Tech Thoughts

housepad.com sucks!

2012-01-16T10:50:00.000-05:00

Housepad requires you to update a pdf file to change your listing. No joke. Then, their primitive system cannot accept changes. The pdf file opens in my Google Chrome browser but stupid housepad gives an error message stating that it did not open in my browser. When I try it in IE it opens Adobe Acrobat.

Housepad wants me to print, sign and fax it back. No joke.

I changed the pdf on my PC and sent it to housepad as an attachment but housepad refused to accept that. I replied:

No printer. No fax. It's not 1985. Fix your system. I have the
latest versions of Windows, Chrome, Explorer and Acrobat.

You should be embarrassed.

Cannot login to Verizon website.

2011-12-31T08:41:00.000-05:00

Message just sent to Verizon:

For two days repeatedly getting this message when I try to login: "Not Supported Method"

Fix your website and let me know when that's done. This is unacceptable.

Amazon sucks!

2011-12-26T08:47:00.000-05:00

Feedback to Amazon on my just completed phone conversation with Amazon:

Amazon invaded my home and deleted a book from my Kindle Fire without any notice. I will never buy from Amazon again and will post this on my blog.

If I borrow a paper book from a real library and it's overdue, the library does not come into my home and remove the book. Amazon did exactly that without any warning or notice. The Amazon person told me that even if I had its Prime service the free book from the Amazon lending library would have been removed from MY device without notice after one month. I guess I could get it back but good luck finding the last page read.

Am I the only one outraged about this unwarranted invasion of my privacy? I am not a big privacy person and think we need fewer secrets, not more, but I really resent Amazon thinking it has the right to remove something from MY property, especially without common sense, good business practice notice.

Jeff Bezos, wake the heck up!

Amazon Kindle Fire sucks!

2011-12-23T18:04:00.001-05:00

It's as proprietary as Apple's stuff. It came with one month free Prime service, which includes borrowing books for free for the one month.

I had to call Amazon support to get my Roku box to work with Amazon.

I downloaded a free book and read about half. Why didn't I finish? Amazon removed the book from MY device in MY home! How did I find out? Read on.

I tried to order something on Amazon and was going to be charged for shipping, which is supposed to be free for Prime service members (actually I learned that's only if Amazon actually does the shipping). I stopped the order and asked Amazon some questions. That's how I learned that my Prime service had been cancelled. No e-mail follow-ups. No reminders. No final warning. Zippo.

Amazon cancelled my Prime service, I guess after one month. I received one e-mail message reminding me that my one month was coming due. What company sends just one such message? Only Amazon as far as I know.

I lost my book and my Roku setup. Amazon was completely clueless about my outrage and did nothing to placate me. It's two days before Christmas and I'm looking for a buyer. Failing that I will see if someone has posted actual instructions on how to install Android 4.0 ice cream including WiFi.

I will not order anything from Amazon again with or without the Kindke Fire.

HP makes returning a PC as difficult as possible

2011-11-12T10:32:00.000-05:00

Hewlett and Packard, the founders, must be turning over in their graves. I sent six e-mail messages to HP requesting a Return Authorization Number and never received one. All I got was a run around. Finally I called and got one, which must be used within five days including weekends, holidays and natural disasters. The 21 day return policy applies only to requesting. I dropped it off at FedEx this morning. Let's see how long HP holds on to my money after receiving their PC.

One of the obfuscation responses that HP sent tired to pay me a $30 bribe to keep the PC, which I had tried to cancel before HP had shipped it. HP insisted that shipment could not be stopped and even expedited shipment in an attempt to placate me after I learned that HP has the very unusual policy of charging on the order date, not the ship date as other companies do.

Shame on HP. I'm very disappointed.

Emery v. Acer

2011-11-12T10:12:00.003-05:00

from:		Ken Matinale
sender-time:		Sent at 9:57 AM (GMT-05:00). Current time there: 10:08 AM. ✆
to:		Anita_Bock@cand.uscourts.gov, ECFHELPDESK@cand.uscourts.gov, Chris_Wolpert@cand.uscourts.gov, Lynn_Fuller@cand.uscourts.gov
date:		Sat, Nov 12, 2011 at 9:57 AM
subject:		Fwd: Notice of Class Action and Proposed Settlement
mailed-by:		gmail.com

This means of dealing with the judgement is a joke.

1. The form requires both the serial number and proof of purchase, both of which the defendant, Acer, already had or I would not have received this e-mail message in the first place.

2. Paper response only is clearly used to minimize the number of successful responses. Who the heck still has paper receipts after all this time? I do, however, still have the e-mail confirmation from Acer, which is probably very unusual.

3. Note the very small font size in the e-mail message, also intended to reduce the number of successful responses.

Here is a link to my tech blog, which obviously indicates that I had the type of problem this case is attempting to remedy.

http://techthoughtsmatinale.blogspot.com/2009/07/acer-support-still-crazy-after-all.html

This approach negates whatever good the court may have intended. Please refer this to the judge and plaintiff. Thanks.

Kenneth Matinale

___________________________________

Notice of Class Action and Proposed Settlement

You are receiving this notice because, according to our records, you purchased an Acer AOA110 computer, bearing serial number LUS030B0438482A2972536.

If you purchased an Acer computer in the United States between March 24, 2005 and May 1, 2011, read this notice.

You may be affected by a class action settlement. In the settlement, purchasers of Acer computers who file a claim form may receive free recovery utilities, computer equipment, repair services, or cash refunds. Class members also can choose to be excluded from the settlement, or object to it.

Am I included?

You are a class member if you purchased an Acer computer with Microsoft Windows between March 24, 2005 and May 1, 2011.

What's this about?

A lawsuit claims that Acer recovery disks do not provide access to all recovery utilities in the Microsoft Windows operating system. It argues that many Acer users will only be able to recover their computers to a "factory default" setting, losing their data and applications, or may not be able to recover at all. The lawsuit claims that Acer should have disclosed these limitations when it advertised that its computers included Microsoft Windows.

Acer denies the claims and contends that Plaintiff's assertions are factually incorrect. Acer contends that its computers have the complete version of Microsoft Windows, including all recovery features, identical to the version sold by Microsoft and by Acer's competitors. Acer also contends that Acer's marketing was not deficient and was consistent with Microsoft's marketing guidelines for Windows, which Acer was required to follow and which were applied across the computer industry.

The Court has not determined who is correct. To avoid the costs and risks of continued litigation, the parties have agreed to a settlement. The settlement releases all class membersʼ claims against Acer regarding inadequate system or recovery disks and missing features of Windows.

What can I receive?

Class members can choose make a claim in the settlement for benefits under Group A, B or C. Group A will receive a free CD-rom of Windows recovery utilities that can be used with their Acer computers.

Group A claimants also can get Acer to reinstall the Windows operating system on their hard drive, at no charge, if they previously (1) replaced their Acer computer's hard drive, (2) were unable to recover using Acer recovery disks, and (3) contacted the Acer service center for assistance on or before June 3, 2011.

Group B can choose to receive a free USB drive, optical mouse, or webcam if, on or before June 3, 2011, they contacted Acer, an Acer retailer, or a third-party repair technician about recovery problems on their Acer computer or about missing recovery utilities.

Group C will receive reimbursement of the amount they paid (up to $50) for service on their Acer computer related to a recovery issue, if they previously attempted to recover using Acer recovery disks but were not successful and contacted Acer customer service for assistance.

All claims require a valid Acer serial number. Certain claims require additional documentation, such as proof of purchase. For further details, visit the Settlement Website at: http://www.acerrecoverysettlement.com.

How do I make a claim?

To make a claim, you must download the Claim Form from the Settlement Website, fill it out, and mail it with any required documentation to the address shown on the form. Claim Forms are due by March 14, 2012.

What are my other options?

You can exclude yourself from the class if you want to be able to sue Acer separately for the claims released by the settlement. If you exclude yourself, you cannot file a claim or object to the settlement.

Alternatively, you can object to the settlement by filing papers in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco, California (Embry v Acer America Corp., N.D. Cal. 09-cv-01808-JW). If you object to the settlement, you also can ask to appear at the hearing or can hire your own attorney to appear.

