Date: 29 September 2008 10:05:42
I bought myself a new PC today. Nothing particularly unusual about that in today's world, except perhaps for the fact I last bought one in February 2002. And did I mention I work in IT? I am hardly one to keep up with the times, or the latest gadgets: as you can tell. It works, it continues to work well: so I am happy. But 6.5 years may be stretching the friendship. The CD drive gave up two or so years ago and I replaced it; and since two weeks ago the speakers are now set at one volume: very loud. I bought another Dell: if this new one works as well I will post again in 2014 about what I am buying then. :)
I was considering an iMac, or perhaps a laptop, but being honest I do not travel, or want to travel, with a laptop, and as much as I perhaps should, I cannot be bothered learning Mac. Lazy me. I may put Linux on: I do not mind Linux. But perhaps I'll just make do with Vista and see what happens. People keep telling me that Dell does not have the best reputation, but after surviving me for 6.5 years and my being content with it, I felt a second order was warranted.
In other news, looking through my passport as I booked my flights, I realised my US Immigration Visa Waiver Form Departure Record was still stapled there. I had forgotten about it. I did wonder when I arrived in the UK and saw it, but I thought no more of it. I read the back of it last night: "..you must surrender [this form] when you leave the U.S. Failure to do so may delay your entry into the U.S. in the future."
Looking on the relevant US Customs & Border Protection page, I am guessing it is a fairly common situation -- at least given its prevalence, so while I may wish to think of myself as a nefarious criminal, slipping stealthily between international airports, I assume the reality is rather more dull. I am sending off the Form and proof that I am not living in the US currently in the hope that I do not encounter any difficulties when I arrive in December.