That's the thing about rich people, though. How do you think they got "rich" in the first place? It certainly wasn't by spending any money they made at the drop of a hat. It was by purchasing what they "want"/need as cheaply as they could find.
My father doesn't have the house he's in (purchased at around $90k, now worth twice as much) from wasting all his money on expensive crap. Hell, he still has the stereo he had from when I was a kid (and the speakers he purchased a few years later after the ones it came with died). When the amp blew, he didn't throw the whole thing away and buy new, he had the damned thing repaired. He did finally (about 10 or so years ago) replace the old 27" console TV with a new one.
The only large amounts of money I've ever seen him spend are things that improved the quality of his house and lowered his bills. Solar panels, high efficiency appliances, etc -- his electric bill went from over $400 a month to somewhere around $25 a month as he doesn't have the battery option for his solar gear.
Wow.. I went way off the topic here.. At least I have the karma to burn.:)
people are cheap. mind numbingly cheap. even rich people can be cheap. if a business could get the electronics sold with a 10 or 15 percent profit the cable prices might be reasonable, but since people barely want to pay, this is what happens.
You didn't read the page very well. You don't *have* to run the spyware. It's an option. Using it, according to the site, will possibly shrink the amount of surveys (that you can skip, "if you don't have the time") that you will be asked to fill out.
Right here shows what must be done. You can sign up for either, or both, of the programs (for those to lazy to read the page, the two programs available are the "spyware" and the surveys -- I opted just for the surveys).
Here is the text about the survey feedback program:
When you join the survey feedback program, you'll be invited to take a survey on a regular schedule. If the survey arrives at a time where you are busy, you can skip that one and take the next one instead. You will not receive more than one survey every two weeks.
Hell, I signed up for it. I have access to a computer I can install it on for 3 months that can just sit in a corner idle (whether I decide to use the "feedback program" or not).
Well, to be honest, as a computer retailer, this thing had me thinking at first, but reading the fine print (you have to run the spyware on your box for 3 months, then get a free toy) showed some downsides, like americans only, and a complete inability to exploit it for fun and... yeah profit:) (its not a bad word, really)
And yes, they will be the first against the wall when the revolution starts (apology mr adams).
In my view, Fry's is like Wal*Mart, but for electronics (with a few other items thrown in). The stores are absolutely GINORMOUS, usually very busy, and there is quite a selection.
What the hell is Fry's?
And yes, CompUSA is the only computer store that I know of within my state.
I think the QNAP devices are far nicer, though they will be more expensive in the long run. They even run linux and are customizable (people run all sorts of different server services from them).
Here is a bunch of their different devices (newegg.com link).
I'm considering getting the TS-209 (or the PRO, haven't made up my mind), personally. I have two 320gb SATAII drives sitting around not doing anything since I've stopped running WHS and could really use a nice low power device to replace the computer I was using for this task.:)
"...and the only activity was getting a voice mail."
You DO realize that, to get a voice mail, you actually make a phone call to do so?
As I've been trying to make clear (and it's *still* been going over people's heads), your "experience" was YEARS ago. Do you really think the phone companies were just going to stand still and keep things the way they were, especially after a freakin' merger?
It's no wonder we got Bush into the White House -- twice.
>So, I should take what you are telling me as proof instead of what is actually on AT&T's web page?
Well the only way I know is from having used the service, so I guess maybe first-hand experience counts? I suppose you'll have to take my word that I actually had a phone, but whatever.
This was a few years ago when it was Cingular. Does that still exist? Heck, maybe it's all changed. I'm just relaying the experience I had where I was definitely charged for a day where I made no calls, and the only activity was getting a voice mail.
*Daily Access Fee: Daily access fee of $1.00 for the Pay As You Go Unlimited Talk plan is assessed each day you use your phone for a voice call and is debited from your account balance the day after you use your phone.
If your phone is off, how, exactly, can it be "used for a voice call", hmm?
Like I said, there is *plenty* to hate AT&T for (like, for example, their handling of "naked DSL" and the "sales lady"'s outright LIE to me about the fee (It's $25 a month *on top of* the DSL package price if you don't have/want phone service. Care to guess how much a phone line cost monthly? Then she proceeded, at legnth, to tell me how it was actually cheaper than having a phone line and DSL. I've heard of "new math" before, but this was crazy!)), there is no need to make stuff up.