You must submit your exclusion or objection by January 23, 2012 by following the instructions at the Settlement Website at:www.acerrecoverysettlement.com.

The Court will hold a hearing on February 13, 2012 to consider whether to approve the settlement. If the settlement is approved, the attorneys for the class will ask the Court to award them $1,200,000.00 in fees and expenses, and to award $15,000.00 as an incentive to the Acer customer who started the lawsuit. These amounts would be paid by Acer separately from and in addition to the amounts paid for class membersʼ claims.

For more information, please visit the Settlement Website at http://www.acerrecoverysettlement.com or write to the lawyers for the class at: Acer Settlement, Gutride Safier LLP, P.O. Box 460823, San Francisco, CA 94146.

Please DO NOT RESPOND to this email because the mail box is unattended.

HP is ready to ship my cancelled order.

2011-11-03T16:12:00.000-04:00

Cancellation e-mail messages from HP describe this PC as custom. I ordered a default configuration, which could/should have been sitting on a shelf. There was nothing custom about it.

HP has yet to indicate whether it can control itself and simply cancel my order rather than continue a tense situation precipitated by HP's silly policy of charging a customer on order date, not ship date.

No resolution yet,

HP suddenly ready tp ship the PC ... 15 days early!

2011-11-03T08:22:00.001-04:00

See previous post.

I received an e-mail message at 11:54PM last night: "ORDER READY TO SHIP".

It's clear that HP expedited the shipment of the PC I ordered on Oct. 27 and shipped it the same day that called their reps in the Philippines (I asked their location) in order to save the transaction.

So why did HP originally set the ship date for Nov. 17 and more importantly, why did HP charge me the day of the order rather than the day the PC shipped? Obviously, HP decided to expedite when it faced complete loss of the sale. As long as HP was holding my money there was no incentive to hurry.

HP charged me at order date, not shipping date. The nerve.

2011-11-02T22:05:00.000-04:00

I asked a friend about his experience ordering PCs:

If it's going to be built first (like from Dell) then they bill at ship date. If it's from stock, then usually it is billed when ordered, but then shipped relatively soon after. That's what NewEgg and TigerDirect do.

HP billed me on order date, which only realized today, six days later.
I called and cancelled, which may or may not be in time. HP wanted
to finish building (I ordered a PC with no changes), ship and have me
ship it back, with both shippings paid by HP. I pointed out that
would cost HP more money than simply putting it in their inventory and
not shipping. HP does not know if it can do that, another thing that
does not inspire confidence. I may still receive the PC.

I cannot remember being charged other than on ship date. I was really
annoyed, which is why I cancelled the $399 all-in-one.

Ordered: Oct. 27

Due to ship: Nov. 17

HP wants to hold my money three weeks. The nerve.

Access to Windows: a curious development.

2011-10-27T08:49:00.000-04:00

I recently paid $139 ($150 with tax and tip) to use the latest version of Microsoft Access (2010). I had used Access for heavy baseball research for many years. My older version was copyright 1992-1999. I intentionally stopped using it about five years ago because I wanted to be free of any particular PC or OS. I tried to rely on http://www.baseball-reference.com/ and google docs spreadsheets, both of which are very good but nothing beats Access for a single user DBMS.

Now I'm re-committed to Windows and will probably upgrade my PC. Still running WinXP. My netbook is running Chromium OS. Check out my baseball blog:

http://radicalbaseball.blogspot.com/

Amazon Kindle Fire

2011-10-13T22:04:00.000-04:00

I pre-ordered the Amazon Kindle Fire today. It should arrive in late November. There don't appear to be any hands on reviews but most of the comments seem to miss the boat.

Most of the whining is about techie junk that precludes some anal jerk from carrying around all the books he stupidly paid for. Just get me to the net!

I think the Amazon Kindle Fire during the Christmas season will beat the Apple iPad. Here is why: a family of five can either buy two iPads or five Amazon Kindle Fire tablets.

PRICE! It costs less than my new Motorola Droid Bionic smartphone. All the stupid Android tablets cost as much as the least expensive iPad.

Netflix problem: not what you think.

2011-09-23T15:14:00.002-04:00

Netflix increased its price.

Netflix split in two.

The real problem is that after jerking around with mailing stupid DVDs, which never appealed to me, Netflix finally distributed movies via the Internet. At that point I bought a Roku box and subscribed for $8 per month. I cancelled after two months for the most basic of reasons: the Netflix selection of streaming movies was substantially different from the movies available on DVD, which did not directly compete with service providers like cable and phone companies who had long standing arrangements with content providers. Netflix was messing with the primal forces as mentioned in the 1975 movie Network.

The joke description of Netflix streaming movies was that the recognizable ones were made during the Carter administration. Anything newer was junk.

Too bad. The concept is good but those primal forces were too much.

Droid Bionic: thank you Motorola and Verizon Wireless.

2011-09-15T16:08:00.000-04:00

I ordered is as soon as it was available and it arrived the next day. There was a problem with activation (Verizon Wireless had a disconnect between my account and its registry) but that was resolved fairly quickly.

Google Android OS brought my data onto the new smart phone immediately and has kept that data in sync with the google servers as it had done previously with the original Droid. Why anyone would jerk around with the mess that Apple imposes on its sucker customers is beyond me.

I have not tried some of the enhancements yet, such as HD quality video, but the comparable functions to the original Droid work at least as well.

I like the fact that Motorola did not clutter it with a proprietary shell but left the native Android interface with which I was already familiar. That was a factor that contributed to my buying the Bionic.

Great screen. I like this device and will keep it.

Google Earth and Google Talk not available on Chromium or ChromeOS.

2011-08-27T10:09:00.000-04:00

What should we make of that?

How big a deal was Steve Jobs?

2011-08-25T14:20:00.003-04:00

Not nearly as big as some media knuckleheads are saying immediately after Jobs retired for health reasons.

David Pogue mentions these products:
- iMac: What's its market share?
- iPod: Was it really that different from a Sony of my owny?
- iPhone: smartphone; so what?
- iPad: big iPhone without the phone.

Pogue also mentions these industries:
- music: I'll give you that one.
- TV: what? Apple TV? Is this a joke?
- movies: Pixar Animation - OK a little
- software: Safari?
- cellphones: Did Jobs invent them? I didn't think so.
- cloud computing: late, old fashioned and not free; so far only MobileMe; See Google Docs.

Jim Kramer said Jobs may have been the greatest industrialist in history. Say What? How about Bell or whomever you want to credit with inventing the telephone? How about Henry Ford or your favorite fill in the blank for starting the auto industry? Blah, blah, blah.

Jobs created hula hoops for people with too much disposable income who flattered themselves for making him filthy rich by overpaying in the extreme.

Plus, what process is at Apple Computers for continuing its recent success without Jobs instinct and his personal cult following?

Closed proprietary systems are dead. Long live open systems. Apple will sink on its next failure. Power to the people! Down with the tyrants of industry ... like Jobs!

Verizon, Motorola, Google: please improve my mobility.

2011-08-17T08:23:00.002-04:00

- Verizon workers are on strike.

- Google is buying Motorola Mobility.

- Can these three companies improve my personal mobile computing?

Verizon workers are striking primarily because Verizon appears to have blundered in spending gazillions of dollars on fiber optic infrastructure to millions of homes for its FIOS, which is not generating enough revenue to justify the capital investment. Verizon Wireless is now subsidizing the Verizon land line business, rather than the other way around, and Verizon is seeking givebacks from its land line workers. Verizon should have let the land line business wither away and migrated to wireless.

I hope Verizon gets this worked out. I have Verizon FIOS at home for video and Internet and Verizon Wireless for voice service.

I have the original Motorola Droid running the Google Android OS.

Now that my brief and massively disappointing flirtation with Virgin Mobile crashed, I had started to again lament the disappointing aspects of good old Verizon Wireless:
- high monthly service charges
- unimaginative billing options
- unimaginative smart phones.

