It turns out that I AM screwed with regards to the mini mac. Amazon isn't going to help me. I waited too long, trying to resolve the problem myself. My only recourse was to was leave bad feedback for the seller.

Chalk that dearly needed money up as down the drain.

Ah, well. Brushing myself off, I just need to figure out how to make it back.

To that end, I'm looking for a dirt cheap laptop with one of the following set of criteria to use as a biofeedback monitor in my private practice.

• Windows:
• Microsoft Windows® XP SP3 or newer Operating System
• 1.0 GHz or faster processor — recommend Intel® Core™2 Duo at 2.0GHz or faster
• 1 GB RAM — recommended 2GB or more
• One available USB Port
• Internet Access Recommended

• Mac:
• Mac OS® X 10.5 (Leopard) or later
• 1.0 GHz or faster G4, G5 or Intel processor — recommend Intel® Core™2 Duo at 2.0GHz or faster
• One available USB Port
• Internet Access Recommended
I've looked at dealmac and tigerdirect so far...are there any other routes I can go without exposing me to the same sort of unreliability I experienced on Amazon Marketplace?

serial:

Has anyone used the Mountain Lion diskmaker app?

I figure I need to back everything up before this motherboard crashes and burns, including the operating system.

The reviews for diskmaker seem quite good, but I always feel better with a personal recommendation.

eta: I haven't tried to use it, obviously, but the diskmaker seems to have created the mountain lion boot disk I hoped it would. It took quite a while, but the process was dead easy.

What are the things that the Play store checks for app compatibility? I've had Scrabble on my phone and tablet from Honeycomb through Jellybean, but I can't install it on my Ice Cream Sandwich machine. MY PHONE IS ICE CREAM SANDWICH. I can play the stupid game on my very small phone.

What on an Asus Transformer would be incompatible?

bonny,

did you pay via credit card?

can you file a claim through your credit card company?

Bonnie, it looks like Best Buy is having a 3 day sale that has a lot of computers. Maybe one fits your needs: [link]

le n, I did pay with a credit card, but Amazon says that they cannot help me because I waited 4 days too long to submit my claim. It doesn't matter that the seller did not follow Amazon packing protocols.

I took too long trying to fix the problem myself and that is a choice I'm now having to PAY for. Lesson learned, I suppose.

Since the purchase was for a used item, through Amazon, I can't imagine that my credit card company would take it on.

I just feel so stupid. On a bunch of levels.

Thanks for the best buy heads up omnis. The clearance isn't quite as dirt in the cheap department as I need, but you've got me thinking about another option.

Some years ago, I moved the massively heavy armoire that I use for a computer station out of my therapy office (which is quite smallcosy, into my huge great room. There is a ton of light, it's cheery and has a great view.

I may be kidding myself, but I imagine I am more productive in here.

However, since the noise emanating from the mini mac is getting louder by the day, I suspect I'm going to have to shell out for a new desktop sooner, rather than later.

If I hire someone to move the 'office' back into the office, I could possibly get by with just one computer.

My primary hesitation is that using the biofeedback monitor might be more comfortable if the client is on the couch with a laptop, rather than sitting in an office chair, looking at a large screen.

...thinking...

By chance, have you asked Apple how much a replacement motherboard would be? Just an idea.

The Geniuses tell me the motherboard would cost $350.

That would be less than a new mini + dvd drive, for sure.

Does it make sense to replace the motherboard in a 2009 computer? I'd do it, if it meant adding a new engine that would go another 100,000 miles, versus new tires on a clunker.

bonny,

this may not apply in your circumstance, so let me tell you my tale and you can figure out what to do.

I bought an item on paypal with my credit card years ago. The item was a xmas gift and never was delivered. The manufacturer promised a ship date, but never communicated with me when my friend was to receive the item. They kept promising and promising and then I was outside the 60 day (or whatever) timeframe for paypal complaint.

So I contacted Discover, told them the situation, sent them the documentation I sent paypal, and the documentation of my issue. They gave me a credit on my credit card.

Period.

That's it.

Paypal is terrific about such things, I'm told. Amazon is not.

I can try with the credit card, I suppose. It's problematic that I did not take a photo of the inadequate packaging. I suppose they could say that I dropped the machine on the way to the Apple store.

Though, again, nothing ventured nothing gained.