LOVE, Kloudiia

Yes, I made up my mind and I went ahead to buy it during The PC Show 2006. Considered a pretty hefty investment for me, it was no wonder I had certain expectations (which was fuelled by the sales guy during the show) of my newly acquired asset.

It is the exact same feelings in the start of a new relationship. You are attracted to him, not just to his looks but also on his character and personality, and he’s proven to be suitable too, so you made that all-important decision -  to be offically involved.

As with all new beginnings, scores of sweetness and joy floods you all over, mixed with excitement and enthusiasm. For me, I can’t wait to start fiddlng with my new toy and to launch into the convenient world of mobility once again. But not long after I powered it on, I was transported from feeling thrilled to puzzled and finally somewhat disappointed. What actually happened?

Several hot spots. Firstly, I started feeling worried when the start-up time was so much longer than I expected. Secondly, the RAM upgrade didn’t work, as a check on the performance shows only 512MB RAM installed. Thirdly, the screen text seems a tad too small than what I bargained for.

Now, am I happy? Naturally, not as happy as I hoped or anticipated. But, who is to blame? Depends on what the issue is, right? For the RAM upgrade, I know it is a matter of installation, and it can be fixed within a minute, with some inconveniences on my part to bring it back to the vendor. This of course has more side effects than just the lost of time, as I practically delayed my project, with my desktop sold leaving me with nothing but my notebook. It’s an opportunity cost.

As for the start-up time and the text size, after some mulling over, is really nothing but an issue of mismatch of expectations! I had compared it with my previous desktop, which although with only 512MB RAM compared to my 1.5GB, boasts a processor speed of 3.3Ghz, while my notebook has but only 1.1Ghz! See the difference?

So, in order to set my expectations right, I called a few friends to check, and Sony’s hotline of course (how can I pass this over!). Well, to my pleasure (or displeasure?), the 2 minute boot up time isn’t exactly normal but neither is it cause for alarm. Well, some friends did expressed their disbelieve at the length (my initial reaction too), but at the end, the general consensus is, it’s really not an issue to be distressed about.

So there I go. Setting these ‘grievances’ aside, I started to view my notebook through a completely new magnifying glass. To my delectation, the more I get down to using it, the more fun I had! Whew! What a nice consolation!

With your new relationship, it’s much more intense. We are talking about feelings here. As much as you are bathing in the shower of love and happiness, you are also swimming through murky waters, made up of disappointments, confusions and feeling alarmed. what actually happened? Aren’t you and your boyfriend suppose to be all lovey-dovey? Isn’t he suppose to be the one, since he has all the traits and qualities you are looking for?

If I were to tell you now, that whatever you are feeling is really normal and usual, would you believe me? Do you feel better instantly? You should, because it’s true.

You are just going through the next phase of courtship with your partner, and this is the time when the more you discover about him through the daily happenings, the more similarities and conflicts you encounter. It is never a bed of roses eternally. There are gains, and there’ll be pains too.

When arguments arrive, and disagreements occur, you may feel a tinge of regret, and start questioning yourself why did you fell for him in the beginning? But trust me, to eliminate these negative feelings or even doubts, all that is required is that you communicate about how you feel while sorting out your queries about him and the relationship. Once you get those confusion sorted out, you’ll feel much better because you have reconnected with your inner feelings and you are back in a loving state.

It could also be just a matter of getting used to it. It takes time and conscientious effort to accept someone into your life, and both of you need to make certain adjustemnts to each other’s habits and lifestyle in order to live harmoniously and happily. Perhaps the extent of adjustment you need to make could prove to be just a way too much, and as a result, it gives doubt the opportunity to come in.

So moving on from the anticipation of a new relationship to actually be in it, you are transitting. It is a journey for you, one that needs your constant curiousity to find out more, getting used to, appreciating the benefits it offers you while at the same time learning to adapt to the differences that you wouldn’t have a chance to find out unless you are involved.

When I can manoeuvre every single key even with my eyes closed, that’s when I will have fully optimised all the functions and achieved the maximum efficiency I could. The duration it takes varies with every owner of the same laptop. It depends on how heavy is the usage, and how much the person wants to be comfortable with their work station as soon as possible. For me, I desperately wanted to reach that peak so that I can be the most efficient.

The same applies for your relationship. How much you want to make it works depends on how much time and effort you are willing to discover and be complementary to each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Once you successfully passed through this stage, you will get to the comfort zone where every little action he makes will not be a shock to you, as you have grown to expect it, and most importantly, learnt how to handle it.

You do not give up on the relationship just because of some obstacles that you face. It is new, you have to give it some time to be nurtured, to grow and finally to mature. Similarly, I can’t possibly just take my notebook back and ask for a refund (which I did attempted to but failed ha!) just because they didn’t meet with my expectations even if it’s within the warranty period, I will only do that when it proves, time and again that the problems (if any) happen too frequently and it is costing too much for me to continue using it than to change it. What more for a human to human interaction!

If in the course of this adaptation, the conflicts are too much to handle, arguments are too frequent and even after genuine and continuous efforts have been contributed by both parties (or at least by you), the problems only snowballed rather than dissolved, then it may be time that you consider whether or not to continue with it. Sometimes, it may be a better choice to call it quits before you suffer more heartaches than you deserve, and for him.

But, when everything goes on smoothly, this cycle of discovery-adapt-accept will go on, and in the course, many other things will happen. I may buy more peripherals to enhance my laptop, and make it even more powerful and efficient. You can make your relationship stronger by creating and building beautiful memories with your boyfriend. Do something extraordinary. Whether it is a periodic affair or a one-time event, it will be both titillating and memorable at the same time.

You will know whether you have made the right choice when your love grows deeper, and you know deep in your heart, you are ready and most willing to spend the rest of your life with this special man, when the time comes for him to propose.

I will also know if my investment has paid off if my Sony VAIO constantly performs that measures up to my standards.

So, good luck to all of you who have just ventured into this wonderful voyage of love. Be prepared for lots of surprises to come your way. Finally, have fun!