Nate knows what he wants, and he's chosen some highly rated products. The only things missing: a standard RCA-to-minijack or minijack-to-minijack cable so that he can convert all those old cassettes to digital audio files on his new iPod, and a decent removable storage solution. For someone who has "overwritten two days of work by copying files in the wrong direction," it should be at the top of his list. It wouldn't kill him to watch a little less Star Wars, either.
Last week, I pulled out my laptop and booted Windows 3.1, and a middle-school-aged boy started giggling behind my back. I turned around and told him to go away. He popped his iPod earbuds in and went back to his music, but not before snickering when I pulled out my Walkman. Like Princess Leia beseeching Obi-Wan Kenobi, I am begging you: save me from the gadget wasteland. Rest assured, I will use any new gear and use it hard.
The kid was right. Nate, you should be ashamed of that notebook (we use the term loosely). And don't even get us started on that electronic Radio Shack chess game. Nate clearly needs a makeover--and at warp speed.