
Well, I think it already started a few days ago, but today's (hopefully) the peak (-__-'') I'm sooo exhausted!

Actually this entry wasn't planned to be like it will be now as something happened today which made me change or rather add something to it.

I'm not sure where to start.

Guess with the "not planned" part because that's what's most urgent?!

But first things first!
So as you still might remember I went to our 2 local electronic stores the other day to check out some laptops live.

When I came back home one of my light bulbs died.


You know, it wouldn't be a big deal, but those electronic stores aren't really around the corner and I only have a bicycle, so it takes forever to get there!!!

So ..... I had no other choice, but to go today. Luckily it's my day off today, but .... there were millions of other things I had to do.

I didn't want to order the bulb online as there are expensive shipping fees and I'd need the bulb ASAP!!!! And I also thought it's a good chance to check out the Macbook Pro that some here have been suggesting. I've never had a Mac before, so I thought I should try it out in the stores and play around with the (to me) strange OS a bit.

The minute I wanted to leave it started to pour

When I finally arrived at the first electronic store, I couldn't see the Macbook anymore that has been there a few days earlier. So I asked. I was told that just A MINUTE AGO somebody bought it and that was their last one. So nothing to play around with!!!

I bought the bulb which was much more expesnive than the online ones and went sad and soaked like woah to the last electronic store. They didn't have any Macbooks or ANYTHING Apple (apart from ipods) at all!!!!!

Tired and with a sore throat I came back home. There's a cold wind accompanying the rain today, so perfect weather to get sick!

At least I bought the right blub, so that problem is saved!

I turned on my laptop, wanted to update Twitter, but it (= the laptop) was bitchy again. Wouldn't let me type and behaving strange, so I did a restart.
Then, I suddenly got (and for the first time ever!!) A BLUE SCREEN!!!!!!! It told me something about a hardware error (please contact your ... blah ... saying something about the memory) - honestly I was so shocked and close to a heart attack that I didn't bother reading it.

But that's it!!! All the problems HAVE BEEN hardware problems. That just confirms it and maybe I don't have much time left until my laptop dies on me for real!! *panic*


Back home I wouldn't worry that much, because my family members and friends have computers I could use as long as I'm laptop-less, but here in Japan??? No no no!! I would be soooooooooooooooooo doomed!!!
So JUST yesterday I decided to wait some more and relax a bit, and just observe the Japanese market for prices to drop, but NOW I don't think I still have that option!!!
Or rather I don't wanna risk a dying laptop and then being internetless, not even able to order a new laptop!!!!

So, here's the FINAL ROUND!!! I promise ;o; .....

It will be a match between some really different opponents! Actually they couldn't be more different!!!
Lenovo's/IBM' ThinkPad T510 vs.

EDIT: And the winner iiiiiiiissssssssssss~~~~~~



Thanks so much everybody!!!!

Will order it tomorrow. Have to get some money on my card first. Unfortunately it'll take 1-2 weeks (bc it's a custom order). Lets hope my old laptop will be okay until then!!
Black vs. White
ugly design vs. cool design (although honestly, I came to like the ThinkPad design and I don't think the Apple design is that great!)
Windows vs. Mac OS
-500$/1000$ vs. +500$/1000$
more USB ports, HDMI, Blu-Ray option vs. none of that
Both have pretty much the same specs. Bot are also available in Germany and are EXACTLY the same as in Japan which is perfect! Once I go back, even if the warranty is not valid or expired I can be sure that they'll be able to exchange parts etc.!


Honestly I never considered a Mac, but people kept bothering me with "Get a Mac" paroles and when I browsed for reviews I only found comments like "I got my Mac and I loved it. I never will go back to Windows again!" etc.
On the other hand I have the feeling that Mac addicts tend to something similar to the "Stockholm Syndrome" knowing about all the drawbacks of their Macs, even naming them, but then still saying the Mac is the best computer they ever had and giving the highest score/rating availalbe!! Weird!!!


Macbook Pros:
- has a very good reputation
- has a somewhat nice design, very slim (although I really don't think the new design is that nice!!!)
- Mac OS safer than Windows and less troublesome?!
- Ferrari / D&G of the notebooks??!! (aka just pay more because of the brand name?!)
- Awesome display
- 1 year global! warranty
- switching OS language is super easy
- this application looks fun!:

Macbook Cons:
- extremely fucking expensive!!! (ThinkPad i5 version - 135.000yen // Macbook i5 version 183.000yen - ThinkPad i7 version - 153.000yen // Macbook i7 version - 223.000yen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
- gets extremely hot, people were even saying they got burned! (anybody has a notebook and a macbook and could compare them?)
- the NEW Macbook Pro (the one I wanna get) has extremely sharp edges, so people said the laptop is cutting their wrists!!!
- only 2 USB ports (the old 2.0 not 3.0!!!)
- all ports on the LEFT side on the laptop which I find very inconvenient
- no HDMI, Blu-Ray, eSATA etc. (and that for THAT PRICE??!!!)
- unknown OS (I have never had a OS so I have no idea how to use it and if I'd like it or not!!!)
- is said to have quite a slow HDD that slows down the fast processor
Right now I do tend more to the ThinkPad, though!


