Well, the good news is that I was able to save all of my data off the drive. The bad news is that after attempting to reinstall with the OEM CD’s several times only to have the laptop shut itself off at random intervals in the middle of the install, it’s abundantly clear that what we have here is a hardware problem.

I’ve faxed in my proof of purchase to Sony, and theoretically, within three days they should ship me a nice empty box. I send that back to them and (again, theoretically), within seven days they send me back my laptop, all fixed and purty. In the meantime, I’ll probably be using my old Windows 98 box that had been exiled to the basement, at least until Dan’s new laptop comes in.

Yes, because Dan has to surrender his laptop come MFF (since it is, after all, property of the convention, and will pass on to the next Publications Director), we need to get a new laptop. After much hemming and hawing, we’re going with an HP Windows laptop instead of getting another iBook. Although the iBook would be preferable, it’s a couple hundred dollars more expensive and we just can’t beat the twelve-months-same-as-cash deal with Best Buy. It’s a shame, because OS X is infinitely more stable than Windows and Dan really prefers it, but when your finances are as ugly as ours right now, well, sacrifices musty be made.

So that’s where things stand right now. By the way, Feren – I did get your email, thanks! I appreciate the offer of assistance but right now it’s in the hands of Sony. With luck we’ll get a quick resolution and life can get back to normal, or as normal as my life gets anyway.