On a side note -- I just read the "Plan Terms" (a link is on the bottom of the web page I linked to earlier). No where does it back up your claim.
very good research, except there's more to it than what you've said. That dollar-per-day activated is not at your sole discretion. It gets applied if someone calls you, even if you never make a call that day. (Your phone was still "activated"). Even if you turn your phone off, you can still get charged. So, what, never give your number out?
I still think phone companies in the U.S. are greedy and are out to squeeze every penny out of their customers possible.
You'll get over it. Not one person had an issue with how I posted. If you want to post to me in the future, try making your post have something to do with the topic, m'kay?
Welcome to my foe list. You can join the other spelling/grammar/English comprehension nazis there.
A: No. Q: Should I include quotations after my reply?
It specifically states on the web page that the $1 is only assessed if you actually make a call that day.
Of course, you could have just gone to their web page and verified for yourself.:)
> Either an access plan that is $1 per day (you ONLY get charged the "access fee" of $1 on a day that you actually make a call) + 10 cents per minute, OR, a fee where the minutes are 25 cents.
Serious Question: Are you sure the $1/d access fee is only charged when you make/receive a call? Technically, a phone "accesses" the network every time it's turned on. I've avoided such phones precisely because "access fee of $1/d" sounds like telcospeak for "we're using language that makes you think you only pay to make calls, but we're actually charging $30/month."
I did read the whole thing. Are you completely incapable of comprehending written English?
You stated, as if it were fact, that "pay-go" phones were very expensive, then added "at least they were a couple years ago". I stated *currently* factual information to rebut your claim.
Also, when I was dispensing what I *thought* was helpful information to you, how was I to assume that "pay-go" phones were not suitable to you for reasons OTHER than as stated? Despite what several have told me, I am not a mind reader.
Next time, try to be less insulting. You might get more people to help you when you need it.
Do some investigating.
Uh, why? Pay-go doesn't meet my needs for reasons outside of price now.
They are *considerably* cheaper than that now.
That's good to hear, for those whose needs are in that direction.
I'm about to submit another message to someone else who made the same assumption as if it were fact without having checked first.
I made no assumption. I stated my factual experience, and mentioned that it was outdated and that things may have changed. Heck, you quoted the whole message, is it too much to ask that you also read the whole thing?
Do some investigating. They are *considerably* cheaper than that now. I'm about to submit another message to someone else who made the same assumption as if it were fact without having checked first.
That's what "pay as you go" phones are for.
At least, back when I had one, they were a lot more expensive than pay phones for the kind of very occasional use described-- since you had to pay $25-30 every 2-3 months or so (details varied by vendor) to keep the phone active -- but potentially cheaper then regular cell phones for use that was regular but not particularly heavy.
Give me a break. You can (at least in the area of the US in which I reside) walk into virtually any store and walk out with a contractless cell phone, quite cheaply. It shouldn't matter *too* much if the per-minute charges are somewhat high as, if your "example" would be correct, they don't want it in the first place, there-by meaning they'd hardly be using it as it is.
Hell, just looking at AT&T's web site (side note: MAN I hate this company -- if they do purchase DishNetwork, I'm switching to DirecTV...), you can get a damned "goPhone" for a whopping $10(!) and there are two access plans. Either an access plan that is $1 per day (you ONLY get charged the "access fee" of $1 on a day that you actually make a call) + 10 cents per minute, OR, a fee where the minutes are 25 cents.
By MY calculations, that does not qualify as "not-insignificant number of dollars on a handset", nor does it qualify for "they can pay (exorbitantly) as they go."
Next time, you might actually, ohh, I dunno, try backing up your statements with some facts? Wait.. I forgot. This is slashdot.
Just because you hate the cell phone companies (the only thing I can assume from your attitude) doesn't mean that they are out to lock you into multi-year expensive plans in an effort to not provide you adequate service and empty your wallet. It just means you haven't done your homework. Hell, it took me 2 minutes to find AT&T's rates. I'm sure other carriers have pricing similar (T-Mobile probably being one of the better carriers).