I have received e-mail messages from Sprint and ATT Wireless offering newer Motorola smart phones: Photon 4G and Atrix 4G. My two year commitment to Verizon Wireless expires in November 2011 and I can upgrade now but there's no Motorola smart phone offered by Verizon Wireless that I want, just newer versions of the original Droids.

Maybe the Google acquisition of Motorola's smart phone division will help. My initial reaction was to approve but the more I think about it I wonder how Google can leverage this into an advantage. Tight integration between the Android OS and Motorola would be great but Google must at least pretend that it will keep Motorola at arms length so as not to alienate Google's other business partners such as HTC, LG and Samsung. This arms length thing does not seem to work. See Palm, Inc. Or Microsoft with Office and Windows.

Tight integration between hardware and software is Apple's biggest advantage. That and customers who are mesmerized into buying outrageously overpriced products that have made Apple more flush with cash than the federal government. Instead of finally being outraged Apple customers just admire Apple all the more. What saps.

Google won't take over Motorola smart phones until early 2012 so it's unlikely any big announcements will be made at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Argh!

Virgin Mobile cancelled!

2011-08-05T17:04:00.000-04:00

And its Motorola Triumph Android smartphone returned.

VM activated my Motorola Triumph thinking it had finally charged my credit card after four days even though my bank had that transaction pending. Unfortunately, only voice service worked, no Internet. I called last night and got the usual treatment: give me your secret password so that I can access your account. I said, just make the phone work. VM never could so I cancelled.

What a joke. Good old Verizon Wireless never looked so good.

Virgin Mobile finally figured out how to charge a credit card,

2011-08-03T08:29:00.000-04:00

I guess VM has been dealing for too long with old ladies and criminals, topping up their accounts with cash cards.

My Virgin Mobile Motorola Triumph Android smart phone is charging so I have not been able to activate it. It won't let me use it during the charging operation, which is different from my Motorola Droid. I'm also a bit concerned that the battery had drained even though I have hardly used it for days.

If Virgin Mobile through the Sprint network functions well, I'll make the switch from Verizon Wireless. VW to VM. Could be cool. I hope so.

Returning Dell laptop

2011-08-01T17:39:00.000-04:00

I'm on hold waiting for RMA for a Dell 17 inch Inspiron laptop 64 bit Windows7 PC.

Dell tried to bribe into keeping it. The guy in India offered $35. When I turned it down he offered $40. I rejected that. Then he offered $45. I was incredulous. I insisted that I wanted to return it.

Dell is charging me 15% restocking fee. The PC cost $750, so it will come to about $112 but Dell pays for shipping. I asked why it was a percentage because the $500 version of this PC won't cause Dell to do any more work than reloading the image of the $750 PC. The guy didn't know.

He then told me that there's also a 15% restocking fee for returning my extra the battery, which shipped separately. I asked why since the battery is dead and merely needs to be placed back on the shelf. He didn't know.

The PC arrived unable to connect via WiFi. I spent over an hour on the phone the other day with Dell support getting it to work. I did not get paid for that. The next day Windows7, a huge mess, needed to add 32 updates. In other words I'm returning the PC in better shape than I received it.

Dell also adds tons of its own mess to the Win7 mess. Next time I'll check Acer, Asus, etc. At least they won't load up unneeded software.

I'm very disappointed in Dell, although it doesn't compare to the ongoing nonsense with Virgin Mobile.

25 minutes: still waiting for the guy to come back from break. Maybe these companies hope that the customer will give up. At the Dell web site I filled out a form to return. I thought: hey, pretty easy. A couple of hours later I received e-mail stating that I that I would get another e-mail. The second e-mail stated that I had to call to return the laptop. Companies cannot be that incompetent. It must be a way to get the customer to give up. I had to provide the order number three times.

I'm still on hold. It's 30 minutes.

35 minutes: the guy came back to ask for the order number for the extra battery. Can't he see all that on my account? I'm back on hold. I'm not getting paid for this time.

50 minutes: he came back. I mentioned that dell.com states that the customer should accept the delivery even if he intends to return it because not accepting would delay. The Dell guy said that dell would charge me a 15% restocking penalty either way. I expressed my displeasure and he said he would note that. I told him to tell Dell to read my blog as I was documenting these events.

55 minutes. The call is over. That's about two hours of my time dealing with Dell after receiving the PC.

Virgin Mobile is run by clowns and/or 15 year olds.

2011-08-01T07:16:00.000-04:00

I tried the Virgin Mobile Motorola Triumph Android smart phone using WiFi. I had read about 5 reviews, two of which stated that the screen was sometimes not responsive. I have noticed the same thing. My Verizon Wireless Motorola Droid Android smart phone also has that problem and the right side of the portrait touch keypad has become unusable. Maybe Mobile has a problem. Maybe all phones do.

Even though both my Motorola Android phones are running the same version of the Android operating system with no extra shell the settings are only about 80% the same. This came as a surprise.

I finally decided to try the Sprint network via Virgin Mobile. The Motorola Triumph has an app to activate service. I tried it several times and it could not connect to the network.

I went to the Virgin Mobile web site and filled in all the info to activate, including credit card to make monthly payments. I was assigned a phone number and instructed to turn on the phone to complete activation. Again it failed to connect to the network.

I called Virgin Mobile and managed to plow through its awful call prompting system. I was told that Virgin Mobile could only access my account with my secret PIN. I refused to provide it. I then said just cancel my account. My PIN was required to access my account in order to cancel it. I asked to speak to a supervisor who told me all this same nonsense.

The supervisor said that the problem was that my credit card did not "top off" my Virgin Mobile account. This is further confirmation that Virgin Mobile has a corporate culture geared to old ladies and criminals who do not want to pay a fixed monthly fee.

The supervisor asked for my permission to again attempt to charge my credit card. I agreed just to see what would happen. The supervisor said it failed again and that she would refer it to another group that would take 24-72 hours to resolve the matter. She provided a reference number which I was required to write down because Virgin Mobile would not send it by e-mail. She told me to call Virgin Mobile in a couple of days to find out what happened.

Maybe Virgin Mobile was designed by high school kids who saw how their parents did stuff like this but never really did it themselves and only got it partly right. What a joke.

Apparently Sprint does not give Virgin Mobile direct access to its billing system. That's probably why Virgin Mobile needs a customer's individual PIN to access the customer's account. Virgin Mobile is accessing it as though Virgin Mobile was the customer. Obviously this is a huge security breach.

Ordered Motorola Triumph from Virgin Mobile.

2011-07-25T09:10:00.001-04:00

From the Virgin Mobile web site:

How it works:

First, buy the phone you want.
Then, relax for a few days (or obsessively check the tracking info), while your phone is shipped to you.

When your phone arrives, hug the mailman, bust open the packaging and run through the streets cheering. After that, you should come back here to activate your phone, add money to your account, and at that point you'll set-up your customized talk/text/mobile web plan.
____________________

Virgin Mobile is still in the mode of dealing with old folks and criminals even with it's first real entry into mainstream smartphone competition. At least I didn't have to jeopardize my current Verizon Wireless phone number and I can check out the Motorola Triumph Android phone. It should be able to connect to the web via WiFi.

Cool.

Chromium OS on Acer netbook: no sound and no phone.

2011-07-25T07:37:00.000-04:00

Overall I'm very pleased with Chromium OS on Acer netbook, which had been a brick due to several failed attempts to install stupid Ubuntu Linux.

However, Chromium OS on Acer netbook does not play sound. I have not figured out how to check the camera but I'm guessing that it will not work either.

Google Talk and/or Phone: I installed it from the Google Chromium OS Web Store but it does not integrate into my address book as it does in WindowsXP. I had to enter the phone number myself and dial (connect). The call went through but I heard nothing.

Thinking the unthinkable: switching from Verizon Wireless to Virgin Mobile!

2011-07-24T15:42:00.001-04:00

Wow! The Virgin Mobile prices are amazing.

For unlimited data and unlimited voice:

Verizon Wireless: $30 + $70 = $100

Virgin Mobile: $55 no contract, no penalty on the Sprint 3G network.

Save $45 per month!

