UPDATE: I've sweetened the pot a bit. I'm willing to put up design services in return for donations – you could get a logo design package in return for your donation for no extra cost! Read how at the bottom of the post.It's been a difficult few days hereabouts. I've mentioned why: on Sunday, the trustworthy PowerMac G4 which has helped me get what few triumphs I've so far achieved in design, and helps me compete to the degree I can compete, quit working.
We've narrowed it down to the power supply. No big deal right? They have them by the bushel for $5-$15 at FreeGeek.
Well, my friends, you haven't priced power supplies for a PowerMac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors) vintage 2003-2004. I'm still getting over the shock. New ones cost up to (are you sitting down?) $400.
This can essentially put me out of business for a while. I don't really want to be out of business for a while. And anyone reading this can imagine what it's like to struggle and hit the mark occasionally only to have your essential tool die on you or disappear just when you need it the most.
So, I'm humbly and sincerely asking for the assistance of the general public. If I've entertained you a little, found a tip that helped you, fired your interest in type, tutorials, or just having fun designing or blogging right now, I really need your help.
At the top of the blog sidebar there's a donation link to PayPal. No amount is really too small, and I'm only looking for enough to fix the PowerMac G4 (which was serving me really well). Any amount I can get will help defray the expense at least. And maybe we can get a little internet-famous doing it? (I'd blog it of course).
Anyway, any help I could get from anyone will be more than appreciated. Right now I have nothing to give in return but my gratitude, but I tell you all this: any boon directed my way will, at the very least, be paid forward. Because when I succeed, people who made it possible will succeed as well.
Moreover, any in excess of what I need to get the computer back on my desktop working will be applied toward a worthy charity, such as EFF or anything that keeps the internet available for all (it will probably be EFF).
Thank you in advance.
Update as stated above: I have just decided that there will be a sort of a prize attached to this. Judging by the costs, it should take, if I can get a new power supply, about $450 to get the job done.
If and when the donation hits or exceeds that target, the person who made the largest donation will receive a logo design package. That means I will design for you a logo and a complete business system (business card, envelope, and letterhead). Want to have a professional finish to whatever activity it is you're doing? Nothing does it like a custom logo design. And my going rate for the basic service is comparable to the target I'm trying to reach ... which means that you'll be getting this valuable service at a discount.
Here's an example of what I can do.
So, what do you all say? Help a fellow out?
Thanks again.
6 comments:
And that's the number one reason to build your own Windows machine :) Upgrading (or replacing busted parts) doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Yes, it's not as "designerly" but it also doesn't have the painful price tag.
Ah. Well, yes.
Actually, I've put together enough
Windows machines to know that, yes, Windows/Intel hardware is typically less expensive.
Actually, I have no beef with Windows. If it works, it works. I didn't choose Macintosh because it's "designerly". I chose Macintosh because I like Macintosh.
How was I to know that my power supply would die ... or that it would cost that much to replace it?
Now, this may be a bit of a touchy point, but do you think maybe the one thing that this struggling designer newly bereft of his machine (and unsure when he's going to get it back) needed to see was a reminder that if he'd gone Windows he wouldn't have this problem?
I suppose we could switch to a Windows box but I'd still need to get the stuff off of my old Mac anyway. And, even as onerous as a new Mac power supply is, it's still the most economical way to go, when considering all my options.
Thanks for the comment.
After an hours-long war with paypal to prove to its satisfaction that I exist, I got it set up and threw a pittance toward the cause. Apparently it's got to go through the bank routing and so on, but the check is in the mail. Really!
I don't like paypal.
Best of luck on all this.
Thank you, Dale, thank you so very much.
I meant what I said - each donation is important. I value it as much as if you'd donated much more.
I thank you.
Eek! I'm hoping I just didn't hear the sarcasm in your comment, John. If I truly offended, I really didn't mean to.
I agree, whatever works, works. Um... bad choice of words. I mean, whatever you work best on or like best is best for you. The Mac vs. PC thing is really old, but seems to be one of those things we designers joke about.
And I assure you, you'd have problems with a Windows machine, too. Me? I just lost one of my 2 GB RAM chips. Photoshop doesn't run on Vista with 2 GB of RAM left... Vista hardly runs on 2 GB of RAM!!
Well, Lauren, not sarcasm ... just a little pain maybes.
I knew you weren't intending to be mean or anything like that. So no harm done really, especially since you apologized right there.
Sometimes a joke may not be as appropriate to the situation as we might otherwise think. I've been there too.
PS doesn't work with WinVista and 2Gigs ram? Wow. I wouldn't have known it. I've tried Vista out ... It certainly looks slick ... but I tend to stay out of those discussions because I have very little actual experience with it.
One thing I think we'll both agree on is that those visual goodies will cost you. Most people I talk to like it, except the power users, who will have to be dragged kicking and screaming from XP, it would seem.
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