New Laptop

Okay, so I have a LOT to update today… because I skipped yesterday. (Oops. Procrastination wins again.)

So ever since yesterday, my brother and I have been out and about, hopping between computer shops in Kuching. Why? Because I’ve been planning to buy a new laptop since forever—like, since dinosaurs roamed the earth and floppy disks were a thing. My brother, being a full-on tech enthusiast (read: walks into computer shops like a celebrity), is my go-to laptop consultant. He knows all the specs, what to look for, what not to touch with a ten-foot pole, etc. So I asked him to recommend some models for me.

At first, I was super tempted to get a MacBook. I mean, I already use an iPhone and you know how Apple users are—it’s not just a phone, it’s a lifestyle. But then I did some actual research (yes, I surprised myself too) and realized using a MacBook is a whole new world. Like, “Where is the right-click button?” kind of new. And I’d rather not pay more to learn less. So I decided to pass on the MacBook and look for something cheaper and simpler—like, "I just want it to turn on and not explode" level simple.

So I made a list of what I need in a laptop:

1. I don’t play games. (Okay, maybe except Plants vs Zombies because that’s self-care.)

2. No gaming laptops. My current one is 2.7kg and my back has filed a formal complaint.

3. I occasionally watch movies or YouTube when I’m supposed to be productive.

4. I occasionally use Word, Excel, or PowerPoint (aka The Holy Trinity of Procrastination Tools).

5. I might do some programming for my Master’s. Keyword: might.

With that in mind, we hit up Vivacity Megamall first. At PC Image, we found a Lenovo laptop for RM2399 that checked all my boxes. Then we swung by Harvey Norman and found an Acer that was cheaper but had lower RAM, and apparently the processor was a little sleepy. My brother, laptop snob that he is, declared Lenovo the winner. Better keyboard, better performance, less sad.

So I was already pretty sold on the Lenovo yesterday, but because Kuching still had computer shops left unexplored (and we’re dramatic like that), we ventured to CityOne today. Turns out there was only one shop—CompuWay—and surprise surprise, no Lenovo in sight. We did the polite walk-around for 20 minutes, pretended to be interested, then ghosted.

Next stop: OneTJ. It was around 11AM, and half the shops were still closed—Kuching tech shops apparently work on vampire hours. We wandered around but found nothing better than what we saw at Vivacity, so we returned to where the journey began: PC Image.

We went straight to the Lenovo laptop I’d been eyeing, confirmed it was still there, and without blinking, I said, “I’ll take it.” Felt like proposing to the love of my life. There were two colors available—grey and blue. I picked grey because it’s classy, goes with everything, and didn’t trigger flashbacks of neon horror. I had secretly hoped for rose gold (for ✨aesthetic✨), but grey it is!

For RM2399, I got the laptop, a Lenovo laptop bag, and a wireless mouse. Not bad at all. We came home, and my brother immediately went into tech support mode—installing stuff, tweaking settings, deleting things I didn’t know existed.

I started transferring files from my old Acer gaming laptop to a hard drive. Took like five minutes because apparently I’ve been living the minimalist life without realizing it. My brother said the old laptop can now serve as a chill “entertainment laptop” at home.

So now, here I am, typing on my brand new Lenovo. My trusty Acer has been with me since before uni in 2018. It served me well for 7 long years, and now it’s officially retired. May it enjoy endless YouTube playlists and light gaming in its golden years.

Thanks for everything, Acer. You were a chunky king, and I appreciate your service.