The store smelled like ozone and fresh plastic. He bypassed the high-end gaming rigs, weaving through the aisles until he found the row of . A blue-shirted employee named Sarah approached, sensing his urgency.

Leo stared at the cracked screen of his old laptop, watching the cursor freeze for the third time that hour. With a final project due by midnight and his budget dwindling, he grabbed his keys and headed to the local .

"I need something fast and cheap," Leo said, gesturing to the display.

Sarah tapped a sleek, silver . "This one is currently $249 ," she said. "But we have an HP model on sale for $179 today."