"A SUBSTANCE OF STYLE MOMENT"
From my sister-in-law, Pam Postrel:
I had one this morning. I went into a new cafe in Pasadena to have some breakfast and write stuff for work. I pulled out my brand spanking new 17" PowerBook (long story, but I got a really good deal on it that I couldn't pass up and it arrived on Monday) When the cashier, who was clearly not a computer geek and seemingly not a local student, brought my food over, she gasped when she saw my new paramour powered up.
"That is the most beautiful laptop I've ever seen!" she exclaimed with genuine awe.
"Ain't it?" I replied.
As a matter of fact, I told Evie [her daughter] this morning that I was so in love with it I thought I might marry it. Look and feel, indeed.
The American Express people call that the "clerk double-take" when it happens--as it has to me several times--with the AmEx blue card.