Ironic since they were quite expensive at well over $1000.00 only a handful of years ago

I just started working on this machine this weekend. I had purchased a copy of XP Tablet on eBay but try as I would it would not install. I updated the BIOS and tweaked it and did everything I could but would still get the Blue Screen of Death when the computer went to reboot for the first time during installation. (remember, by the way, no CD drive on this machine. I used a USB drive with no problems).

Finally I tried a copy of XP I had from an old computer and it installed perfectly. So I don't know what the issue was, except that the XP Tablet edition I had was originally for an HP tablet not a Thinkpad. Who knows, but something was missing or wrong. Anyway the regular XP Professional installed fine.

Now I am going through the inevitable process of downloading drivers and getting everything working. So far I am about 60% done. The drivers are out there it just takes a while. I recommend a company called Driver Agent as a huge help. There is a small annual subscription but it is not a lot, and they search your machine and figure out which drivers are missing or bad and supply them for download. They are not perfect but a lot easier on the odd ball stuff. Oh and of course I have run Windows Update about a hundred times...

My machine is SLOW with only 512mb of RAM. I will be adding more. Also these resale units typically are missing stuff. Mine had the hard disk and caddy which I was told may not come with it, but no charger or battery, also no stylus pen. The batteries are out there for a few bucks. For the charger I am using a universal laptop charger. Oh and the hard disk is NOT a standard laptop disk but smaller in size. And a little slower. But they are out there on eBay also if you need one.

I have not tested the tablet functionality but once all the drivers are installed it will be fun...we are multi computer house so this is not an urgent project for me, more for fun. It is a really nice compact laptop bigger than a netbook but nice size. Not cutting edge but the current Lenovo version is $1400.00 I think!

How to buy A Diamond

1. Choose your qualified diamond jeweler just like you would choose your doctor, lawyer, or any other professional. Ideally, your jeweler is a GIA-trained Graduate Gemologist (G.G.) or Accredited Jewelry Professional (A.J.P.) and is affiliated with jewelry industry groups and professional associations such as the American Gem Society (AGS) and American Gem Trade Association (AGTA). A knowledgeable jeweler will clearly explain the 4Cs of diamond quality and encourage you to compare a number of diamonds that fall into your price range.

2. Learn the 4Cs of diamond quality, the key to a diamond’s value and subsequent price.

Carat

Diamonds are weighed in carats with one carat weighing about the same as a paper clip, or 0.2 grams. Just as a dollar is divided into 100 pennies, a carat is divided into 100 points which means that a diamond of 50 points weighs 0.50 carats. But two diamonds of equal weight can have very different values depending on their clarity, color, and cut. Carat weight is the most intuitive of the 4Cs – you expect a larger diamond to be worth more.

Clarity

Because they are created deep within the earth, most diamonds contain unique birthmarks called inclusions (internal) and blemishes (external). Diamonds without these clarity characteristics are rare – and rarity translates to higher cost when purchasing diamonds. Using the GIA Diamond Grading System, diamonds are given a clarity grade that ranges from Flawless to Included (I3).

Color

Colorless diamonds are extremely rare and very valuable - most are nearly colorless with yellow or brown tints. The GIA Diamond Grading System uses letters to represent colors, beginning with D (colorless) and ending at Z (light yellow or brown). Many of these color distinctions are so subtle that they are invisible to the untrained eye but these slight color differences make a big difference in price.

Cut

While diamonds come in many different shapes, including round brilliants, hearts, pears , and marquises, cut has to do with proportion and the arrangement of facets. The sheer beauty of a diamond depends on cut more than anything else, using light to create brilliance, sparkle, and flashes of fire. The GIA Cut Scale ranges from Excellent to Poor. GIA provides a cut quality grade for standard round brilliant diamonds that fall in the D-to-Z color range.

3. Get your diamond reports. Insist that your diamond come with grading report or, for other gemstones, an identification report from an independent, accredited gemological laboratory like GIA - your assurance of value, quality, and authenticity. GIA Diamond Grading Reports are the most widely used reports in the industry and offers laboratory grading services and reports directly to the public. Since GIA only grades unmounted diamonds, they recommend working with your jeweler so that your diamond is submitted correctly.

4. Keep your purchase secure. Before you surprise your love with a piece of diamond jewelry, have the piece appraised and insured. Appraisers and insurers rely on diamond grading and identification reports to accurately evaluate the quality and value of gems.