For some reason I had occasion to closely examine the hardware specs on my new Powerbook. It’s a new-reconditioned machine from Apple, and I had thought that I was getting something like a 15% discount on the configuration with one important bell and whistle, the DVD-burning superdrive.

To my shock, it became apparent to me that the machine is the default high-end configuration on the model that I purchased, and includes multiple items not specified on my original order. What can I say but “thanks, Apple!”