I'm really not trying to bait you into a flamewar, nor am I trying to be a troll. There are plenty of reasons to hate the telephone companies, so why make up more?
And what about those who either choose not to have a cellphone, or can't afford one? Not everyone is willing to dedicate themselves to multi-year plans, or spend a not-insignificant number of dollars on a handset so they can pay (exhorbitantly) as they go.
If you have a land line at home and access to the telephone at work, then you really can get by without a cell phone. But then, say, when you are out on the road and you need to change plans with friends, you find that you need one. It used to be that you could use a pay phone on such an occasion. I don't think having land lines at work and home and occasionally using a pay phone means that you are poor. That's what "pay as you go" phones are for.
Actually, since several major media outlets have already used him as an "expert", I have a feeling we'll see just as much of him. Hell, with the way he's acted, I have a feeling he'll turn into a Cindy Sheehan, so to speak. I fully believe he'll gather up a group of similar-minded people to protest everything he can, and I'm sure he'll do everything in his power to keep showing up on news segments after more school shootings.
No, I don't think he'll go away. I think we'll hear even more out of him. "Ohh.. The gaming industry feared me so much that they manipulated/bribed people to get me disbarred!"...
Bah..
I also see it as if someone else gets in there and does the same thing, people will just be like, oh look, another Jack Thompson. I doubt anything will really change if he does get disbarred other than we wont have to hear about him as much. Instead, he'll just start writing letters to the editor and blogging, but his creditability will be shot so it wont matter.
According to the "Apple Expert" where I work, Boot Camp is 100% useless. You should just PAY FOR and use Parallels. Dual booting is stupid.
Of course, she's only thinking about her own needs, and not the needs of, say, me. I got quite an ear full from her. How dare I, a computer technician of 14 years, possibly do something outside of what she thinks I should be doing! But, see, I'm just a "PC" technician, so I can't possibly know anything about Apple (just ask her!).
I guess all the games I like to play, well, I should just throw them away. OSX is more than enough fun for any one person! If it doesn't work in Parallels, well, it was something stupid to begin with!
Bah.. Stupid slashdot is removing my/rant "tags".. Oh well..
You mean there's still someone left who missed it?
(Though, judging by the sudden spike in hits I got...sheesh. Of all the stupid things to get (in)famous for....) Never underestimate the lagging brain power of us slashdotters (I had completely forgotten about it until it was mentioned in the thread -- I'm sure there are at *least* a few that did actually miss it, too.:) )
I think what the parent post was getting at, that you seem to have missed, is that there are MANY more coal/oil/gas fired electricity producing plants online than there are for other sources. Thusly, we ARE buring Oil (or Coal, or NG/LNG) to make hydrogen.
Now, if you could pair hydrogen generation up with solar/wind power, we'd be ahead (by how much could be debated -- with all the areas of the US (not to mention other areas) under serious drought conditions now, using the water we do have would be silly, unless you use some of the power from your solar/wind power generation to desalinate the water you will use to make hydrogen in the first place...)
No. Typically we get hydrogen via electrolysis (though there are other methods). That means electricity. So, any way we can produce electiricity, we can get hydrogen.
I see what you are talking about as far as the Archive button goes (to "hide" mail I've labeled, etc), however, that doesn't help solve the "EVERY message gets the 'general' label" problem. As it is now, if I were to click "General" (to see messages I haven't assigned a label to), I get *everything*. This doesn't work for me, and is one of the last things keeping me from using my gmail account more often.
Archive button is your friend. That's the whole purpose of the labels.
I've got 2270 messages sitting in my inbox and that only equates to 90mb... The oldest message there is from 07/30/2004 (the date I finally got an invite!), and it is from "Gmail Team", telling me how Gmail is different.:)
I use my gmail account for the printer repair mailing list I'm a member of. Really haven't used it for much else (I'm too used to having folders. I don't like the "label" system, especially because every message comes in with the "General" label and, thus far, I haven't been able to find a way to set the "default" label I see when I first open my inbox (what if I don't *want* to see every single email I have when I first log in?).
