So it’s been like 2 months since I bought Dell Studio Hybrid computer to hook up to my television via HDMI.  It’s been working great, albeit a bit slow.  It’s a fantastically stylish little guy available in several primitive colors.

Dell Studio Hybrid

Turns out, a newer version with a better graphics card and more RAM is available.  I found the original receipt, haphazardly disassembled the unit, threw the components into the original box, and then piled packing materials on top.  After explaining to the clerk that this computer “would not run Oblivion“, I flashed my receipt, and got my money back.

What happens to my settings, and all pictures, documents, and other files that accumulate on any computer after using it for a while?  Nothing.  I make a point to save stuff like that to my NAS unit, which lives behind the couch next to the router.  Therefore, when I decide to return a computer, I just restore it to factory settings via the enclosed recovery CD.

I’ve been doing this for a while now.  Why committ to a $1,000 computer when it’s worth $500 in six months?  Why not take advantage of Sams Club’s wonderful 6 month return policy on desktops? (varies by location, some only offer 30 days).

All my docs, music, work files, movies, securely go to the NAS.  All bookmarks get synced by FoxMarks from a central location.  The firewall is constantly updated and tweaked on the router.  Thus, the computer becomes a swappable terminal!  I am now rocking an Acer Aspire X1200 desktop that will go back to Sams Club in about 8 weeks.  It’s a ballsy little machine with 2 gigs of RAM, 2.2GHz Athlon clock, and most importantly, HDMI output not available on its peers — not even on Dells and HP’s.  Five bills later, and I am watching the content off the intertubes on my television.

Best of all, I’ll get a newer one of these when I get tired of it .. ahem, when the new model comes out.