I recently saw a video tour of the International Space Station given by one of the Astronauts. I noticed that when she went past the computers in the US section, they were ThinkPads. You need a reliable computer on the ISS because new parts are not at the corner computer store.

My oldest ThinkPad was made by IBM before it was sold to Lenovo, it was purchased in late 2002 or early 2003 and it's still running perfectly. It goes from the house to the van where it changes temperature - out of the van to the gig where it changes temp again and bounces on a keyboard stand all night, back in the van for a bumpy ride home, and back in the house for each and every gig. How many other brands of computers can do that and still work flawlessly a decade or more later?

Perhaps Mac, they are also made well. But if all else fails on the gig, or the day before a gig, I can drive to any office or department store and get another Windows computer instantly to save the gig. Can't do that with a Mac.

The ThinkPads are rugged and dependable. And that is what you need in the International Space Station and on a music gig.

But I still carry the spare. In over a decade of use, the spare came in handy twice, and that saved the gig. And if you blow the gig, who knows how many other gigs you won't get. Bad word-of-mouth travels very quickly from one entertainment purchaser to another.

Insights and incites by Notes

Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
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