I think I'm going crazy. This morning I considered the fact that I am going to have no computer in 2 weeks time. This triggered a chain of thoughts that led inevitably to a singularity: I am going to buy a MacBook.

Why am I about to do this? It goes against every ingrained instinct I've cultivated in my recent 'saving for travel mode' commitments. For the last three months I have really put myself out to scrimp and save - well, I have gone to great lengths... I guess I haven't really gone out of my way, but it has been on my mind a lot, in any case.

I went home after a pub dinner the other night instead of hanging with Shaun at a nightclub. That counts as saving.

This morning I was overcome with the woes of nerd forethought - what would I do without a computer? I need a MacBook. Foolishly I turned to Scroop for dissuading advice, hoping for some words of counsel that might pull me from this fiscal promontory:

Paul I'm thinking of getting a laptop

Scroop Do it.

In desperation I tried to consider options other than the MacBook (about double the price of comparable non-Apple products):

Paul What's the best pc alternative that you know of?
Paul I mean, if you weren't to buy a macbook

Scroop Probably a MacBook Pro.
Paul ...

Scroop or a MacBook in black

Anyway, I'm thinking the 2GHz MacBook Pro is looking pretty good. On the other hand, I challenge you to find something that costs $3,200 that doesn't look good.

My plan from here is this: I will buy the MacBook Pro. Yes, Apple can have their pound off me. But my tourniquet for my travel expenses will be in a new 6 month interest free period on a new credit card. I discovered this morning that one can get a credit card that offers 6 months interest free on transfer debts, as well as no yearly rates and free international transactions. This seems almost awesome, as even with all that the interest rate is about 3% lower than my regular altitude card.

So yes, I have done some research. This doesn't turn me into one of those money centric people though. Just an idiot.

And yes, I also should mark this date as the moment I stopped fooling myself by imagining that I am not a consumer product whore of the lowest calibre. I remember fondly the days where I walked proudly without a mobile phone because I didn't want to be a slave to the Telcos. Farewell young pinko Paul, and may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

I am giving the Internet 24 hours to talk me out of buying a MacBook Pro. I don't want to do it, so it shouldn't be hard people! Please talk me out of it.