Frenchy: Those one-use credit cards can come with a caviot. Many vendors will put through a "test charge" before really billing the card. So if you plan to donate $10, and create the card for only $10, then it may get denied because a test charge of a dollar or so was first attempted, and then the one-use card did not have enough remaining money to cover the real $10. You are not actually billed for these test charges, but they count against the maximum amount you allowed for the card. Some merchants even test with the full amount of the purchase, so you have to double the amount you really want to spend when you create the one-use card.

I usually create a card for $10 over what I really need. That goes through most of the time. When it doesn't, I increase the amount on the card to double the expected purchase amount.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'd prefer to get Chris something that he doesn't have to deal with personally, service-wise, if something breaks--which it will. He's not a geek, neither am I, and there's a huge advantage to being able to pick up the phone and get someone over to fix it. It's not a good deal no matter how cheap, when you have to take it in to be fixed, then wait until they get around to it. Fine for some, but not fine for "work" when being without a computer just shuts you down. OTOH, no sense paying so much for a warranty/service deal that you could just replace the dang thing.

By bare bones, I am talking about a basic Celeron class computer, 256 MB RAM, standard size HD, etc. not a build it yourself job. As to local built computers, my personal experience with same has been considerably less than satisfactory, as has that of friends and business associates who have tried that route. For better or worse, a name brand with good service rep and warranty is worth a little extra in terms of long term reliability and lower blood pressure. Chris and I have enough challenges dealing with computers as it is. <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Donation sent with extra for the %3 CC fee.

oh ! I see....
So, let's start with "COMPUTERS - 101"

"Tthat big board with keys on it, is called a KEYBOARD. You use it to enter information in the computer.

Next week, we will continue with THE MONITOR (aka video aka screen aso...)."

<img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The MONITOR is the big thing I aim the UZI at, right? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

yes, you might be right...even if I don't see why JustGive.org would need to test the card for. Either they get the money or they don't. Anyway they don't have any product to send, nothing to loose...

see... ??!!??
you already get it ...!!!! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

(well... I guess UZI is hebrew for "mouse"... ???!!??)

(I always wanted to try to sell to my gun clug a video trainer eliminating the need for long distance ranges: you just put a monitor on a table at 5m, and depending on the distance you want to train for, the screen shows a target of the appropriate apparent size. Wonderful for city's club, where a 50m range is not possible, don't even think about 100 or 300m...
But they didn't want my idea... they say the cost for the replacement of the monitor would be a nuisance ... go figure !

Well, now THAT explains why the Doug Ritter survival kits are so sorely lacking in the basics: Anti-static wrist strap, boot floppy, spare harddisk, CD with latest Windows hotfixes...

<img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

He certainly does, I know a great shrink................ <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Donation to be made this evening.

Geeez. You guys are hard on your gear. Chris does know that little thing on the front isn't a cup holder, right?