Or how a new laptop is going to be both a bane and a curse
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Plugged In

This week, Plugged In is lathering itself with baby oil, getting the waterbed out the loft, and putting on some Craig David.

Friends, a rare event has occurred. It's more unusual than leap years, the World Cup, and total solar eclipses — yes, traveller, I got a new personal laptop.

giphy-Dec-23-2021-02-40-48-42-PMMy whole being right now.

 

This is fantastic for two main reasons. The first, obviously, is that I have a new laptop.

My old MacBook has lasted me for almost eight years (and even survived a coffee spill or two). It's still a gorgeous machine that works incredibly well, but it is showing its age.

The time was nigh for a change.

Since Apple announced the new MacBook Pro I've been besotted. Yes, the notch is kinda dumb, but everything else sparkles. From a hardware sense, it's a return to form.

giphy-downsized-Dec-24-2021-10-35-56-50-AMThe feeling I have when I see the MagSafe connector, SD card slot, and the M1 Pro chip on the new MacBook.

 

And the second reason why getting a new laptop is fantastic? Easy: content. 

The next few editions of this newsletter are sorted. The journey of setting up a brand spanking new personal computer for the first time in nearly a decade is going to be a rich vein to mine for word nuggets.

With that in mind, I've gotta go. I'm... busy. Something just came up. Urgent. It was an urgent thing that just came up.

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See you in 2022, beautiful people.

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Need a gadget under $50? WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED, HOMIE!

A review you’re required to read

Look, I know the last thing you want to think about right now is work, but hear me out.

Below this text are images of laptops. The laptops in question are Xiaomi’s Mi Notebook Ultra range.

And they are excellent work machines.

image-Dec-24-2021-10-04-28-33-AM

If you want to find out why that's the case. Well, you know how.

Here’s a cool thing (also, cya)

giphy-downsized-Dec-23-2021-04-18-14-91-PM

It's almost the end of the year and that means one thing: my Last.FM listening charts are almost complete.

Okay, yeah, there are still a few more days to go, but at this point, I don't think anything is going to knock off my most listened to track of the year. 

Which is...

giphy-Dec-24-2021-09-04-20-07-AM

'CLOSING IN,' BY GOAT GIRL!!!

At the time of writing, I've listened to it 180 times in 2021 — and you know what? I'm still not sick of it.

I love the shuffling sound, how lead singer Clottie Cream's gruff vocals seems to hang a breath behind the beat, and the way the track builds and swells throughout.

So, this is my Christmas gift to you: three-and-a-half perfect minutes.

You're very welcome.

(P.S. Eagle-eyed readers will know I recommended Goat Girl's album, On All Fours, earlier this year. It remains an excellent listen).

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Tell your enemies all about Plugged In. I'll see the rest of you later.

callum

Peas & Louvre,

Callum.

(Heckle me on Twitter here and on Instagram here).

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