Getting a Laptop in the Age of Corona

My laptop was possessed. Technically it probably still is, but I, dear reader, am writing this on a new laptop. My old one would randomly have the screen get smaller and smaller while I was typing. I would then zoom back in so that I could read what was on the screen, and then it would refuse to show me what I was typing. As I waited it would then blurt out every key stroke I’d made in the previous ten seconds, including all the mistakes that I couldn’t see to correct. As I tried to move the mouse to correct them, the mouse would refuse to move and once again the screen would shrink. Like I said, the computer was possessed.

We had been tossing around the idea of getting a new laptop so that I could blog without the urge to throw the computer across the room, or possibly perform an exorcism on it, when my daughter reminds us that she needs to do a job interview over Zoom, and she has to do it on a computer. I’m not sure why she needs a computer and not a tablet or other device, but she insists that she has to use a computer and have a quiet place for the interview. Quiet and our household only work if everyone is gone. After some discussion we ask the grandparents if she can go next door for her interview. Only problem is their computer doesn’t have a camera. The interview is in 2 days, my laptop is possessed, and she can’t use her phone. We do what any responsible parent would do and wait until the last minute to run to town and try and get a laptop the day before her contest. See, we gave ourselves and extra day, that’s being responsible.

While my husband heads off to earn money to support our family, I start the hour long drive to town to grab an inexpensive, but durable laptop so that my daughter can do her call and I can have something to blog with. At least, that was my thought as I was driving. I eventually get to Best Buy and thankfully there are people outside who answer my questions before I ever even venture into the store. I’m informed that their selection of laptops is limited and the cheapest one they have is $800. Yeah, that’s not happening today. I grab my phone and pull up the Walmart app. They only have one model of computer in stock and again it’s way more than I was expecting to pay. I start driving and I see Office Max. Maybe they have one for me. Nope. They have computers, but they are all $650+. I guess with Covid-19 hitting, all of the kids doing school from home, and businesses closing down that my computer options are super limited at the moment. I ask the guy where else might have computers? He suggests both Best Buy and Walmart, but then he also mentions Target. I’d forgotten Target carried computers. It’s in the same parking lot as Office Max so I walk on over. Wouldn’t you know it, they have a little, less expensive laptop. The tech guy told me it’s the Window’s version of a Chromebook. I grab it and we take it up to the counter to purchase it. I open my wallet and right where my debit card is supposed to be is a different card staring at me. I search all the pockets, no debit card. I rifle through all the receipts, open all the pockets on my purse, practically take everything out, I can’t find it. I did find the debit card to our emergency checking account. Maybe I can use that? Nope, it expired yesterday. Can I just give them my debit card number like I was calling it in? He said he couldn’t do that. I tried buying it on the app, but it would only let me add it to my list, not my cart. The cashier suggests that maybe customer service can help me. We head up there and give them my story. They aren’t much help ether. Then I look at my phone and blurt out “Do you take Apple Pay?” I’ve never used Apple Pay in a store before. In fact the only time I’ve used it was for someone to send me money. I have no idea how to actually use it, but I do know I set it up with my debit card. Guess what, Target does take Apple Pay. So we stumble through figuring out how to use my debit card connected to my Apple Pay, and away I go with my new computer.

All this running around and stress has made me hungry. Plus it’s lunch time and I had a small breakfast. I head to the grocery store next to Target and decide to grab a salad from the deli with the cash I had on hand. I get up to the register, open my wallet, and right there behind my cash is my debit card. It was in my wallet the whole time. I know I looked in that compartment. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to laugh or scream. Mostly I was just relieved to have found my card. As a bonus I’ve now learned how to use Apple Pay at registers and I no longer need my wallet.