"New" MacBook Pro!!

So the big news this post (and probably a few more in the future) is my new laptop :-). I'm a big mac fan, and have been using them since I was about 9 years old. That poses a slight problem with the whole saving like, mad so we can live like no one else later. For me a PeeCee is not even an option as I've never bought one, and I don't plan on starting anytime soon! Macs tend to be a bit on the expensive side, though I would argue that comparing oranges to oranges they really aren't as inflated as people think. (I think I just started a flame-war ;-))

I've been getting by on my 4 year old PowerMac G4, but it's starting to get a little outdated. However, as a testament to Macs even after 4 years it's currently been running for 251 days without a reboot. And it's out only computer, so my wife and I both use it all the time. My problem is that the charting software I use is Windows only, so I have to run it emulated with Virtual PC. And my OS (10.3.9) is too old to run my stock trading platform. So I have just been using the limited web-based platform at home, and then I have the desktop version on my work PC.

Seeing other people with brand-new laptops has been tough, but every time I just repeat the phrase "Live like no one else, so you can LIVE like no one else!". But my moment finally came. I had totally forgotten that December was an "extra paycheck" month, so it wasn't figured into our long-term financial plan. Even nerds have to let go sometimes, so I figured it was now or never. Once I convinced my wife it was OK, I figured I better get it before she changed her mind ;-)!

I was actually going to wait until December, but a good deal came by that was just too hard to pass up. I got a 10% off ($100 max) coupon from eBay that expired 11/30, and then I discovered an amazing deal put on my Microsoft Live! search. I found a NIB MacBook Pro 15" (MB134LL/A) on eBay for $1,399 that qualified for the 25% cashback ($200 max), so I took it! It's the previous model, so it's not the latest and greatest ... but a $1999 laptop for $1099 is nothing to laugh at! I do find it very ironic that Microsoft is giving me cashback for an Apple product ;-). I still don't have the cashback in my account yet, but everybody says it can take up to 2 business days. It was posted all over eBay, so it seemed legit. It better be, or my wife will kill me!

Updates
As promised last time, I'm including the current state of all my positions. Which by the way are looking much better than last post so procrastinating paid off ;-).

AMZN Jan 40P/65C (Currently up $19.20 (2.06%)) - Amazon had a failed rally today. In the morning trading it ran up over $4.00, and then closed $0.81 in the red. It's been following the lower bollinger pretty close for a while so a rally could come anytime. But with rallies like today it's hard to trust anything for a legitimate reverse to leg out on.

FDX Jan 60P/80C (Currently down $94.30 (8.80%)) - This one finally made a move. It broke through support yesterday, and strongly continued that move today. I almost reached break-even at the low today, so this one is starting to look fairly hopeful. The temptation will be too just dump it when I reach break-even, but I'll see how it looks then.

MS Apr 15P/20C (Currently up $60.70 (7.21%)) - Another stock that's just following the lower bollinger. It's still got a lot of time and it's almost to 10%, so not much to worry about here :-).

SLB Jan 55P/65C (Currently down $126.80 (6.56%)) - Oil dropped today again, and SLB exaggerated that move. Down over 16% today, which gained me $1,085 on my strangle! It's now below all my indicators, so who knows.