Neat Net Tricks

What would YOU do if you bought what you thought was a $2,164.89 MacBook Pro and found instead a brick in the package? Read this amazing account of customer support (or lack thereof) ,

For those who are anxiously waiting the October release of Windows 7, read at least one author’s view as to why this latest operating system may fail.

I, like many others, have an iPhone. I first purchased it to keep on the cutting edge of technology; or, as some say “to keep up with the Joneses” or, to put it another way, to keep up with a brother-in-law who is always first to buy the latest gimmickry. It has since become an indispensable part of our lives, particularly when on the road, plotting out the next stop with its GPS, keeping on top of email, surfing on a postage-sized screen with its Internet connection, and playing around with hundreds of apps.

It’s a love/hate relationship, though. In metropolitan areas, its 3G service is fast (not “blazing” fast as some would label it, but, well, “fast”). But, in other areas I find far too many gaps in AT&T’s cell service and for that I shouldn’t have to pay $70 a month.

But, now, AT&T, ever mindful of its profit line, has begun testing a service in the Charlotte, NC area that promises to improve its reception. You either pay another $150 for what they call “Microcell” or you pay $50 after rebate and then an additional $20 a month. I’d like to cast my vote with the multitude of others who feel this is outrageous, to pay even more for AT&T to get its act together.

Later this week, users of the iPhone 3G will be able to send photos and audio clips along with text messages, and iPhone 3GS users can also attach video clips. This may very well slow the system even further, so what – and where – will the next ransom payment be?

As of this writing, there are 62 posts that will never make it to this blog.  They were identified and “captured” as spam by an excellent and hardworking plugin.

Please feel free to jump in and comment on what you see here, if it’s at least somewhat related to computers, the Internet, technology, that sort of stuff.

But if you’re selling something and  are trying to get on this blog with your ad and a thinly veiled comment, all I can say is

You’re #63.

I recently wrote a NNT article about  ”Duh!” moments. This one surely qualifies:

Jonathan Parker reportedly broke into a house and stole two diamond rings. While there, he used the victim’s laptop to log into his Facebook account, apparently for yet another useless post of what he was doing. He forgot to log off, nor did he take the computer with him. Detectives found it rather easy to track him down because his Facebook page and photo remained open long after he had deserted the premises.

Duh!

I’ve always thought you had to be a wronged party in order to bring a lawsuit against someone, but maybe I’m the one who is wrong. Microsoft has brought lawsuits against five companies for redirecting users to Web sites that advertise software purportedly preventing computer threats. To the contrary, the programs steal personal data or take control of one’s computer.

We’ve known a long time that such programs exist, but this is the first time to my knowledge that someone is taking action against the bad guys. I sure wish the Redmond folks a lot of success in this.

I’m so impressed with Microsoft’s action that I feel like going out and buying a copy of Vista.

Oh, excuse me, I got carried away there for a moment.

I once purchased an extended warranty for five years’ worth of repairs to my RV, only to find that it had so many loopholes it resembled swiss cheese. I purchased a software program that promised lifetime upgrades and support, only to later find that the promises had vanished unless I paid an extra fee. “Satisfaction Guaranteed” has become a catch phrase that has little meaning in so many of our day-to-day transactions.

These are just two examples I’m weaving into a future NNT article on what seems to be a growing trend, degraded customer support. I’m sure you have even better horror stories, so if you’d like to share, please comment here; or, if you’d like to comment in private, use the “Contact Me” button at the top of the screen.

The good news is that all reports indicate Windows 7 is a much improved operating system when compared to the embarrassing Vista, and for those of us who bought PCs with Vista installed, further good news is that the upgrade should go smoothly if you have the $$$$ to spring for yet another operating system. The bad news is that, according to Microsoft’s own estimates, it will take you between 2 hours 40 minutes to 5 hours 43 minutes to make the upgrade if you have 125 GB and 40 applications on your hard drive.

More bad news: If you didn’t take the Vista plunge and hung onto XP, you’ll have to do a complete clean install and that means wiping out and restoring everything. Plan on a full day of enjoyment for that, and hope that you aren’t running a business with hundreds or thousands of computers. If so, you’d better hire more IT staff, which of course will improve the economy with increased employment.

See, Microsoft has our best interests after all!

If you use Twitter you might need to know that its Terms of Service have just been changed. They allow placing any ads they deem appropriate on the Twitter page and you must agree to this in return for your use of Twitter. Twitter is also allowed to use, copy, reproduce, process, adapt, modify, publish, transmit, display, and distribute your Tweets but a Twitter spokesman said they belong to you.

Whatever that means.