Serving Love

I love gadgets.

The smaller, the better.

The more powerful, the better.

The more unique, the better.

When my four-year-old Fujitsu Lifebook started to get too sluggish, I started thinking about a new one.

I love my Blackberry 8700C for getting email and answering phone calls, but trying to view web sites on it requires a microscope. I wanted one of those new ultra-light warp-speed too-cool "laptops" to carry on planes and use out by the pool.

I looked at the new 0q0 long and hard. It's under one pound and does everything but transport me from here to your house. But the website is poorly done, the model is back ordered for almost three months, and the device isn't much bigger than my Blackberry, anyway.

I then considered the new Fujitsu Lifebook P1610. It's about 2 pounds and can come as a double-duty tablet screen PC as well as a regular screen Windows unit.

I also knew there are lots of other makes and models out there. Trying to decide which one to get for me was getting confusing.

I bought a few gadget magazines.

I poked around online doing research.

I even went into a retail computer store, which amazingly didn't have a single ultra-light to show me.

"They're all on our site," the clerk told me.

Yea, but I'm in your store, I thought, and I have money in my pocket to spend right now.

So I wrote to Fujitsu and asked them which model they would recommend from their giant catalog of products.

I also wrote to Dynamism, a popular gadget site that's been around for nine years. They specialize in selling Japanese products to the US market. I wanted to know what model they would suggest, too.

Fujitsu never replied.

That was over a week go and they still haven't replied. Very disappointing. I was a Fujitsu customer and was all set to be one again. But they ignored me.

Dynamism wrote back quickly.

They suggested the Panasonic R6. It's 2 pounds and has an 8 hour battery life.

I bought it.

It arrived yesterday. I had some questions about operating it, so I called Dynamism. They answered the phone every time. There was never a wait. Never put on hold.

And when I asked one tech guy there if I could ask a few more questions, he laughed and said, "You can ask me anything you like. I'm here for you."

Last night Nerissa and I went out with our friend Mark Ryan. The Mississippi waitress who took care of us had off the charts high energy, Southern charm, and a smile that made my heart sing. We loved her and her spirit.

When we asked her what kept her so happy while she served people, she said, "I'm trying to make a small difference in people's lives."

She ended up sitting with us at our table, after dinner, and talking to us for almost an hour.

That's service.

That's love.

And whether it's from a computer store or a waitress, we all want it.

Are you giving it?

Ao Akua,

Joe
www.mrfire.com

PS -- The picture above shows my new R6 along with a paperback book, a box of cigars, my Blackberry, the new Humbug DVD, and a can of soda. I don't carry all of that around, of course. It's simply there to give you perspective.