Replacement is the solution for now

I am supposed to write about the restaurant where we ate for lunch last Sunday but I think I have to put it off for now. Sometimes there are lots of topics to choose from but it's finding the motivation to write about them that is challenging. Also, it depends on the mood.

So no restaurant topic for now.

I have been mentioning late last year about how my laptop had issue either with the battery or the charger.

It all started when I plugged in another monitor to my laptop. There were times that my screen would just go blank and then the laptop would just shut down. I had to connect another monitor because I had a part time job back then that needs additional monitor so I can work on it more efficiently. That was a one-time job though that I did for a month or so. After that, I disconnected the additional monitor.

Since then, there are times that my laptop would die. First it was a few times a month, then a week, until it got worse later last month until now.

I learned to work through it all. I planned on buying a new one but something would always hold me back. I was at the point of taking a cab and go straight to the store to buy a new one. A lot of times that I was so close to doing so.

Until I had to shelf that thought. I can use my credit card and pay it through installment basis but again, I am thinking of the interest. In that particular store that I wanted to purchase a new one, they don't have 0% interest which is a bummer.

I don't want to incur any more interest so I wanted to save first until I have enough to buy a new one. It will just be a second option if I will use my card but I will be buying from a different store and not from the first store of my choice.

Just when pandemic hit and restrictions have been imposed, the hard disk of my laptop decided to give up after just a year of using it. The warranty of it already lapsed but I brought it to the store where I bought and they said that since it's pandemic, they are giving consideration for those and extending the warranty. Unfortunately, no hard disk was available that time. The solution was for me to buy an SSD and then bring my laptop back to the shop once they have available hard disk and they will replace it.

After two years, I still haven't brought my laptop to the shop to have my HD replaced. I don't need a lot of space anyway for I don't have nothing to save so my SSD is fine.

The guy who worked in that shop who fixed my laptop happen to live in my neighborhood, just a block away.

When he learned that we live in the same barangay, he gave me his contact number and said that if I need any help with computer services, I can contact him.

That was two years in the making. Thank goodness it was only now that I have to use his service.

I texted him earlier this morning and he replied right away. Good thing it is his day off. We met and I gave him my laptop for him to repair. When he saw my laptop, he said he had the same kind of unit and had the same issue before. I told him my issues with it. He checked my laptop and indeed, the battery was defected and it needed to be replaced. He contacted the shop where he purchases his parts and they happened to work in the same company before. The parts guy decided to open his own repair shop and the store where I bought my laptop refers their clients to him.

It took about an hour for my laptop to be fixed. I also had the touchpad repaired for it stopped working. I use an external mouse that's why I don't use the touchpad. I accidently noticed that it was not working anymore.

The fault is on me for not taking care of my laptop properly. Sometimes I don't notice the battery especially when I am busy with work. From now on, I will try to make a conscious effort in checking the status bar of my battery. Just like with mobile phones, charge when it is around 20% and take it of around 96-97%. That's the general rule to make the battery last longer.

So for now, I will continue to use this laptop. I have planned on giving this to my nephew so he can have something to use for online class. I guess that will have to wait.