I would need to payoff about $70 remaining on my two year penalty to Verizon Wireless for early termination. That's out of $175. I learned that if I got a new Verizon Wireless Android phone with a two year commitment the penalty would double to $350. Verizon Wireless has gotten carried away.

I could payoff the $70 in two months of savings.

I would have to buy a new Android phone, the Motorola Triumph for $300, which is at least as good as my Motorola Droid, which has developed some screen anomalies.

I'd be about even in about in about 8 months ... with a new better phone.

The only drawback is that Virgin Mobile is limited to Sprint's 3G; no 4G.

I'd like to buy the Motorola Triumph with an option to return and cancel to try it in parallel for a couple of weeks. Then if I like it, switch my Verizon phone number to
Virgin Mobile and cancel Verizon.

I sent an e-mail to Virgin Mobile asking about this. Let's see how its customer service responds, if at all.

Chromium installed!

2011-07-24T15:27:00.001-04:00

Success!

Where stupid Ubuntu failed, Chromium succeeded. Yesterday I installed Chromium on my dead Acer notebook. It's working well. I followed the lifehacker instructions, which were bizarre not difficult.

Instead of wasting that $500 I spent on the Samsung Chromebook (refunded) I have basically the same thing for free.

Cool.

Chromium OS locks up.

2011-07-22T21:48:00.000-04:00

Well, that didn't last long.

Chromium OS running on my dead Acer netbook.

2011-07-21T21:39:00.002-04:00

I had cooked the Acer netbook trying to load stupid Ubuntu Linux.

I just got Chromium OS to run on the Acer netbook. It does not appear to be installed but runs from the thumb drive.

I followed instructions on lifehacker.com and downloaded a vanilla build from Hexxah. I have no idea what I'm talking about.

This included running Image Writer for Windows. This utility supposedly writes the unzipped image of the vanilla build onto a thumb drive. Unfortunately, it gives the impression that it has killed the thumb drive, which does a very convincing job of playing dead by making Windows think it needs to be formatted.

As you can imagine I repeated these steps many times with several different types of failures before I finally decided with no real expectation for success to simply put the dead thumb drive into the Acer and turn it on. To my amazement Chromium OS came alive. However, it gave no indication that I could choose to install it.

This is further than I got with stupid Ubuntu.

Samsung Chromebook returned.

2011-07-13T21:29:00.001-04:00

I'm really disappointed in google. How difficult can it be for a world class techie company to create a stripped down operating system (OS)? All the damn thing had to do was connect to the Internet efficiently.

Instead it took longer and longer to fetch e-mail: 2-3 minutes.

Interrupted itself with of all colors a blue background and that adolescent pseudo techie language that tells you nothing except the pizza boxes and soda cans must be piling up in googleland creating massive cases of acid reflux in the miscreants who failed on the ChromeOS project.

The irony is that google's mobile OS, Android, works well and does 100 times more stuff.

All google had to was create a simple OS. It failed. I felt more and more foolish hoping that I could keep my Samsung Chromebook. I couldn't. Too bad. It was a nice piece of hardware but the OS sucked.

Chromebook crashes ... often.

2011-07-13T14:56:00.002-04:00

Maybe crash is a bit extreme but many times I get:

He's dead, Jim.

Either Chrome ran out of memory or the process for the webpage was terminated for some other reason ...

It's happening repeatedly while I write this.

Samsung Chromebook is often SLOW!

2011-07-12T11:35:00.000-04:00

Speed is the primary benefit according to a video by google.

If my Samsung Chromebook has its lid down and I open it and click refresh in gmail it can take two minutes to finish "loading". This happens often but is not the only time when my Samsung Chromebook is slow.

I have until July 14 to return the Samsung Chromebook.

The lack of speed and quirks with the Apple-like touch pad are issues.

Is there a home key or equivalent?

Chromebook connected to Verizon Wireless!

2011-07-05T13:44:00.000-04:00

After several more aggravating conversations with Samsung I decided to simply try to register my Samsung Chromebook with Verizon Wireless. It worked!

Samsung had no clue what the heck was going on.

OK, now let's see how this thing performs.

I just wrote to google.

2011-07-03T09:06:00.000-04:00

from	do-not-reply@google.com
sender-time		Sent at 9:03 AM (UTC). Current time there: 1:03 PM. ✆
reply-to		do-not-reply@google.com
to		ken@matinale.net
date		Sun, Jul 3, 2011 at 9:03 AM
subject		Google confirmation - Share Success
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Google product your story is about:: Other
If "Other" is selected above, please enter the name of the product your story is about:: Chromebook
Please tell us your story about this product:: http://techthoughtsmatinale.blogspot.com/

You might want to read my blog about the problems with my Samsung Chromebook.
What do you like best about this product?: The idea. However, Google has work to do. I have used google docs exclusively for years. If you lose me, your Chromebook efforts are doomed. I'm google's biggest fan.
Name:: Kenneth Matinale
Email address:: ken@matinale.net
Can we ask you a few more questions about yourself?: Yes
Phone number:: XXXXXXXXXX
City:: White Plains
State:: NY
Country:: USA
Age:: 63
Job title:: retired

Talking to Samsung about Chromebook.

2011-07-03T08:51:00.000-04:00

Samsung never heard about the 3G problem but has an open ticket because I called July 1 because my PC arrived with no OS. Samsung did nothing about that and it's been two days.

A Samsung supervisor is being consulted ... I'm waiting ...

I'm using Google Phone to make this call on my Samsung Chromebook while I write this post. Cool.

The rep came back and said I had to talk to a Samsung cell phone person because it's a carrier (Verizon) issue. The transfer resulted in a voice message stating that they are closed and that I should use live chat online. I had already checked that ... it's closed, too.

I had also tried to send a-mail through a Samsung online form but the drop down for the model is frozen: nothing drops down even though I had selected the preceding info.

You can't make up stuff like this.

Samsung apparently never got the word from Verizon. I spoke to Verizon last night but Verizon only communicated with Google.

From the play 1776:
Is anybody there?
Does anybody care?

Samsung shipped an unregistered Chromebook to me.

2011-07-03T06:42:00.000-04:00

That explains why:

1. there was no OS
2. Verizon Wireless did not have my Chromebook in its database for free 3G service.

I hope Verizon Wireless, Samsung and Google get this straightened out. I'm starting to like my Chromebook.

Chromebook probably going back.

2011-07-02T21:14:00.000-04:00

Verizon FIOS support got my wireless router working. Good job.

However, I could not get the 3G account. I called Verizon Wireless again and this guy did as much as could be expected. Result: my Samsung Chromebook is not in a database. That's why I could not get the 3G service.

MASSIVE disconnect among Google, Samsung and Verizon Wireless. The Verizon Wireless guy sent messages on my behalf to Google and even included the fact that I had to load the OS. The Verizon Wireless guy will monitor but advised me that unless my Samsung Chromebook gets into that database I will not get the 3G service and that I should return the Samsung Chromebook.

Amazing! You can't make this up.

Chromebook unchained.

2011-07-02T06:29:00.001-04:00

My Samsung Chromebook won't connect to my Verizon FIOS wireless router, which works fine with both my Dell WindowsXP laptop and my Motorola Droid. Another reason that it should have an Ethernet port. How much can that cost? Samsung could not have excluded it for weight considerations. Considering it's dimensions the damn thing must be made of lead. It's heavy.

A friend loaned me a Verizon Wireless MiFi hotspot device. I connected the Samsung Chromebook to it via WiFi and then to the Internet. It worked well. However, I did not want to use up too much of my friend's transmission bytes.

I breached Chromebook security and found the Settings under the menu and found an application for the two years of free 100M per month Verizon Wireless 3G service. The only way you can get the free service is to open an account and supply a credit card so that Verizon Wireless can charge for exceeding the limit. Verizon Wireless does not even have the sense to ask if you are an existing customer. You must open another account.

I filled out the application and submitted it It was rejected without reason and I was told to call Verizon Wireless, which I did. I switched off my friend's MiFi hotspot device. The Verizon guy who finally answered told me to fill out the form again. I explained that I did not have an Internet connection and that was why I wanted the 3G service. He insisted. The guy wouldn't open the account by phone. You can't make up stuff like this.