ThinkPad Pros:
- is much cheaper compared to the Macbook while still having the same specs (actually better specs!!!!)
- nice Display
- keeps really cool, never gets really hot/warm
- very nice keyboard
- no glossy outside, so nothing is being reflected on or around the keyboard (not sure how that would be with the Macbook, have never seen one live and prolly never will!)
- is known to be really robust and unbreakable
ThinkPad Cons:
- the fan is working nonstop, but is still silent (wouldn't mind that)
- the design (looks like the first laptop that was ever build XD but serioulsy the T-series is one of the ThinkPads with a slightly nicer design and I came to like it by now!!)
- uses Windows *lol* (is that a disadvantage? XD)
- DDR3 1006Mhz is said to be not so good, but I think the Macbook is using the same anyways ....
- only 1 year of warranty and I don't think it's global (and Lenovo Germany offers 3 years!!!! Lenovo USA only 1 year)
I know it's my decision and my decision alone, but ..... I WANT TO HEAR HOW YOU'D DECIDE AND WHY!!!


Are you willing to help me out here one last time?



We're almost done here! :D
Like I said I lean towards the ThinkPad at the moment.

But I'm also EXTREMELY curious about the Mac!!!


Also please note that the NEAREST Apple Store would be in Fukuoka which still would cost me a fortune to just GO THERE and try out the Macbook - that's crazy!!!
I have to buy the Macbook blind if I decide to go for it!! In Germany we can return products we ordered online within 14 days after purchasing. I have no idea about laws in Japan. Do you know??
Also, a question to all Mac users (especially those who used to use Windows!!):
Can you think of any software or applications that you couldn't use anymore because you switched to a Mac?? If so can you list them??
I already know that I can use Firefox and Photoshop, so that's great. What about Skype?
Also, I have a Western Digital external harddrive. Would I be able to use that on a Mac as well or would I have to buy one that specifically works for Mac OS??!! *'confused*
Anything else I have to consider but might have forgotten now?
Okay, topic change!!!

On my way home from the electronic stores, I bought these:


"Garlic rusk" - EXTREMELY yummie!!!!


I don't like rainy season very much, but I hate the summer heat and humidity even more.
One good thing about the rainy season or June in general are the hydrangeas!!! They're sooo beautiful and colorful :D

These are some photos I took a few days ago when it wasn't raining ^-^


There are all sorts of color variations. I hope I'll get a chance to take some more photos soon to show you! :3
Because of the humid weather I have been extremely sleepy and exhausted lately. I also had headaches almost every day the past few days.
Last night I couldn't sleep. I almost was able to watch Japan's game (3:30am) because I was still not asleep at that time. No idea what was wrong.

I even dreamed about notebooks the last few nights (x____X) HELP!!!!


A completely different topic: I finally finished planning my summer vacation.
In the end we'll stay the whole time in Nagoya, making that our base! :D
Even when we go to climb Mt. Fuji we'll stay in Nagoya or rather our luggage will - all time in the same hotel, of course.
We'll go by bus from Nagoya, because that's the cheapest option I could find (4000yen - one way!). Although I'm not sure if I'll survive that. I told you that I tend to get EXTREMELY motionsick on Japanese buses ;o; ...................... but I have to try!

I hope we'll still get a free seat. You have to reserve seats, but can't reserve more than a month in advance, so now I have to wait. If that doesn't work, we have to use the much more expensive Shinkansen + local train version which also takes longer, I think -_-;
Day trips are planned to maybe Gifu, Gujo Hachiman, Inuyama, Okazaki, Ise. I'd also love to go to Nagano (Matsumoto Castle) and Kanazawa, but we won't have enough time.
I hope it'll be good. Rather an unspectacular vacation this time with no real main attractions (apart from Mt. Fuji, of course XD) - I hope my family member will enjoy it nevertheless!

I was quite unlucky with hotel booking this time. No twin rooms available anymore, so we have to use single rooms (=> more expensive) and while I was filling out the reservation form, the last available room became unavailable ;o; ... and now I have to stay in 2 different hotels, how annoying!!! -_____- ... but it's my fault for booking so late this time ....


Alright, that's all for now. I also wanted to talk about something else, but this is already getting too long again.

I'll talk about it some other time as it's not urgent at all :)
Thanks so much for reading.

And thanks so so soooooooooooo much for your advice in the previous entries!! You can't imagine how helpful it has been, really!!!!

