Visually, the iPod's interface is 'pretty'. Interacting with it using the wheel is annoying all get out. When I want to go up a list, I want to press up to go there, instead of dragging a counterclockwise circle on the face of my music player. Likewise, going down, I want the same method: Press down. When I want to turn the thing off, can I just have a plain old power button to press, or a switch to flick, or something obvious? I actually feel embarrassed to admit to this, but I actually had to ask the friend who handed me his iPod how to turn the damn thing off. Holding play to turn it off is a bit counter-intuitive, once again. To agitate the point, the RCA Lyra, a much, much older digital audio player would simply have you press play to turn it on (makes sense), and then hold stop for 3 seconds to turn it off (also makes sense).
I don't recall seeing a menu entry that suggests that you are turning off the iPod, or suspending it to low power, or something, but I think I may have been too agitated by the thing to have seen it.
As for the car analogy that was there, yes, I've been behind the wheel of both, but I have a slight preference for the Metro. Could be the whole "I'm a car." versus the "There's more eagle under the floorboard. I'd hate to see you miss out on so much eagle." approach that I take to things.
Yes, I feel that the iPod is just eye candy. The UI is abysmal, that damn wheel is annoying, and whatever happened to something as logical as what my Sansa c240 with Rockbox uses? The iPhone is useless glitter. Sorry, but I don't want a phone that isn't a clamshell. I also want a phone that can take a beating like my Samsung A640 and A900 did. The 900's been kicked across a four lane road, thrown down a stairwell during an argument, dropped, juggled, and all around beaten. Thing lasted nearly two years before I finally managed to crack the bottom of the chassis and decide, "Yeah, time to use the replacement plan anyway." The Wii would be interesting, since it's different, but I'll leave the WiiFit to the others. And finally, yes, I would rather drive a Geo Metro instead of a Honda Civic.
As for things like semitransparent windows... I'll let someone else use those. I'm not a fan.
"I assure you sir, I am as American as you, and my name is Billy". Said with a very convincing tone - with an Indian inflection.
Unfortunately, this happens to a few of my coworkers down here in the sunny dangly parts of the USA.
They've got their citizenship. They have an accent, just like we all do, depending on our region and upbringing.
The guy you're referencing really might be sitting in an American call center on American soil, trying his hardest to not get handle time raped by jerks who want to spend 15 minutes pretending they can't understand them, even though he's quite understandable.
I find this statement amusing, since my previous month's usage of my Sprint connection (dedicated mobile broadband card) was in the neighborhood of 20 GB, AND I've not been given notice that there is a hard 5 GB cap in the last 4 months like some users.
Might be because my account is attached to my (former) employer as a corporate account (which is cool, but also a pain since you can't do some things via the internet).
I've seen the nightmare, and I am a(n outsourced) Dell tech.
I always rib my friends about their computers -- one bought a Gateway ($75 deposit for a replacement HDD. Wow!), and the other got an Inspiron (I kept tellin' him, Latitude. Not Inspiron!)
You're right that the majority of people here haven't seen the nightmare that is Dell consumer support. I feel my heart break when I get an Inspiron or Dimension user on the line who needs service, because I've already got the answer for their issue, but I can't dispatch service to them, being a business group tech, and I know what I have to send them into.
I actually sat through a transfer across the queues, explained to the tech what was going on, and what needed to be done, and then brought the customer on the line. I muted my mic, and listened to this call.
It made me realize that I have to work harder to keep people happy, after getting service like that. That's why I always tell my friends who are getting Dells to get either a Latitude, Optiplex, or an XPS. Maybe a Vostro. At least on our side of the line, and in my center, most of us care about the caller and their issue.
Maybe when it stops hurting so bad to ride transfers over to InspiDim will I consider those computers to be viable, too.
As for making it forcefully known that you probably know what you're talking about, that's not really necessary, and just makes you one of those rude customers to me, at least. If you call in, say something like: "A key has fallen off the keyboard, and cannot be reseated," All I'll do is ask which key was it, get your mailing information, an email address to send you the case number, a phone number in case I need to ring you back about the dispatch, generate a short case through our utils, and while I'm making the dispatch, give you the standard "Please return the old part to us using the shipping label" bit. I'll even ask you if there are other Dells that need parts while I have your information on screen, just to save you the verification time that you spent already and hammer out any other dispatches you need.
All in all, the first computer takes me about six minutes to set up, and the rest are usually 3-4 minutes each. If you really have to go, then I offer to send case data by email and let you go.
Tell the *whole* truth when you're telling the truth, won't you? You sound like you were either in the Inspiron/Dimension queue, where they lose phone support on their computers when the contract itself expires, or in the Dell on Call queue where I have no clue WTF they call themselves doing.
