The Purchase

It was a rainy morning yesterday and I had nothing much to do (like most mornings... and afternoons). I decided I would get my hair cut. And look for a reasonably priced UPS for my sister-in-law, Franny. Her old one had quit working. I had priced replacement batteries but after adding in shipping (and sometimes taxes), it was as cheap to buy a new one... if I could get one on sale.

So I made the trek in intermittent showers along the highway to the barber and to the stores which might have UPS units. The haircut was to be the least expensive thing I purchased. No surprise there.

I found myself in our local Office Depot. I am not a fan of that chain but they do have some bargains from time to time so I always give them a once over when looking at electronics and/or computer needs. As I wandered through the store in search of UPS and surge devices (something they stash in the most unlikely spot), I came across monitors.

I have a monitor, of course. It is old but it works. It is a 17" Hyundai LCD which has developed an annoying habit of taking up to 5 minutes to accept input from my computer. During this time, it's little power indicator light blinks from green to amber in rapid form. It is not a bad monitor, the picture is good, the size is fine, we have become old friends. But, at age 5, it's become a bit senile.

As I walked down the computer aisle (yes, computer, not monitor.. that was an aisle over), there was this 20" LCD model by HP. It was a wide screen model; 12" high (10" viewable) by 20" wide (17" viewable) and the requisite 20" diagonal. Which begs the question: Why do they measure them diagonally? I do not have the answer to that question but I am sure there is a rational one.

In any case, there was this monitor. And there was I. I tried to walk away, really I did. I pretended to admire a different, standard size, monitor but I was secretly stealing glances back at the large one. It knew. It just let the screensaver colors swirl and dance and entice, knowingly. I could almost hear it chuckle. I came back in front of it. I touched its buttons, I moved the mouse to clear the screensaver (I thought I heard a "sigh") so I could view the screen display of icons and wallpaper. I changed the wallpaper to see how different colors and shapes would appear. I walked away.

I was in denial, of course. I knew, deep inside, I would be back. Ok, not so deep inside. My mind was already racing, plotting out the rationalizations, the justifications for the purchase. I argued with myself. Not out loud, of course, I'm not that far over the edge (yet).

I continued my search for the UPS and surge units section. I found it, tucked away in a small area of the cables, mouse pads, and other accessories aisle. The selection was meager but sufficient. A suitable unit was found for a reasonable price. I picked it up and then, as I knew I would, walked right back to that monitor.

Grabbing the ticket, I quickly strode to the checkout counter and handed it to the clerk. Who handed it to someone else, who went to the back to get the boxed unit from the back room. And there I waited, still arguing with myself about this purchase. Finally winning by reminding myself that I could have spent $1200 on the touch screen version.



Isn't it beautiful?



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