In fact the real problem that media reviewers miss is that the Chromebook requires an Internet connection to do ANYTHING, not just work. I cannot find help on the Chromebook itself. There are no definitions for options in Settings. What the heck are some of those things?

If my Chromebook won't work with my Verizon FIOS wireless router it's going back. After having to load the OS myself I should send a bill to both Google and Samsung.

Those snotty reviewers who wrote that the Chromebook is something for their mothers should actually try that. Give a Chromebook to your mother and see if she can do what Google says in its insert: "Plug in the power. Open the lid. And you're all set." Good luck with that.

Samsung Chromebook finally arrived. It won't boot.

2011-07-01T08:38:00.003-04:00

You cannot make up stuff like this.

I had read that it came with no written documentation. Actually it comes with lots of written stuff, just in really tiny font size and with no useful information. Written items include Safety Instructions, which includes stuff like don't set the battery on fire or smash it with a hatchet. The Samsung Quick Start Guide does not even indicate what color the LED should be when the battery is charged; it remained a reddish orange after a couple of hours of charging.

There is one piece of paper from google, which cheerfully states: "Plug in the power. Open the lid. And you're all set.". Unfortunately, that no more useful than the tiny diagram of the proprietary function keys with their explanations in super tiny font size.

I decided to remove the charger and open the lid even though I did not know if the battery was fully charged. The lid appears to be backward because Samsung its name on it upside down.

I pushed the power button and the screen came to life. There was a frowny face on a laptop screen with a thumb drive pointed towards it. Underneath was this:

Chrome OS is missing or damaged
Please connect a recovery device.
http://google.com/support/chromeos/recovery
Model: SAMS ALEX EPSILON-US 4507

I was aghast. What the heck? Who the heck ships a PC, especially one with a new experimental operating system, and does not bother to turn it on to see it if boots? Samsung.

I called Samsung and after long delays concluded that the people with whom I had spoken were well-intentioned but not entirely familiar with the fact that Samsung does not have a direct sales channel but instead directs a buyer to either amazon.com or bestbuy.com. I had chosen bestbuy.com and will call them next.

I am not inclined to try to download a version of Chrome OS to a thumb drive and install it, especially after my failed attempt to do this with Ubuntu Linux onto my SLOW Acer netbook, which is currently a brick.

Ah, progress! While I was writing this the LED finally changed color to green, perhaps indicating that the battery is charged. Just to check I closed the lid, re-opened and pushed power: the vulgar mask of failure re-appeared.

I decided to try the recovery URL and was re-directed here:

http://www.google.com/support/chromeos/bin/answer.py?answer=1080595

I learned something that Samsung could not tell me: that these Chromebooks come with an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) version of the operating system (OS):

First choose the model of your Chromebook:

Acer
Cr-48
Samsung Chromebook Series 5

After choosing Samsung I saw this:

Before starting this process, you'll need the following:

A Windows, Mac, or Linux computer with administrative rights.
A 4 GB or larger USB flash drive that you don't mind clearing.

This is another reason I do not want to do this. Why should I need another computer and why should I waste a USB flash drive? The only USB flash drive I have is that stupid SanDisk that I had to re-furbish just to get it to load stupid Ubuntu Linux, which of course, failed to load on my Acer netbook. What the heck. It's not doing me any good.

By the way: why doesn't my Chromebook come with an Ethernet port?

OK, I'm foolishly trying this recovery procedure. Google wants me to download and run the recovery program on my semi-trusty old WindowsXP Dell laptop. Again I must choose Samsung.

I plug it in and the "SanDisk Cruzer USB Device" is recognized. I am warned: "All files on SanDisk Cruzer USB Device will be erased.". Here goes ...

It's downloading.

It worked. I managed to demolish my worthless stupid Ubuntu Linux boot devise.

I started the Samsung and then inserted the boot SanDisk Cruzer USB Device. On screen messages that it validated the official recovery image, reset security, about to copy system image. It will "take some time". Hey, it's already further than stupid Ubuntu Linux from those snot nosed techies who only care about themselves and their snot nosed techie friends. It's clear that some profit motive is necessary, not phony baloney save the world fake altruism.

System is about to reboot. Cool.

Yikes! I think it worked! It wouldn't take the password for my Verizon FIOS router but it took it from a friend's Verizon Wireless MiFi 3G portable hotspot. I seem to be online. No idea how to make it work with the free Verizon Wireless 3G that is supposed to come with it.

You think the Chromebook is expensive?

2011-06-21T17:16:00.000-04:00

I just noticed that the new 11 inch MacBook Air starts at just $999.

And that's worth the price ... because it runs Apple apps that people don't need? It's twice the price of my pre-ordered 12 inch Samsung Chromebook! TWICE!! What the heck? How does Apple get away with this?

Ode to David Pogue: love the Chromebook, you shnook.

2011-06-17T08:39:00.002-04:00

See David's New York Times June 15, 2011 article:

A Laptop, Its Head in the Cloud

David, what happened to you? You used to be so imaginative, so cool ... OK, not cool, but an OK mainstream media tech critic. What the heck?

You have the advantage in having actually used the Samsung Chromebook that I have only pre-ordered but as mentioned in my June 9, 2011 post:

I cannot remember the last time I used my PC without the Internet. Probably years. And years since I used a PC program other than the browser and notepad (for copy and paste)... In recent years I have created ALL my files using free google docs.

And from my previous post:

The wiseguy in of all places the New York Times who questioned why someone would buy a Chromebook for the same money as a low end laptop never wondered why someone would buy an iPad, or any tablet, for the same money as either.

The wiseguy was not Pogue, although I cannot remember who he/she was.

David, you wrote"

I tried valiantly to use the Samsung as my main machine, but by the end of a week, I was about ready to toss it like a Frisbee...

Is "the cloud" really where you want to keep the only copies of your most private, most important files?

(I) wonder why it’s as big, heavy and expensive as it is.

1. It's got a 12 inch screen! Who the heck uses such a small screen as his/her "main machine"?

2. The cloud is exactly where I want my files, almost all of which, I want people to read. I often wonder what top secret documents people are producing. Plus, the conventional paradigm is to keep their precious documents on a PC and back up the files to junk like a thumb drive for easy loss in transit and/or some clunky medium, which is stored beside the PC so that when the roof leaks both are destroyed simultaneously.

3. I agree: a Chromebook should be lighter, and much less expensive. I'm hoping that future Chromebooks, including larger laptops and desktops, are priced lower as sales increase.

On June 10 I was notified by Best Buy that my Samsung Chromebook's "new release date is 06/19/2011". Is that because so many people are pre-ordering it? From my previous post:

I think this will catch on much more quickly than many pundits think. They are comparing Chromebooks to laptops. Try comparing Chromebooks to tablets, which sell for about the same as Chromebooks but are not as functional or practical. Media types missed the boat on tablets and will miss another boat on Chromebooks.

Chromebook v.iPad2

2011-06-13T08:33:00.004-04:00

Pre order Toshiba THRiVE tablet: no thanks. I just got an e-mail message encouraging this. I had signed up to be notified. Thank goodness the Chromebook pre order opportunity preceded this or I might have been tempted.

This device, like the Apple iPad, makes my point. The wiseguy in of all places the New York Times who questioned why someone would buy a Chromebook for the same money as a low end laptop never wondered why someone would buy an iPad, or any tablet, for the same money as either.

Since I don't like Apple, I'll compare my soon to arrive Samsung Chromebook to the iPad2, 3G versions.

Chromebook iPad2
screen 12.1" (1280x800, non-gloss, 16:10 apect ratio) 9.7" (1024x768, LED-backlit glossy widescreen)

full 74 key keyboard yes none, only on screen
stays upright yes only with flimsy magic cover
weight: 3.3 1.33 pounds
battery: 8.5 9 hours
chip Intel ATOM N570 1.66Ghz 1GHz dual-core
ports VGA out, 2 USB one USB for charging
camera 1MP HD webcam Back HD recording (720p); front VGA

Except for the extra two pounds but still light, and the camera thing, which could be added, why would I prefer a tablet over a Chromebook? Especially since the Chromebook should integrate nicely with my google account and free google docs, which is the smart way to do cloud computing, not like that pathetic proprietary imitation that Apple announced a few days ago.

