What do you think of when you think of Ipsissima Verba?

Here are the top ten searches according to Alexa.com that lead people to my website:

Some strike me as a bit … strange. By far (according to the server logs for years now) most people who come to this blog are searching for a translation of the phrase “Quid est veritas?” Maybe I should make a special page for them. I could have the main page see what people searched for, and then have it conditionally redirect to an explanation that this is a blog but that “Quid est veritas?” means “What is truth?”

Ipsissima Verba is currently the first result for a Google search for “Dylan Schrader”.

You know, I actually don’t search Google for my name very often.

I got the “Windows Key” on my laptop to be used as a modifier key to get international characters in x.org.

¿Tienes sueño?

The pastor of the parish taught Ryan and me to play Dominoes last night. I think I understand how to play. We begin classes a week from today.

I still have not received a call from a supervisor at ASUS. Of course, I’m leaving for Mexico tomorrow, so I doubt I’ll be able to make any progress until I get back. I may try to email them.

I called technical support again and gave my service number.

The person I talked to this time seemed pretty well informed in regard to what I wanted, but he kept insisting that since Microsoft had written the EULA, I would need to contact them. Of course, the EULA itself says that I should contact the manufacturer of the computer, which is ASUS. The representative also reminded me that they do not sell computers without operating systems. I tried to explain that the fact that I can accept or decline the license indicates that the OS is a separate component. I also affirmed that I would have taken a no-OS computer if available.

We didn’t seem to be getting anywhere, so I asked whether I could talk with anyone else. He said that a supervisor would call me, so now we wait.

“Hi, I bought a laptop, which I received yesterday. When I booted it up for the first time, I was prompted with a license agreement for Windows Vista. It said that if I did not accept the agreement I should contact the manufacturer of the computer about getting a refund for the copy of Windows that came with the computer. I did not accept the agreement, and so I’d like to see about getting a refund for my copy of Windows.”

I called technical support this time. I had to wait on hold only for about a minute before I was able to speak with a representative. He patiently let me explain what I was asking about and then looked into it. He said that he wasn’t sure where I was getting the information about being able to obtain a refund from but that I could call back and talk to the supervisor in a few hours. I have a service number now, also, so I’m starting to develop a history with ASUS.

When I called back and selected Notebook Customer Service, I was again greeted promptly by a different but equally friendly representative. I explained my problem, and she instructed me to contact Microsoft. I then explained that the EULA directed me to contact the manufacturer of the computer at which point she instructed me to call back and select Technical Support from the menu.

I’m about to try again.

On my first call to ASUS, I selected Notebook Customer Service from the menu and without waiting was able to speak with someone. She was very friendly, and once I explained my situation she transfered me. Once the transfer was made, the phone rang for several minutes, but I did not get anyone nor did I get an answering machine.

I’m about to try calling back.

My laptop arrived today, and my brother videotaped me opening the box, reading the Windows Vista EULA, declining it, formatting both hard drives, installing Ubuntu, and booting from Ubuntu.

I doubt I’ll need character witnesses to confirm that I never intended to use Windows on this machine, but I’m sure I could find a few.

Well, if all goes well, I’ll have a new laptop before too long. I really like the extensibility/cheapness/do-it-yourself factor of desktops. For some reason, I also like the quasi-retro “computers must be large and boxy” feeling of desktop computers. Nevertheless, I’ve been convinced by two years of sitting by the lion¹ and not working, paying attention in class, taking notes by hand, and several days of laptop-less thesis work in the library that a laptop is the way to go. As added motivation, the Fox Box² is just getting slower and some of the sounds it makes are getting worse. I would fix it (because it’s a desktop) like I have in the past, but it needs new parts, and it’s just not worth it to upgrade this thing anymore because technology has improved so much.

Anyway, the laptop also comes with a mission: Get a refund for the copy of Microsoft Windows(r)(tm) that comes with it.

That’s right, I’m going to attempt to get reimbursed for the Microsoft tax. My plan consists of: filming (if possible) or at least photographing myself opening the box and not agreeing to the EULA, calling customer service, and taking it from there.

No matter what happens, I’ll definitely chronicle the experience here.

2 My computer’s name is “The Fox Box.” I’ve started retro-nyming it “The Fox Box version 1.0.”