[Znod]

Hi All:

(Embedded Suggestion--that we have a section (e.g., a Lounge) for providing personal news, discussing non Vista related matters of mutual interest, etc.)

I just wanted you to know that I have been very busy lately. Also, I think you know that I had a hip replacement about two months and go and that my recovery has been going incredibly well.

But, now for the bad news. Last Friday evening I slipped on some very slippery wooden steps, and, to make a long story short, I now have a broken ankle (both bones). So, given the combination of circumstances, I have been a tad light on Vista Babble participation. But, then I run hot and cold on things in general. Right now not much is going on with Vista so I would have been running on the cool side regardless.

My surgery is scheduled for this coming Friday. My recovery time will be something of a PIA, but, as you know, I am an excellent recoverer. And, just to cut down on the wise cracks, I want to emphasize that none of my recent "trials" are because of age--just bad luck.

One bad is that I will have to redo all the considerable advances I have made since my hip surgery. And, the other is that we have scheduled a year-end trip to Paris (i.e., we usually go somewhere in Europe at year-end). We are using frequent flier miles. So, it may come down to doing a suboptimal trip or losing the miles. As I recall, frequent-flier trips can't be rescheduled without losing the miles.

Last, I am buying a new computer. I have never had a desktop at home. We are doing some house remodeling so I am going to end up with an office and, thus, am going to buy a desktop. I think-my choice is pretty much a done deal. I can get a smoking educator discount through Gateway. I am not sure of the final price, but it should be several hundred dollars below $3,000. Ignoring minor details, the machine will have:

XP Pro;
Core 2 Duo 2.66 GHz;
4 GB 667 MHz RAM,
NVIDIA GeForce 7600GS 256 Dual DVI;
Intel 975X Chipset;
Two 250 GB SATA 7200 RPM drives (or some other combination of 2 or 3 drives including one or two 10k RPM drives);
21" Gateway Flat Panel Widescreen;
16x Double-Layer, Multi-Format DVD/CD burner and 16x DVD ROM;
Logitech 70 watt Dolby 5.1 sound system;
Wireless B and G;
Bluetooth;
4 years on-site service;
keep your drive option;
wired and wireless keyboards and mice;
Sound Blaster Audigy 4 sound card;
Creative Labs Web Cam with headset;
and etc., etc.

I think the price sounds pretty decent. Please let me know what you think. And, yes, I know I am not getting the best on any dimension, but, from an overall perspective, I think my machine ought to be pretty formidable. Right??? Again, let me know what you think. I'm more of a laptop guy and, thus, not in the know about desktops.

Best, the Z-man