Chromebook: yes!

2011-06-09T21:28:00.002-04:00

I pre-ordered the Samsung Series 5 3G version of the Chromebook today. I've been waiting for the google OS for a while.

I've read the unimaginative and repetitive comments like:

So, what are you going to do without Internet?

No internet = brick

I cannot remember the last time I used my PC without the Internet. Probably years. And years since I used a PC program other than the browser and notepad (for copy and paste). Oh, and Microsoft Security Essentials, which I won't miss.

In recent years I have created ALL my files using free google docs. Programs run from the google servers and my files are stored on the google servers. No backup issues. No sync issues. That Apple announcement the other day about its cloud service to sync among the many over-priced Apple products was pathetic: late, meaningless, old tech.

Yes, I could continue to do cloud computing with a "real" PC. Why should I? Why continue to use a bloated OS with legacy issues up the wazoo. Let's see how well google does it.

I'm sure about the cloud computing model. I'm not sure about this particular implementation but I'm willing to try it. I hope much bigger PCs are introduced with Chrome OS. How about a 17 inch laptop or 21 inch one piece desktop?

I think this will catch on much more quickly than many pundits think. They are comparing Chromebooks to laptops. Try comparing Chromebooks to tablets, which sell for about the same as Chromebooks but are not as functional or practical. Media types missed the boat on tablets and will miss another boat on Chromebooks.

Verizon Wireless: waiting for 4G LTE smartphone or Godot.

2011-05-15T09:16:00.003-04:00

Verizon Wireless is up to its old tricks: late to market, overpriced. confusing. The only thing it has is the best network. If ATT and T-Mobile merge and wipe out that network advantage Verizon Wireless is in big trouble.

Yesterday I received an e-mail message from Verizon Wireless announcing its second 4G LTE smartphone: Samsung Droid Charge.

The first 4G LTE smartphone was the HTC Thunderbolt for $250, which I considered shockingly expensive enough for me to pass. Also, it does not have a dual core processor. Thunderbolt has bad battery life.

The Samsung Droid Charge has all that and costs $50 more: THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS!

What the heck? Is Verizon Wireless nuts? I'll pass again even though my Motorola Droid continues to do very odd stuff: screen goes wild and unresponsive, on the soft portrait keyboard the keys on the right edge do not work properly, freezes. I really need to update except:

1. While Verizon Wireless indicates that I may upgrade now, Verizon Wireless will give a better unspecified deal if I wait until early July. I purchased my Motorola Droid in November 2009.

2. The Motorola Bionic seems to have been cancelled and replaced by something called the Targa, which may go on sale in late summer ... 2011, I think. There's also the idea of a Verizon Wireless version of the Motorola Atrix, which was released a few months ago by ATT Wireless.

And there are rumors that a new iPhone5 4G LTE will arrive, maybe in October,

Waiting for Godot is much simpler than waiting for Verizon Wireless.

Why are some HD sports programs not shown in HD?

2011-03-25T09:29:00.000-04:00

I have Verizon FIOS. The MLB Extra Innings package provides about 80 out of town games per week for $179 for the season. However, no more than 10 of the 80 are in HD, about 12%. I'm sure that the originating broadcasts are in HD. Why doesn't Verizon carry them in HD? It's my understanding is that Cablevision has the same limitations but that DirectTV does not.

It would be easy to blame this on the pathetic MLB commissioner Bud Selig but the NBA League Pass has the same problem. NFL Red Zone does not; everything is in HD; don't know about the NFL Sunday package.

Anybody know?

Ubuntu Linux: installation complete ... again.

2011-03-24T21:03:00.000-04:00

This is the second time today that installation appears to have been successful. Here is the complete message:

"Installation is complete. You need to restart the computer in order to use the new installation."

The button reads" "Restart Now". It does not reference the flash drive used for installation. This time I'll leave the flash drive in.

Here goes.

Hey, another blank screen. Way to go Ubuntu. You still suck.

I think it's safe to remove the flash drive. Power off. Remove flash drive. Bye.

Ubuntu Linux: failure forever!

2011-03-24T20:42:00.000-04:00

My previous post was not explicit. I achieved success in installing Ubuntu Linux on my Acer netbook. Ubuntu told me so. However, when I followed the instruction to restart, well, that was another matter. Sure you can install Ubuntu but do you now expect that it will boot up? This is Ubuntu, where failure is constant, perpetual, eternal.

Upon restarting I pulled out the Sandisk flash drive, lest the Acer try to boot from that. Silly me. After many varied attempts, I could not get the Acer to boot from anything, no matter how many variations I tried on boot sequence that should not matter. My Acer appears to be, if not brain dead, then at least in a coma.

Ah, Ubuntu. What's the deal? Obviously, I am not a system person. However, Ubuntu is supposed to be the operating system of the masses, the downtrodden, the poor, the ignorant. Hey, I must be ignorant if for no other reason I keep trying it. It's like an abusive relationship. I am battered.

Could Ubuntu suck more? If so, please explain.

Ah, F12 let me boot from the flash. I'll try installing Ubuntu again. What the heck. It can't get worse.

Ubuntu: no, not again!

2011-03-24T19:27:00.000-04:00

Ii recently tried to create a flash boot disk for my hideous three year old Acer netbook, which currently does a terrible job of running WindowsXP.

My 2008 Sandisk failed; it was not recognized as a boot disk by either my Acer or my Dell laptop also rrunning WindowsXP.

I looked at the Sandisk label. It mentioned u3 and u3.com. For some bizarre reason u3.com redirects to:

http://www.writethescoop.com/

Googling I found evil things about the Sandisk.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U3#Issues_with_older_versions

Maybe this is why I could not boot Ububtu from my 2008 Sandisk flash drive.

Apparently Sandisk stopped supporting u3 because of the problems. Who knew?

I ran this:

http://u3.sandisk.com/launchpadremoval.htm

It seems to have removed the defunct u3 junk. Will Ubuntu install now that the Sandisk flash drive has been cleansed?

I'll once again run:

Universal-USB-Installer-1.8.3.6

Which will load up:

ubuntu-10.10-netbook-i386

Cool, heh?

Universal-USB-Installer says that it was successful.

I can view files on the flash drive. Is it bootable now? Beats me. Let's try it on the Acer netbook.

In Windows on my Dell I clicked eject. The drive is still lit but I'm going to remove it and insert into the Acer and power up.

Acer seems to have found Ubuntu! This is further than I got before cleansing the Sandisk flash drive. Ubuntu is coming alive! It found my wireless network. I has two options: try or install. I chose install. What the heck. I might never get this far again.

It asked for 2.5 gig. It has 4 gig but I don't know if Ubuntu intends to wipr out WindowsXP. I hope so. AH, I have an option to keep the old OS or use the entire disk. I chose use the entire disk.

It's happening. Files are being copied. Stuff is happening.

It worked. To be continued.

HTC Thunderbolt: I'll pass.

2011-03-23T18:28:00.000-04:00

Today I read several reviews, the ones done after the Thunderbolt was actually released on March 17. They were all positive to varying degrees.

1. It's really fast, at least as far as can be determined since the Verizon 4G network has almost no traffic.

2. It's a worthy addition to the current HTC line, which has its proprietary shell (Sense) covering the native Android interface. Since I already have the original Motorola Droid I know and like the Android interface and don't need and probably would not like the HTC shell.

3. The processor, while fast, is not of the newer dual processor type.

4. It's a bit hefty.

5. $250 is too much. I had expected it to be $200 like most new high end smart phones in recent years.

6. Battery life is an issue.

July 9 my current commitment to Verizon reaches a point at which I should get more consideration from Verizon to re-up. Plus, by then the Motorola Bionic should be out and possibly a Verizon version of the Motorola Atrix. Verizon's 4G network should be better tested by then with considerably more devices attached. If I go Motorola again, maybe I can use my current peripherals: car charger, AC adaptor.

