looking for washer & dryer - consolation prize

[dagibbs]

So, last night I went looking for a washer & dryer. My appliances are old, still mostly functioning, but they occasionally deposit little stains on my clothers. The front-loading washers are nice, but bloody expensive, are they really worth the extra $500-1000? And, even non front loading are moderately expensive, and pretty boring, one is much like another. Buying a fridge was much more interesting -- a lot more differences between the various models, at least, a lot more differences that actually meant something rather than being unimportant, like the color of the dials. I didn't find anything that inspired me.

So, as a consolation, I went to the Chapters that was right next door to the two appliance stores that I had visitted. Found stuff to buy there. I bought:

• Narcissus in Chains - Laurell K. Hamilton. I've read it, but in a borrowed hardcover.
  
• War of Honor - David Weber. The latest Honor Harrington novel.
  
• The Paths of the Dead and The Lord of Castle Black - Steven Brust. Parts 1 and 2 of the 3rd volume of the trilogy that started with The Phoenix Guards. These are a Dumas pastiche, and the first two were a lot of fun.
  
• Angelmass - Timothy Zahn
  
• The Curse of Chalion - Lois McMaster Bujold. I have this in paperback, this was a discounted HC. Gives me a loaner copy.
  
• Ventus - Karl Schroeder. He's a Canadian author who has won an Aurora award, decided to give him a try with another discounted HC.
  
• The Year's Best Science Fiction - Twentieth Annual Collection - Gardner Dozois (ed). I've been buying this series as they come out for a while now. A very good, large, collection of 2002's short SF.
  
  
  Oooo books!

Comments

[rmeidaking.livejournal.com]

About washers and dryers: Ten years ago, I got an apartment that had a washer hook-up, but no washer. My landlord said I could obtain a washer, and take it with me when I left, but she was having no part of it. I looked at a bunch of washers, and finally actually went in debt to get a high-capacity, heavy duty washer (top loading). It has been actually almost 11 years now, and it has never needed a repair. I'm not sure anyone has even done things like oiling it. It has just done the laundry week in and week out through half a dozen moves.

In my opinion, it is worth the money to get a heavy duty washer. I think the washer cost around $600 waybackwhen; that works out to about $1 per week - and it's still going strong. The difference between the heavy duty machines and the ordiary ones is quality of parts. The low-end machines use a lesser grade of metal, and even plastic parts, which fail sooner. I vote for paying for quality now, rather than paying for repairs later.

I *want* a front-load machine; I want the ability to wash comforters and drapes and sleeping bags without going to the laundromat, which isn't an option with the agitator in the middle of the washer. But I have a real problem getting a new appliance when the one I have isn't broken.

Your new washer will be with you a long time. Buy a good one.