[driven]

Check this out:

I'm flying home from Washington, D.C. on Friday. While the plane lands the overhead bin pops open and my laptop bag falls out. All of my crap lands all over the isle. Once the seatbelt sign went off I crawled around the floor picking up all the little items.

Well ... after I get home I realize that my power-adapter is missing. Damn. So ... I call Dell. I *NEED* this machine up and running for a Monday morning project. I ask where can I get a power-adapter by Monday. They tell me they can *SHIP* by Monday. I said "Any retail location?" She said "No ... we don't sell our replacement parts at retail."

Crap. Anyway: I've wanted a Macbook Pro to replace this machine anyway, but I was hoping to wait for better financials. That said: Right now I don't have the luxury of being without a laptop. So ... I go to the Apple store and buy a new MBP and come home. (I had enough battery power to get my project files off of the Dell.)

Why did I decide to get an Apple instead of going to Best Buy?

Simple: Apple retail stores! If I ever need a power brick, or pretty much any accessory part I can always walk into a store and buy what I need. That's a HUGE advantage when you simply don't have time for downtime.

[Cold Warrior]

Best Buy and some other electronics folks often sell Dell-compatible power bricks.

[driven]

I did stop in to BB and Circuit City. They didn't seem to have anything. The Dell I have has an 85W brick. If I use the standard (60W?) it throws a fit.

Anyway: On short notice I'd rather do what I did. Besides, it's an awesome machine that I should have purchased a while ago. I'm sort of happy that disaster shoved me off the fence.

[Cold Warrior]

Can't disagree with you there. The MBP is a great machine. Your lost Dell brick was a blessing in disguise.

[vasu]

you can also grab macbook/pro power adapters at many, if not most best buys now