I'm actually working with Stream for Dell right now. Optiplex/Latitude Businesses queue. Quite honestly, I deal with people on a day to day basis that have computers that were sold so long ago, you would almost wonder how they're still running.
The ONLY people we 'turn away' are people who have Gold or ProSupport Contracts, cannot verify ownership for tasks that require that (OS Reinstalls, BIOS Password Resets, etc), or computers that are NOT Optiplex or Latitude. It's not really a turn away, however, as much as it is a "Let me update your contact information, and then I'll get a tech from the right queue on the line for you. Is that acceptable?" I've only had a few people refuse that, given that we ride that transfer over to whatever queue, give the receiving agent the information, verify that they will assist the customer, and then bring them on the line.
The ONLY time we charge for anything is when the person is out of warranty, and cannot renew the warranty for whatever reason, and they need to order a part, OR if we actually sell something to someone (eg: External HDD for (l)users who don't even have a backup solution and are crying over losing all their data because we need to reinstall Windows to get rid of their huge spyware and virus infecti^W^W^W^W^W^W^W^W^W^W for whatever reason that's valid).
Funny thing, though, is that I've given Inspiron/Dimension users "hints on what to say" to a tech from their queue to get things fixed up for them.
Oh, and by the way, cheers from the sunny dangly-bits of the United States. Slap on some suntan lotion so we won't burn, won't you? It won't do to be red as a lobster there.:B
Before this topic, I was honestly in the dark on these drugs -- I didn't really notice any of their existence. Given how unable I am to focus on a topic, I don't think it'd hurt me too much to try out one of those.
Plus, the links you've offered are a perk -- It gives me something to start with.
You are aware that if someone has your PIN number in the US, they can still purchase a money order with your Debit card at a Post Office, right?
I'm aware of this, as I buy money orders every two weeks, and it certainly helps that I don't have to pay $4 (!) in ATM fees to withdraw a couple hundred bucks to go get said money order.
Slashdot Mirror
Visually, the iPod's interface is 'pretty'. Interacting with it using the wheel is annoying all get out. When I want to go up a list, I want to press up to go there, instead of dragging a counterclockwise circle on the face of my music player. Likewise, going down, I want the same method: Press down. When I want to turn the thing off, can I just have a plain old power button to press, or a switch to flick, or something obvious?
I actually feel embarrassed to admit to this, but I actually had to ask the friend who handed me his iPod how to turn the damn thing off.
Holding play to turn it off is a bit counter-intuitive, once again.
To agitate the point, the RCA Lyra, a much, much older digital audio player would simply have you press play to turn it on (makes sense), and then hold stop for 3 seconds to turn it off (also makes sense).
I don't recall seeing a menu entry that suggests that you are turning off the iPod, or suspending it to low power, or something, but I think I may have been too agitated by the thing to have seen it.
As for the car analogy that was there, yes, I've been behind the wheel of both, but I have a slight preference for the Metro. Could be the whole "I'm a car." versus the "There's more eagle under the floorboard. I'd hate to see you miss out on so much eagle." approach that I take to things.
To answer your questions:
Yes, I feel that the iPod is just eye candy. The UI is abysmal, that damn wheel is annoying, and whatever happened to something as logical as what my Sansa c240 with Rockbox uses?
The iPhone is useless glitter. Sorry, but I don't want a phone that isn't a clamshell. I also want a phone that can take a beating like my Samsung A640 and A900 did. The 900's been kicked across a four lane road, thrown down a stairwell during an argument, dropped, juggled, and all around beaten. Thing lasted nearly two years before I finally managed to crack the bottom of the chassis and decide, "Yeah, time to use the replacement plan anyway."
The Wii would be interesting, since it's different, but I'll leave the WiiFit to the others.
And finally, yes, I would rather drive a Geo Metro instead of a Honda Civic.
As for things like semitransparent windows... I'll let someone else use those. I'm not a fan.
Hm, I'd think it'd be more of a "too late" thing, actually.
The Hajj should be over with on 10 December 2008, should my memory serve me well.
"I assure you sir, I am as American as you, and my name is Billy". Said with a very convincing tone - with an Indian inflection.
Unfortunately, this happens to a few of my coworkers down here in the sunny dangly parts of the USA.
They've got their citizenship. They have an accent, just like we all do, depending on our region and upbringing.
The guy you're referencing really might be sitting in an American call center on American soil, trying his hardest to not get handle time raped by jerks who want to spend 15 minutes pretending they can't understand them, even though he's quite understandable.
... that Stallman wants us to be free to call him God, or whatever the word is in your language and/or religion?
