Seeking the proper replacement (is hard)
I feel a certain kinship with those rugged individuals that keep their automobile on the road, long after all warranties have expired. You continue, despite the financial pain of repairs, because you like your car. In a way that those who lease and change every couple of years have never accepted as a valid owner model, you will go to great lengths.
My laptop has the same (devalued but respected) niche in my home. I ordered “the beast” back in the summer of 2008. No “i#”; this is a Core2 Duo, and it works the way a large laptop should. Every day, all day, all night. In fact, I can go for weeks without bothering to turn it off. Two disk drives, lots of RAM, a 17 inch screen, ports that I don’t even use. A bomb!
And it has failing parts. The DVD burner hasn’t worked properly for many moons. Now, the fan bothers people.
A fan that turns is acceptable. A fan that turns and vibrates – not so much. Even if I can’t hear it during the day, others have remarked (LOUDLY) that it makes noise in the evening, when I’m asleep and the TV is showing reruns of Star Trek. No connection. I’ve tried compressed air. I’ve tried bumping the bearings. No joy.
I received a “new” DVD unit this afternoon. Under $30, from an eBay peddler. Yes, just like the used car parts crowd, we maintainers have our outlets. And now I’m thinking seriously about a fan unit. Lots of selection, and all priced reasonably. With one exception. The ads mention the heat sink unit. Some say use the old one. Others quote a range of part numbers. That’s the glitch. If I can’t find a part number on the one I have, how do I order the right replacement?
Today, the date was symmetrical. See.