And maybe by then we'll start to see some Chrome OS PCs. I read that a Sony Vaio with solid state memory may come out with Chrome OS. That was startling. I would not have expected Sony, much less a Vaio, to run Chrome OS. This suggests that Chrome OS may be more mainstream than expected.

Apple asked me for feedback on its tech support.

2011-03-22T09:21:00.000-04:00

E-mail message from Apple:

We're very interested in getting your feedback regarding the last Advisor you spoke with, XXXXXX, on your recent call to Apple support.

I clicked the link:

Oops! Google Chrome could not connect to bibz05.apple.com:8080

I did a copy and paste of the link into Chrome:

Oops! Google Chrome could not connect to bibz05.apple.com:8080

I did a copy and paste of the link into IE:

Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage

You cannot make up stuff like this.

Returned tablets: Motorola XOOM v. Apple iPad1. And the $600 Dell 17" laptop.

2011-03-22T09:02:00.004-04:00

Yesterday I returned my Apple iPad1 to Apple. A couple of weeks ago I returned my Motorola XOOM to Verizon Wireless. It didn't help that Apple just reduced the cost of the iPad1 3G by $100 making it only $30 more than I paid for the WiFi only version.

Both the XOOM and iPad1 were fairly slow compared with my five year old Dell laptop running WindowsXP. I found the tablets very limited when used for common PC type activities like bouncing among multiple browser tabs. The iPad created cute images of recent web pages. However, to get to the them as a group, not individually, I had to click a small icon in the Apple browser, Safari, and then click the individual image. Worse was that, the page had to be fetched again. It was not stored in memory and that activity was unacceptably slow. This quickly became tedious.

I never got the iPad to create e-mail accounts, even with extensive phone support from Apple. Do mainstream reviewers like Pogue and Mossberg try this? Do they try using multiple browser pages?

A basic common sense problem with a tablet is what do you do with your hands? I found myself holding the tablet with my left and using my right to tap, scroll, etc. This got old fast. I never found a comfortable position. I thought I was clever, especially during my longs phone conversations with Apple tech support, to prop up the iPad using an old metal book support. Then the obvious occurred to me: a laptop has this built in. It's called a keyboard, a nice physical keyboard, which also serves as a base. The tablet makers did not even have the common sense to include a fold out kickstand as did HTC with it's new Thunderbolt smartphone. Neither Pogue and Mossberg thought about this either.

I don't like tablets. I'm now interested in a new 17 inch Dell laptop for $600. OK, it's 7.14 pounds but compare that to the XOOM 3G at $600 and the original WiFi only iPad at $400 or the new WiFi only iPad2 at $500 or the new iPad2 3G at $600. What the heck? Are we nuts? I'm going to use a WiFi only computer almost exclusively around my home, so what's the difference how much it weighs? I'd much prefer a nice BIG 17 inch screen, including a keyboard base. And that base also serves as a screen cover. How clever.

That new line of Dell 17 inch laptops (17R) range from $600 for a more than acceptable e-mail/browser PC to $800 for a little more oomph. Yes, Dell has more expensive multimedia type 17 inch laptops but I do everything on the web with free google products so I don't need that. Juxtapose the Dell prices with the starting price of a 17 inch laptop from Apple: $2,500.

How does Apple have the nerve to over price by so much? Apple charges what the market will bare. Apple customers are suckers and there's one born every minute.

iPad: cannot edit free google online spreadsheet doc ...

2011-03-21T08:28:00.000-04:00

This shocked me. iPad was totally inadequate.

Plus, I noticed that those cute mini views of Safari interrations past are just that: past. When I click on one the page appears to be re-loaded from scratch. It's not held in memory. For e-mail, which I did in the browser in part because I cannot create e-mail accounts that work with Apple's iPad software (see previous post), this results in VERY slow e-mail functionality.

iPad: cannot create e-mail accounts

2011-03-21T08:22:00.000-04:00

Day two of having the original iPad I spent two hours trying to create e-mail accounts. I tried two yahoo accounts and one gmail. I tried what was suggested by Apple online, including powering down. Every effort failed.

Day three I spoke to Apple tech support twice: 52 minutes in the morning, 71 minutes in the afternoon. Total failure and a desperate suggestion that maybe my WiFi was the problem and maybe I should take my iPad into an Apple retail store to try Apple WiFi and have someone at the Apple genius bar try it. I thought I had been talking to geniuses. For home WiFi I use my five year old Verizon FIOS combination modem and wireless router, which has worked with everything I've tried, including two Windows laptops, a Skype WiFi phone and multiple hand held devices: Palm TX, Palm Treo (did it have WiFi?) and Motorola Droid.

To run salt into the wound Apple has apparently lowered the price for the original iPad 3G by $100. It's now only $30 more than the WiFi only version that I bought. What, Apple thought I wouldn't notice?

I hate Apple more than ever.

2011-03-19T07:12:00.022-04:00

I bought the original Apple iPad WiFi only for $399 as a gift.

1. As with my one day experience with the iPod Touch, you need a Windows or Mac PC to which the iPad must be attached so that evil Apple can suck the life forces out of you through its insidious iTunes. Why must I own a PC to get to the opening screen of a stand alone device? I stared at iTunes for quite a while before stumbling onto the hidden entry point to register my iPad with the all seeing, all knowing Apple monster.

2. No documentation included, except a card telling me to download iTunes to the PC I should not need. You must successfully get online first to access documentation. Online I found the 23 meg user guide dated 11/22/2010, four months ago. It's a dead 181 page pdf file, i.e., no internal links. Couldn't Apple have loaded this onto the iPad? I added it to the iPad home screen.

3. I registered my iPad with me.com to be able to find it if lost. When I log in to me.com it says "Find My iPhone", not iPad, and "No Devices registered".

4. I tried two Yahoo accounts and both failed to register in the iPad. Error message in short: IMAP server "apple.imap.mail.yahoo.com" not responding. Check network connection and that you entered the correct information in the "Incoming Mail Server" field. OK. No, it's not OK. There is no "Incoming Mail Server" field. When I click OK it takes me back to the original input screen where the only options are: cancel or next. Next produces: "This account may not be able to send or receive emails. Are you sure you want to save?" Options: save or edit.

I tried gmail: "Cannot Connect Using SSL. Do you want to try setting up the account without SSL?" Yes or No. Say what? No results in back to the original input screen. I get out and check the mail and contacts apps: nothing. Delete. Try again. Click Yes this time for SSL. Ah, now the IMAP server "imap.gmail.com" is not responding. Check network connection and that you entered the correct information in the "Incoming Mail Server" field. OK.

HELP! I'm in Apple hell!

5. Browsing is SLOW. Now I know why those jerks were so anxious to upgrade to the iPad2.

6. Last but not least: the ever popular Apple PROPRIETARY connector! Yes, along with a set of steak knives, you need to buy Apple PROPRIETARY cables to connect ANYTHING, such as a camera, which Apple intentionally omitted so that it could get the eternally gullible to buy a new iPad after only one year.

If I had bought this for myself, it would already be on its way back to Apple, which didn't tell me that delivery time would be impacted by the fact that it was coming to New York from CHINA. It took two days to leave Asia and get to Anchorage Alaska. I wondered if UPS was sending it by boat.

I'll try to wait to see if the intended recipient likes it before returning, for which Apple, unlike Verizon with the Motorola XOOM, makes ZERO provision. Apparently, it never occurred to Apple that anyone would ever want to return one of its products. For me, iPad would make it three strikes and you're out, having already returned after one day each the iPhone and the aforementioned iPod Touch.

Verizon Wireless is a tower of babble.

2011-03-17T08:58:00.002-04:00

You can't make up stuff like this.

I re-considered getting the new HTC Thunderbolt, overpriced at $249, because Verizon Wireless has a trade-in program that valued my current Motorola Droid at $55. The $55 is guaranteed for 30 days. I applied for the trade-in online. I did get the return envelope and a submission ID#, which allows me to log in and see the $55 value but no date; the enclosing envelope is post marked 3/7/11, ten days ago. I finally found the trade-in e-mail ... in my SPAM folder.