I'm sure there is someone here with an even older account. This is just my two cents.:)
Being as I am more linux literate that you appear to be (judging from your statement to me), I think I'll just stick with Gentoo ThankYouVeryMuch(tm).
Out of curiosity what, on this green Earth, made you think that I run Ubuntu?
Ok, you can stick with Ubuntu but from my experiance the previous version of linspire creamed all over the last Ubuntu install I tried.
Linspire is really Linux for the Desktop, try it any you may like paying for it.
Actually, it's not impossible. I did so at the end of September from cyberpowerpc.com. The laptop I purchased was an MS-1719 barebone from MSI (under the Xplorer X7-7700 name at cyberpowerpc). I had them configure it with NO OS. The "cost" of the "No OS" option? -$83.
There are many other stores that do the same (I've run across multiple while I was searching for a laptop). While there are many stores that still charge you, as you put it, a "tax" for not wanting Windows, not everyone does, which makes your statement a Troll (or flamebait, at the very least), whether you agree with it or not.
I love the laptop (I've had it a little over a week now). ~$1400 (I think it was $1417 and some change, but I'd have to look at my receipt) configured exactly like a 17" MacBook Pro (which sells for $2800!).
I was all set to mod your post down (as I usually do), but I figured this one deserved a reply.
Apparently you had a little trouble reading my last sentence. I said a LAPTOP. I can build my own desktops, thanks. I can't build a laptop.
A Dell laptop, as of at least a few months ago, costs more with Linux and/or no OS than it does with Windows. That's a tax.
I love how my original post is modded as a troll. It's anything but a troll, it's pointing out the fact that trying to buy a laptop without Windows and/or loaded with Linux is almost impossible without either a) Paying an extra fee or b) Getting an inferior product.
Slashdot Mirror
My father doesn't have the house he's in (purchased at around $90k, now worth twice as much) from wasting all his money on expensive crap. Hell, he still has the stereo he had from when I was a kid (and the speakers he purchased a few years later after the ones it came with died). When the amp blew, he didn't throw the whole thing away and buy new, he had the damned thing repaired. He did finally (about 10 or so years ago) replace the old 27" console TV with a new one.
The only large amounts of money I've ever seen him spend are things that improved the quality of his house and lowered his bills. Solar panels, high efficiency appliances, etc -- his electric bill went from over $400 a month to somewhere around $25 a month as he doesn't have the battery option for his solar gear.
Wow.. I went way off the topic here.. At least I have the karma to burn.
Right here shows what must be done. You can sign up for either, or both, of the programs (for those to lazy to read the page, the two programs available are the "spyware" and the surveys -- I opted just for the surveys).
Here is the text about the survey feedback program:
When you join the survey feedback program, you'll be invited to take a survey on a regular schedule. If the survey arrives at a time where you are busy, you can skip that one and take the next one instead. You will not receive more than one survey every two weeks.
Hell, I signed up for it. I have access to a computer I can install it on for 3 months that can just sit in a corner idle (whether I decide to use the "feedback program" or not). Well, to be honest, as a computer retailer, this thing had me thinking at first, but reading the fine print (you have to run the spyware on your box for 3 months, then get a free toy) showed some downsides, like americans only, and a complete inability to exploit it for fun and... yeah profit
And yes, they will be the first against the wall when the revolution starts (apology mr adams).
And yes, CompUSA is the only computer store that I know of within my state.
I think the QNAP devices are far nicer, though they will be more expensive in the long run. They even run linux and are customizable (people run all sorts of different server services from them).
:)
Here is a bunch of their different devices (newegg.com link).
I'm considering getting the TS-209 (or the PRO, haven't made up my mind), personally. I have two 320gb SATAII drives sitting around not doing anything since I've stopped running WHS and could really use a nice low power device to replace the computer I was using for this task.
"...and the only activity was getting a voice mail."
You DO realize that, to get a voice mail, you actually make a phone call to do so?
As I've been trying to make clear (and it's *still* been going over people's heads), your "experience" was YEARS ago. Do you really think the phone companies were just going to stand still and keep things the way they were, especially after a freakin' merger?
It's no wonder we got Bush into the White House -- twice. >So, I should take what you are telling me as proof instead of what is actually on AT&T's web page?
