is currently at the Apple store getting data recovery. The service tech is going to have quite a smile on his face if he decides to peak through my photos.
While I was there dropping off my laptop, I researched all the different options. I can spend around $2500 and get another MacBook Pro, or for half that price I can get the new iMac computer that will be introduced in late May. Apple will be offering a great rate on the new iMac to draw interest in it, as it will be the first version with Apple’s new M1 chip. I have to admit, I really like the sleek design of the iMacs. The question is, can I survive a whole month without a computer?
27 people like this
27 responses
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
25 Apr 21
I am still using my HP that I've had for 11 years. It is old but is still running fine.
I hope you get something you really like and that lasts you for years.
5 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
25 Apr 21
@moffittjc I don't try to change anyone's brand favoritism, even though I know people who buy Apple products are wrong. *shrug* Those that come to me for help with them are given help along with a nice dollop of sneering. 
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Apr 21
@DaddyEvil Throughout my life of modern technology, I have both loved and hated Apple. I’m just currently in a love phase right now.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Apr 21
I definitely plan on sticking with Apple products, not necessarily because I think they’re better than other brands, but because they’ve been good to me over the years. That earns them a little bit of brand loyalty.
3 people like this
@jstory07 (134464)
• Roseburg, Oregon
25 Apr 21
@moffittjc I do not like typing on a cell phone the keys are to small.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Apr 21
I agree, although I am using my iPhone as my “computer right now
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (169966)
• United States
25 Apr 21
The computer I am using now an Acer touchscreen is probably at least 7 years old, so far so good. It can't last forever though. Do you have a backup you can use until the iMac is ready?
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Apr 21
My iPhone is my backup computer, and it’s on its last leg too. I’m hoping the phone will hold out until the iPhone 13’s are released in September. Not sure the poor thing will make it that long though.
4 people like this
@snowy22315 (169966)
• United States
25 Apr 21
@moffittjc I have a Dell and Chromebook as backups.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Apr 21
@snowy22315 Since my daughter is done with school and is graduating from the University of Florida, she said that I can use her MacBook until I buy a new one.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (62145)
• United States
25 Apr 21
I thought about getting a new MacBook....then I realized an iPad Pro would do the same job. Plus, I spend most of my time on the iPad anyway, so my MacBook is collecting dust more than working as my primary computer.
I must say, though, those new iMacs are pretty, especially with the colors.
4 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Apr 21
I was talking with the Apple guy about the differences in the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and the iPads. He said that these days the lines have been blurred between the quality and computing power of each, and they all basically can do the same things now, especially now that they are putting their new M1 chip in them all.
2 people like this
@just4him (306236)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
25 Apr 21
I couldn't go a day without a computer. Well, maybe, but I would be in serious withdrawal before the end of five minutes.
The new iMac sounds like a good top-of-the-line computer and worth the wait. You can use your phone while you wait. Many people do. Of course, if you're like me, that won't fly either.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Apr 21
I’m going to do my best with using my smartphone over the next month. Hopefully I’ll make it without going crazy.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 May 21
@just4him So far so good. I just preordered the new iMac. Should be here in 5-6 more weeks.
1 person likes this
@just4him (306236)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
1 May 21
@moffittjc I hope you won't go crazy either.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156157)
• United States
25 Apr 21
I couldn't go without a month of no computer. I get too many emails, I have people online that have birthdays, I take surveys and participate in focus groups and on and on. I don't have a smartphone; so that would never work for me. Hopefully you have a smartphone and can hold off until May. It's good to see you here. A school on the west side of town's students went to Disney World; and now they have an outbreak of the virus. Disney World is not a good place to go if you want to stay healthy! I'm glad to hear that you're finally better! Have a good rest of your Sunday.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Apr 21
I do have a smartphone, but my poor battery is on its last legs, so hopefully it can handle the increased use I’ll be putting it through over the few weeks.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Apr 21
@LindaOHio No, the laptop is considered obsolete by Apple, and so they no longer offer replacement batteries for them. That was the first question I asked the service tech.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156157)
• United States
26 Apr 21
@moffittjc Can you buy a new battery?
1 person likes this
@m_audrey6788 (58485)
• Germany
25 Apr 21
Gosh! It is really difficult not having a computer for a whole month 
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Apr 21
I agree. I’ll see if I can make it that long. Right now I am using my iPhone to do all my necessary computer stuff.
