The Tragedy of Lady MacBook

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About a year ago, I waxed poetic over my love of my dear devoted laptop and best friend, Lady MacBook.

Sadly, Lady MacBook has passed on to the electronic afterlife. She died peacefully in her sleep.

Well, not exactly peacefully. She woke me up early one morning with sputtering and whirring (which I must admit were not wholly uncharacteristic sounds for her to make; I was only taken aback by them because she did it in sleep mode with no one having touched her for hours). She wouldn't wake up. And upon restarting her, I was faced with the dreaded grey folder stamped with a question mark, flashing at me hopelessly.

Her hard drive is dead. Her optic drive is dead (which it had been for a couple of months). And I decided it was time to stop repairing her and let her go (which I assume was a harder task for me than for most computer users, as my attachment to her is just as rooted in sentimentality as in utility).

So I bought a brand new laptop. A MacBook Pro. I'm still getting used to him. (I think it's a him? Although I'm not sure yet.)

He's very nice. Friendly. And I recently gave him a sort of brain transplant (as I wisely back my files regularly), so he has most of Lady MacBook's memories.

(The above photo was taken by my new computer on Friday, before I headed off to the opening night party for Bonnie & Clyde at Asolo Rep.)

It's hard for me to admit that he's actually better than Lady, although clearly he is. I still miss her. I probably will for awhile.

I think part of the transition to this computer will happen when I assign him a personality, as I did for Lady MacBook (or for Judy, the 2002 iBook who proceeded her).

The first step is, of course, naming him. So far, I have three main ideas:

- Prospero

- Proteus

- AndroMache

(The first two keeping in theme with Shakespeare puns from the computer model; the third staying on trend with emphasizing the "Mac" with names of characters I've played in the past.)

I am open to suggestions and advice. If you have a vote, leave it in the comments section.

In the meanwhile, I'll be getting to know my new computer. I think we're going to be a good team.

-- Angela Sauer