Well the only way I know is from having used the service, so I guess maybe first-hand experience counts? I suppose you'll have to take my word that I actually had a phone, but whatever.
This was a few years ago when it was Cingular. Does that still exist? Heck, maybe it's all changed. I'm just relaying the experience I had where I was definitely charged for a day where I made no calls, and the only activity was getting a voice mail.
This is what I see on their web page:
*Daily Access Fee:
Daily access fee of $1.00 for the Pay As You Go Unlimited Talk plan is assessed each day you use your phone for a voice call and is debited from your account balance the day after you use your phone.
If your phone is off, how, exactly, can it be "used for a voice call", hmm?
Like I said, there is *plenty* to hate AT&T for (like, for example, their handling of "naked DSL" and the "sales lady"'s outright LIE to me about the fee (It's $25 a month *on top of* the DSL package price if you don't have/want phone service. Care to guess how much a phone line cost monthly? Then she proceeded, at legnth, to tell me how it was actually cheaper than having a phone line and DSL. I've heard of "new math" before, but this was crazy!)), there is no need to make stuff up.
On a side note -- I just read the "Plan Terms" (a link is on the bottom of the web page I linked to earlier). No where does it back up your claim. very good research, except there's more to it than what you've said. That dollar-per-day activated is not at your sole discretion. It gets applied if someone calls you, even if you never make a call that day. (Your phone was still "activated"). Even if you turn your phone off, you can still get charged. So, what, never give your number out?
I still think phone companies in the U.S. are greedy and are out to squeeze every penny out of their customers possible.
Welcome to my foe list. You can join the other spelling/grammar/English comprehension nazis there. A: No.
Q: Should I include quotations after my reply?
http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/T/top-post.html
Of course, you could have just gone to their web page and verified for yourself.
Serious Question: Are you sure the $1/d access fee is only charged when you make/receive a call? Technically, a phone "accesses" the network every time it's turned on. I've avoided such phones precisely because "access fee of $1/d" sounds like telcospeak for "we're using language that makes you think you only pay to make calls, but we're actually charging $30/month."
You stated, as if it were fact, that "pay-go" phones were very expensive, then added "at least they were a couple years ago". I stated *currently* factual information to rebut your claim.
Also, when I was dispensing what I *thought* was helpful information to you, how was I to assume that "pay-go" phones were not suitable to you for reasons OTHER than as stated? Despite what several have told me, I am not a mind reader.
Next time, try to be less insulting. You might get more people to help you when you need it.
Uh, why? Pay-go doesn't meet my needs for reasons outside of price now.
That's good to hear, for those whose needs are in that direction.
I made no assumption. I stated my factual experience, and mentioned that it was outdated and that things may have changed. Heck, you quoted the whole message, is it too much to ask that you also read the whole thing?
At least, back when I had one, they were a lot more expensive than pay phones for the kind of very occasional use described-- since you had to pay $25-30 every 2-3 months or so (details varied by vendor) to keep the phone active -- but potentially cheaper then regular cell phones for use that was regular but not particularly heavy.
They might have friendlier plans now.
Hell, just looking at AT&T's web site (side note: MAN I hate this company -- if they do purchase DishNetwork, I'm switching to DirecTV...), you can get a damned "goPhone" for a whopping $10(!) and there are two access plans. Either an access plan that is $1 per day (you ONLY get charged the "access fee" of $1 on a day that you actually make a call) + 10 cents per minute, OR, a fee where the minutes are 25 cents.
By MY calculations, that does not qualify as "not-insignificant number of dollars on a handset", nor does it qualify for "they can pay (exorbitantly) as they go."
Next time, you might actually, ohh, I dunno, try backing up your statements with some facts? Wait.. I forgot. This is slashdot.
Just because you hate the cell phone companies (the only thing I can assume from your attitude) doesn't mean that they are out to lock you into multi-year expensive plans in an effort to not provide you adequate service and empty your wallet. It just means you haven't done your homework. Hell, it took me 2 minutes to find AT&T's rates. I'm sure other carriers have pricing similar (T-Mobile probably being one of the better carriers).