I'm no pro[phet|grammer], but something sounds a little fishy here.
Except that this has already been accomplished, which already scratches that particular itch, man. Sorry. :)
I find this statement amusing, since my previous month's usage of my Sprint connection (dedicated mobile broadband card) was in the neighborhood of 20 GB, AND I've not been given notice that there is a hard 5 GB cap in the last 4 months like some users.
Might be because my account is attached to my (former) employer as a corporate account (which is cool, but also a pain since you can't do some things via the internet).
I've seen the nightmare, and I am a(n outsourced) Dell tech.
I always rib my friends about their computers -- one bought a Gateway ($75 deposit for a replacement HDD. Wow!), and the other got an Inspiron (I kept tellin' him, Latitude. Not Inspiron!)
You're right that the majority of people here haven't seen the nightmare that is Dell consumer support. I feel my heart break when I get an Inspiron or Dimension user on the line who needs service, because I've already got the answer for their issue, but I can't dispatch service to them, being a business group tech, and I know what I have to send them into.
I actually sat through a transfer across the queues, explained to the tech what was going on, and what needed to be done, and then brought the customer on the line. I muted my mic, and listened to this call.
It made me realize that I have to work harder to keep people happy, after getting service like that. That's why I always tell my friends who are getting Dells to get either a Latitude, Optiplex, or an XPS. Maybe a Vostro. At least on our side of the line, and in my center, most of us care about the caller and their issue.
Maybe when it stops hurting so bad to ride transfers over to InspiDim will I consider those computers to be viable, too.
As for making it forcefully known that you probably know what you're talking about, that's not really necessary, and just makes you one of those rude customers to me, at least. If you call in, say something like: "A key has fallen off the keyboard, and cannot be reseated," All I'll do is ask which key was it, get your mailing information, an email address to send you the case number, a phone number in case I need to ring you back about the dispatch, generate a short case through our utils, and while I'm making the dispatch, give you the standard "Please return the old part to us using the shipping label" bit. I'll even ask you if there are other Dells that need parts while I have your information on screen, just to save you the verification time that you spent already and hammer out any other dispatches you need.
All in all, the first computer takes me about six minutes to set up, and the rest are usually 3-4 minutes each. If you really have to go, then I offer to send case data by email and let you go.
Weird, innit?
Tell the *whole* truth when you're telling the truth, won't you?
:B
You sound like you were either in the Inspiron/Dimension queue, where they lose phone support on their computers when the contract itself expires, or in the Dell on Call queue where I have no clue WTF they call themselves doing.
I'm actually working with Stream for Dell right now. Optiplex/Latitude Businesses queue.
Quite honestly, I deal with people on a day to day basis that have computers that were sold so long ago, you would almost wonder how they're still running.
The ONLY people we 'turn away' are people who have Gold or ProSupport Contracts, cannot verify ownership for tasks that require that (OS Reinstalls, BIOS Password Resets, etc), or computers that are NOT Optiplex or Latitude. It's not really a turn away, however, as much as it is a "Let me update your contact information, and then I'll get a tech from the right queue on the line for you. Is that acceptable?" I've only had a few people refuse that, given that we ride that transfer over to whatever queue, give the receiving agent the information, verify that they will assist the customer, and then bring them on the line.
The ONLY time we charge for anything is when the person is out of warranty, and cannot renew the warranty for whatever reason, and they need to order a part, OR if we actually sell something to someone (eg: External HDD for (l)users who don't even have a backup solution and are crying over losing all their data because we need to reinstall Windows to get rid of their huge spyware and virus infecti^W^W^W^W^W^W^W^W^W^W for whatever reason that's valid).
Funny thing, though, is that I've given Inspiron/Dimension users "hints on what to say" to a tech from their queue to get things fixed up for them.
Oh, and by the way, cheers from the sunny dangly-bits of the United States. Slap on some suntan lotion so we won't burn, won't you? It won't do to be red as a lobster there.
That's some pretty interesting stuff.
:)
Before this topic, I was honestly in the dark on these drugs -- I didn't really notice any of their existence. Given how unable I am to focus on a topic, I don't think it'd hurt me too much to try out one of those.
Plus, the links you've offered are a perk -- It gives me something to start with.
Thanks.
We're no strangers to v4. You know ipchains, and so do I. A full traceroute's what I'm thinking of. You wouldn't ping it with any other guy. :)
You are aware that if someone has your PIN number in the US, they can still purchase a money order with your Debit card at a Post Office, right?
I'm aware of this, as I buy money orders every two weeks, and it certainly helps that I don't have to pay $4 (!) in ATM fees to withdraw a couple hundred bucks to go get said money order.