Question (no Michaelm please)

[n01487477]

ORIGINAL: che200

Agree with Wdolson regarding giving him a gift certificate

Disagree, we don't know what type of laptop, whether he needs to buy or repair - or where that might happen...

Bottle of something and then money order (bank cheque).

[noguaranteeofsanity]

Agree about needing more details about the laptop for a gift certificate, for example if it is a Mac, spare parts are usually only available from Apple.  Also he mentioned it is only around 12 months old, so might even be covered by the warranty or sent back to the manufacturer for repair.  There is also probably thousands of computer shops in Sydney, both online and the bricks and mortar variety, but also no certainty they will support his specific brand of laptop, or carry the one specific part that he might need.  There is also the chance the old laptop cannot be repaired.   So is probably better to give him the money directly, along with a gift, to use as he needs.

[wdolson]

In the US there are many large discount online computer shops.  The one I use most is called NewEgg.  I think they carry every brand of laptop out there.  I don't know if Australia has anything specific.

I did find a message where he was talking about his last machine dying in January of this year.  He said he was going to put another laptop he had sitting around into use.  So I think it's an older computer that just died.  Probably not under warranty.

Bill

[wdolson]

OK, we're getting down to the wire.  About an hour to go.

Through the Paypal link you can pay with a credit card.  If you mark it as a "gift" and take it from a Paypal balance they don't take any fees, at least for domestic transfers.  Though that might not be feasible for everyone.

The link again:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=FYZLYZX6ZFTRN

Bill

[Sardaukar]

ORIGINAL: che200

Agree with Wdolson regarding giving him a gift certificate

+1

[n01487477]

ORIGINAL: Sardaukar

ORIGINAL: che200

Agree with Wdolson regarding giving him a gift certificate

+1

for what reason - so he can't use it ? There is a difference in giving a gift certificate for a general store and a computer place... esp. when we are out of the loop regarding his issues.

What's wrong with giving money - when money is needed and versatile ?

[pws1225]

Perhaps we should simply ask Michael what he prefers. The scotch is a great idea, but if he needs a laptop more, perhaps that would be a better route.

[Banzan]

I agree with pws1225. Gifting Whisky is nice, but if he could need the money more then the Whisky? In the end we all want to honour his support, not his taste for some special drink. [:)]

[Sardaukar]

ORIGINAL: n01487477

ORIGINAL: Sardaukar

ORIGINAL: che200

Agree with Wdolson regarding giving him a gift certificate

+1

for what reason - so he can't use it ? There is a difference in giving a gift certificate for a general store and a computer place... esp. when we are out of the loop regarding his issues.

What's wrong with giving money - when money is needed and versatile ?

We can always ask. [8D]

[TulliusDetritus]

Problem is, if we ask he will know what's going on. By the way, he has to be rather surprised... he sees this thread (about him), lots of comments and hits... "maybe this is a huge conspiracy and they are planning my doom. I should have delivered more patches. They don't pardon, they don't forget..." [:D]

Still, when I want to buy someone a gift I always try to buy the thing they might prefer / buy themselves. So asking would be better methinks. It would spoil the whole thing but what do you want [&:]

[witpqs]

I think he might have already made a reasonable guess about this thread, so I doubt asking him will be ruining any surprise.

Scotch is a great idea, many people love it. If you gave me a bottle of scotch, it would last the rest of my life because I don't drink it (drink very little alcohol at all). How would you know? Over the Internet, impossible unless you ask or I outright tell you. Could be the same for Michael. And if he likes it for a first gift, what to do with the overage leads to more guessing. What I'm saying is, asking him is an OK idea. He might really appreciate help with his laptop issue, or he might have that well in hand and prefer something else. Asking is OK.

[8D]

[zuluhour]

+1

[wdolson]

Asking does sort of ruin the surprise a bit, but I think that's probably the safest route at this point.  I've come around to the ask camp.

BTW, the money has been transferred to Rob (jrcar).  There was a 1% cross border fee which I paid out of my own pocket.  The totals were $455 donated with $434.99 after fees.  That full amount was transferred to Rob. 

I'm not sure what Rob received, I think he had around $200 a few days ago.  I don't know about computer prices in Australia, but my last Toshiba laptop cost my $650 US a couple of years ago.  It's not top of the line, but it's a decent machine.  If we didn't raise enough for a laptop, we got a long ways there, even if we do give him a bottle of scotch out of it.

Bill

[TulliusDetritus]

ORIGINAL: wdolson
There was a 1% cross border fee which I paid out of my own pocket.

I think you should not have done that (at least that's my opinion). You should have used the money we already sent (+ your part) [:)]

Cheers

[pws1225]

ORIGINAL: wdolson

Asking does sort of ruin the surprise a bit, but I think that's probably the safest route at this point.  I've come around to the ask camp.

BTW, the money has been transferred to Rob (jrcar).  There was a 1% cross border fee which I paid out of my own pocket.  The totals were $455 donated with $434.99 after fees.  That full amount was transferred to Rob. 

I'm not sure what Rob received, I think he had around $200 a few days ago.  I don't know about computer prices in Australia, but my last Toshiba laptop cost my $650 US a couple of years ago.  It's not top of the line, but it's a decent machine.  If we didn't raise enough for a laptop, we got a long ways there, even if we do give him a bottle of scotch out of it.

Bill

Thanks for handling this Bill.

[Cyber Me]

I sent some money to jrcar this afternoon in thanks for Michaelm's continued improvements and features that are huge improvements and time savers. Thanks Michael and team.

Merry Xmas to the forum

[wdolson]

ORIGINAL: wdolson
There was a 1% cross border fee which I paid out of my own pocket.

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus
I think you should not have done that (at least that's my opinion). You should have used the money we already sent (+ your part) [:)]

Cheers

The fee was $4.35. I can afford it.

Bill

[jrcar]

Ok have emailed Michael, he is a non drinker and does need help with a PC. Is there anyone unhappy that money donated for booze gets turned into a computer?

If anyone else would like to donate towards the PC I can keep this open another day or two.

Cheers

Rob

[n01487477]

ORIGINAL: jrcar
Ok have emailed Michael, he is a non drinker and does need help with a PC. Is there anyone unhappy that money donated for booze gets turned into a computer?

If anyone else would like to donate towards the PC I can keep this open another day or two.

Cheers

Rob

I doubt anyone would mind, but I've been wrong before. At least we'll be giving him something needed in a time of need, which benefits us all anyway [;)]

(I know that's not what anyone donated for...and it would have been nice to give a gift without giving something that benefits us but...is any gift truly free from this kind of thing?)

This post was supposed to be ironic - but I think I should stop here ...

[fcharton]

Hi Rob,

ORIGINAL: jrcar
he is a non drinker

There had to be something wrong with that guy...

ORIGINAL: jrcar
If anyone else would like to donate towards the PC I can keep this open another day or two.

...care to provide figures about amounts collected and estimated cost of a PC ? I sent my five bucks, but I can easily make it more if more is needed (and I suspect there are quite a few others in my case).

Thanks in advance
Francois