I'm really not trying to bait you into a flamewar, nor am I trying to be a troll. There are plenty of reasons to hate the telephone companies, so why make up more? And what about those who either choose not to have a cellphone, or can't afford one? Not everyone is willing to dedicate themselves to multi-year plans, or spend a not-insignificant number of dollars on a handset so they can pay (exhorbitantly) as they go.
You dweebs cant even do a google search before just saying "no", can you?
No, I don't think he'll go away. I think we'll hear even more out of him. "Ohh.. The gaming industry feared me so much that they manipulated/bribed people to get me disbarred!"...
Bah.. I also see it as if someone else gets in there and does the same thing, people will just be like, oh look, another Jack Thompson. I doubt anything will really change if he does get disbarred other than we wont have to hear about him as much. Instead, he'll just start writing letters to the editor and blogging, but his creditability will be shot so it wont matter.
According to the "Apple Expert" where I work, Boot Camp is 100% useless. You should just PAY FOR and use Parallels. Dual booting is stupid.
/rant "tags".. Oh well..
Of course, she's only thinking about her own needs, and not the needs of, say, me. I got quite an ear full from her. How dare I, a computer technician of 14 years, possibly do something outside of what she thinks I should be doing! But, see, I'm just a "PC" technician, so I can't possibly know anything about Apple (just ask her!).
I guess all the games I like to play, well, I should just throw them away. OSX is more than enough fun for any one person! If it doesn't work in Parallels, well, it was something stupid to begin with!
Bah.. Stupid slashdot is removing my
(Though, judging by the sudden spike in hits I got...sheesh. Of all the stupid things to get (in)famous for....) Never underestimate the lagging brain power of us slashdotters (I had completely forgotten about it until it was mentioned in the thread -- I'm sure there are at *least* a few that did actually miss it, too.
For those that managed to miss it, you can read a bit about it here.
Now, if you could pair hydrogen generation up with solar/wind power, we'd be ahead (by how much could be debated -- with all the areas of the US (not to mention other areas) under serious drought conditions now, using the water we do have would be silly, unless you use some of the power from your solar/wind power generation to desalinate the water you will use to make hydrogen in the first place...) No. Typically we get hydrogen via electrolysis (though there are other methods). That means electricity. So, any way we can produce electiricity, we can get hydrogen.
I've got 2270 messages sitting in my inbox and that only equates to 90mb... The oldest message there is from 07/30/2004 (the date I finally got an invite!), and it is from "Gmail Team", telling me how Gmail is different. :)
:)
I use my gmail account for the printer repair mailing list I'm a member of. Really haven't used it for much else (I'm too used to having folders. I don't like the "label" system, especially because every message comes in with the "General" label and, thus far, I haven't been able to find a way to set the "default" label I see when I first open my inbox (what if I don't *want* to see every single email I have when I first log in?).
I'm sure there is someone here with an even older account. This is just my two cents.
Out of curiosity what, on this green Earth, made you think that I run Ubuntu? Ok, you can stick with Ubuntu but from my experiance the previous version of linspire creamed all over the last Ubuntu install I tried.
Linspire is really Linux for the Desktop, try it any you may like paying for it.
There are many other stores that do the same (I've run across multiple while I was searching for a laptop). While there are many stores that still charge you, as you put it, a "tax" for not wanting Windows, not everyone does, which makes your statement a Troll (or flamebait, at the very least), whether you agree with it or not.
I love the laptop (I've had it a little over a week now). ~$1400 (I think it was $1417 and some change, but I'd have to look at my receipt) configured exactly like a 17" MacBook Pro (which sells for $2800!).
I was all set to mod your post down (as I usually do), but I figured this one deserved a reply. Apparently you had a little trouble reading my last sentence. I said a LAPTOP. I can build my own desktops, thanks. I can't build a laptop.
As for those of you talking about Dell: http://buranen.info/?p=77
A Dell laptop, as of at least a few months ago, costs more with Linux and/or no OS than it does with Windows. That's a tax.
I love how my original post is modded as a troll. It's anything but a troll, it's pointing out the fact that trying to buy a laptop without Windows and/or loaded with Linux is almost impossible without either a) Paying an extra fee or b) Getting an inferior product.
Right here? This is me not purchasing it. :)