Technology Hates Me

So tonight, for no apparent reason other than the fact that technology hates me, my hard drive on my *brand spanking new* -- and expensive as all get out -- Gateway notebook failed. After 45 minutes on the phone with Mark from Gateway support I was faced with two horrible options:

1. They can ship me a new hard drive in 3-5 business days, which I then have to install, and then I have to ship the defective hard drive back to them within 30 days, otherwise they charge my credit card the cost of the new hard drive, OR
2. I get to PAY to ship my whole computer back to them, they fix it and ship it back to me -- in 3-4 WEEKS!

I think I did pretty good while on the phone with young Mark, I didn't yell, I didn't cry, I only used the F bomb once, and not at him, more as a groan of complete and total frustration. But as soon as I hung up I burst into tears. I have most of my important documents for school backed up on a flash drive, and what's not there I can download again. But my photos, all the music in my iTunes, just gone.

I did a lot of research before I bought my computer, more research than I've ever done before purchasing anything, except maybe my education. I ended up spending a LOT of money on my Gateway because I had never heard of anything like this happening to a Gateway owner and I figured that if you're going to buy a good computer, you might as well buy a good computer. Dell owners have horror stories, HP's are not much better, I *almost* bought a Mac, but thought that the learning curve of getting used to a Mac while also starting grad school and a new job might be a bit much. If only I had listened to my inner Shaun and just bought a Mac, I could actually take my computer into a store and talk to someone, IN PERSON! What a concept!!

Now you may be thinking, Maria, we know this is bad, but come on? You think technology hates you just because of this one incident? To that, dear readers, I say no. My brand new Dell at work, that was replaced three weeks ago because the only slightly less new Dell that I was using crapped out on me, has been acting possessed as well! I have constant trouble with the image on both monitors, and lately it's taken to flipping to a blue screen after encountering some horriffic error, and then forcing me to reboot. I save my data every 4 seconds, just in case.

In addition to that, I've been having an EXCESSIVE amount of trouble with my cell phone. I upgraded to a Samsung Blackjack in October, which quit working 27 days later. So I exchanged it for a Palm Treo, which then quit working SIX days later. So I had to have that one replaced too!! I'm afraid to even turn on my television or start my car, and I hope my bad luck manages to hold off til I'm done with this post, otherwise I'll obliterate Little Brother's computer too.

Honestly, is my blood magnetized in some mutant way that causes electronic devices to go haywire on me? Do the Powers That Be not understand that I depend on my computer for school?? Where is Yoda when I need him???

I think it's time to breathe and reboot, and hope that when I get my new hard drive in the mail I'll be able to install it.

Sympathy, words of wisdom, and advice are all particularly welcome at this time.