3 people like this
@Tina30219 (81538)
• Onaway, Michigan
25 Apr 21
I hope you are happy with whatever you get.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Apr 21
I hope so too. Hey, as long as I can still access myLot I’ll be a happy camper.
@Tina30219 (81538)
• Onaway, Michigan
25 Apr 21
@moffittjc That’s right I would not be happy if I could not access mylot
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Apr 21
@Tina30219 Thankfully it’s easy to access from my smartphone.
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
25 Apr 21
I hope you were able to administer the last rites
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Apr 21
I will administer the last rites once the data recovery is complete and I get the laptop back from the repair center.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Apr 21
The cost (of either the laptop or desktop) isn’t an issue, but I want to make sure I get the biggest bang for the buck, and it looks like right now that the iMac desktop will provide the best value.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Apr 21
I’m doing ok so far. Five days now without my laptop, and I haven’t gone crazy yet.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
29 Apr 21
@JudyEv It’s not something I look forward to.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43077)
• Staten Island, New York
25 Apr 21
How much is the data recovery gonna cost ya?
You have a smartphone so you can probably survive without a laptop.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Apr 21
Apple is going to call me Monday with the price. The cost will ultimately depend on the amount of data they have to recover. Thankfully, I back up most of my stuff to the Cloud.
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Apr 21
@lovebuglena I assume so. Either that or they upload it to your Cloud somehow. My bet is on the USB file.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43077)
• Staten Island, New York
26 Apr 21
@moffittjc If they recover the data they give you a USB memory stick (or whatever that's called) with all the data?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Apr 21
My photos, texts and emails are all backed up to the Cloud, so I’m not worried about losing that stuff. I’m pretty sure I had all or most of my data and files being saved to the Cloud, but I’m not 100% sure.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Apr 21
@CarolDM It does. I just don’t remember everything I set up to automatically go to the Cloud.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203452)
• Nashville, Tennessee
25 Apr 21
@moffittjc Sounds great. It should automatically go to the Cloud.
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
25 Apr 21
@moffittjc well, as this is the first time I've been here for three months I probably wouldn't notice
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Apr 21
@valmnz I was wondering if you were still here, since I hadn’t seen you in a while! But truth be told, I hadn’t been on here much either due to my busy work schedule.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Apr 21
I feel like that will be the case with me also. So if you start to see me on myLot less often over the next couple of weeks, you’ll know why.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95188)
• Marion, Ohio
26 Apr 21
You are here without it now. So yes you can.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95188)
• Marion, Ohio
26 Apr 21
@moffittjc You could pick up a cheap tablet and use that.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Apr 21
@wolfgirl569 Unfortunately for me, when it comes to computers, I don’t do cheap. My motto is go big or go home! Lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Apr 21
It’s not easy doing this from my phone...especially since my battery doesn’t hold a charge for very long.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Apr 21
I think I will survive. It’s been 5 days now and I haven’t gone crazy yet!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 May 21
@DianneN I’m starting to feel the effects of not having a computer. How much longer can I last? Will I make it a few more weeks until my new computer arrives?
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129470)
• Israel
26 Apr 21
@moffittjc
Makes sense why you were not here. How are you feeling now? Welcome back to life and back to here. I am sorry about your loss of your laptop. So true that we would like things to last forever but they have their own life span. Can you get a used back up till you get the new one?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Apr 21
I’m glad to be back. I’m feeling wonderful now. It took a long time, but I’m finally back to full strength.
I am using my phone as my backup computer for now until I decide what I’m going to do.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
29 Apr 21
@Hannihar I have finally decided to buy an iMac desktop computer. I can preorder the new one this Friday, but it won’t arrive for six more weeks after that.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129470)
• Israel
28 Apr 21
@moffittjc
So good to have you back too. I am so glad you are feeling wonderful now. I can image how it was for you. I can understand why you are using your phone as a backup computer till you decide what you want to do.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 May 21
@Nevena83 I like looking at them in adult movies too! Haha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 May 21
I didn’t think computers—and especially laptops—would last so long, but many fellow myLotters have been saying that theirs are around 10 years old. I surely would have thought they would be obsolete after just a few years.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 May 21
@ladyhero I agree. Computers can remain functional for many years if you take good care of them.
1 person likes this
@ladyhero (3846)
• Indonesia
11 May 21
@moffittjc technologically it will indeed be obsolete in a short time, but the computer can still be used functionally, for a laptop for a long time, it can be good maintenance, or has been repaired many times.
1 person likes this