I called Verizon Wireless and asked that my return be contingent on my getting the new Thunderbolt. Verizon Wireless cannot it. Why? Because it's a different department! Regular Verizon Wireless can only see the public trade-in information, not anything specific to my account, not even with submission ID#, which was assigned to me by ... Verizon Wireless.

I'm on hold now with the different trade-in department, which cannot access my Verizon Wireless account. This may be nature's way of telling me to wait for the Motorola Bionic.

Mercifully the phone call with the trade-in person has finally ended. No resolution, of course, bu at least it's over. It will be escalated ... at my request. ZERO indication that Verizon Wireless will give me what I requested in the first place: assurance that the trade-in value will be honored if I order the new Thunderbolt even if the return of my current phone is a little later than the end date, whatever that may be.

Argh! Could Verizon Wireless make this more difficult or aggravating? I'm asking to buy a new smartphone and lock into Verizon Wireless for another TWO years. Verizon Wireless, what the heck?

Note: e-mailed to trade-in@asurion.com, which had sent me the e-mail and which accounts for it going onto my SPAM folder: it did not come from Verizon Wireless. It also suggests that the trade-in person with whom I spoke was not an employee of Verizon Wireless, something that crossed my mind during our conversation. I thought of asking her but decided against it. I should have asked.

HTC Thunderbolt finally arrived. OK, now what? PRICE WAR!

2011-03-17T06:17:00.003-04:00

I bought my Motorola Droid for $150 because it was more than two years since my last upgrade and Verizon must have been nervous that I'd churn to another service provider. I was expecting the Thunderbolt to cost $200. $250! What the heck?

You always need more speed and power but $250!?

Waiting for Godot and Chromium OS. A rare breach in security:

http://chromeossite.com/2011/02/21/acer-announces-dx241h-first-chrome-os-device/

And it's not a stinking netbook! Yippie! If you'll pardon the expression: Yahoo! Acer is planning a 24 inch all-in-one Chromium OS desktop? Alright. Cost: €299. Let's see, using my secret google decoder ring (http://www.google.com/ig) that's 299 EUR = 415.7326 USD. $416. Wow. WOW! Wait. It's just the Chrome browser, not the Chrome OS? Acer will work it out.

If Google's Chromium OS PCs and Google's Android tablets don't do better we may be overwhelmed by Apple junk. Oh, the humanity!

I'm hoping that Asus, Acer, some company will have the sense to introduce an Android tablet that is half the price of the Apple iPad. Yes, HALF! That's the only way to break the Apple juggernaut. PRICE WAR! Let's go to the mattresses. When Acer introduces that $416 24 inch all-in-one Chromium OS desktop the price war is on!

Chrome OS PC: when?

2011-03-12T18:14:00.000-05:00

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2011
Chrome OS PC ... coming Friday from Dell?

__________________________________

No sign of it.

XOOM sucked even more than I realized.

2011-03-12T17:55:00.000-05:00

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fasterforward/2011/03/motorolas_xoom_tablet_is_no_ip.html

the promised upgrade to support Verizon's 4G network: Although that will be free, you'll have to ship the thing back to Motorola for the upgrade.

Glad I returned mine.

Intel chips and Windows v. Apple.

2011-03-11T09:29:00.000-05:00

http://www.intel.com/core/m/smart/shop.htm#share-info-top

This is a pretty cool tool. At least it gives an idea of what chip is old, which may account for a "bargain" from Dell, HP, etc.

Core i7 looks good. I had never heard of it before this. I did not know that quad had come and gone, following duo. One day you don't read the papers ...

I compared 17" laptops. Same processor and otherwise comparable:

Sony Viao $1,100
Apple starts at $2,500.

Yet another reason I hate Apple.

Use the Intel website to evaluate PCs.

2011-03-09T09:33:00.000-05:00

http://www.intel.com/shop?iid=gg_play+home_shop

It's surprisingly good.

Verizon FIOS and Wireless Speeds

2011-03-09T09:27:00.001-05:00

Verizon website is again crapping out so I had to use other sources to supplement. Many times I clicked a Verizon link and got this URL with an empty page:

http://www.verizonwireless.com/backbutton.html

You can't make up stuff like this.

Verizon chat:

You(08:28:03): FIOS Internet speed?
Leslie(08:28:33): I am happy to help you learn more about Verizon's
FiOS Internet.
Leslie(08:28:58): Verizon's FiOS Internet provides speeds from 15 Mbps
to 50 Mbps!
You(08:29:38): Is that theoretical or actual?
Leslie(08:30:08): Actual download and upload speeds will vary based on
numerous factors, such as the condition of wiring at your location,
computer configuration, Internet and network congestion, and the speed
of website servers you access, among other factors. Speed and
uninterrupted use of the service are not guaranteed.
You(08:30:53): How about realistic?
Leslie(08:32:23): You will be able to view the available plans and
prices for you, after you enter in your address on Verizon's website
to determine if FiOS Internet is available for you.
You(08:32:38): Verizon Wireless speeds: 3G and 4G?
You(08:32:38): Verizon Wireless speeds: 3G and 4G?
Leslie(08:33:53): I do apologize, but I do not have information
available on Verizon's Wireless services. You may visit
http://www.verizonwireless.com for further information.
You(08:34:23): Thanks. Bye.

Also:

http://www.digitallanding.com/lp/verizon-internet.html?gclid=COT029vFwacCFcnc4AodoBzJ_g

Actual speeds and service availability vary. HSI provisioned based on
VZ line qualification requirements at .5 Mbps to 1 Mbps service tier**

10 to 15 MBPS (Ultimate Plan). Availability subject to final
confirmation by Verizon.

Hong Kong has 100 gig service for $26 per month from one company.

http://www22.verizon.com/Residential/FiOSInternet/Overview.htm#plans

Plans with MBPS: 15, 25, 50.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verizon_Fios#Internet_access

- The lowest bandwidth tier was originally 5 Mbit/s down and 2 Mbit/s
up and is now 15 Mbit/s down and 5 Mbit/s up in most areas. (bundled
with FiOS TV Prime HD)
- A second tier is available with 25 Mbit/s download speed and 25
Mbit/s upload speed. (bundled with FiOS TV Extreme HD)
- A third (or higher) service tier, when available for residential
service, provides higher still bandwidth, in some areas reaching
30/15, 35/35 or 50/20 Mbit/s download and upload. (bundled with FiOS
TV Ultimate HD)
- The fourth and highest service tier is 150Mbit/s down and 35Mbit/s
up for $199/month
______________________________________

How would WiFi 811n 120 MBPS be better than 811g 56MBPS if Verizon FIOS max speeds are 15/25/50 MBPS? Both are faster than the theoretical max for Verizon FIOS. Only that $199 per month service even rises to 150 MBPS.

Verizon Wireless 4G is supposed to be 12-13 MBPS; 4G standard max is 100 MBPS.

http://community.vzw.com/t5/BlackBerry-Devices/Which-is-Faster-Comcast-High-Speed-Internet-or-Verizon-3G/m-p/244885

"I have a Bold that I connect to WiFi on a Comcast home network. It
is a lot faster than the 3G connection."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verizon_Wireless#Network

"On June 30, 2007, Verizon Wireless had completed the overhaul of the
entire EV-DO network to EV-DO Rev. A. This enables PC Cards and
certain phones to obtain theoretical peak download speeds of 3.1
Mbit/s and upload speeds of up to 1.8 Mbit/s. [9] The actual download
and upload speeds vary due to a number of factors, and users will
typically see speeds close to 1 Mbit/s down, and 500 kbit/s up."

WiFi tethering even at the "theoretical peak download speeds of 3.1 Mbit/s" would seem to be pretty slow.

http://gigaom.com/mobile/verizon-mifi-review/

I am currently trying their 5gb version but I must say I am thoroughly dissappointed with the advertized vs real speeds of this service. They advertize 3 to 4mb but the best I could measure using several different services is about .6 download and .5 upload
______________________________________________

WiFi speeds:
   811g 56 MBPS
   811n 120 MBPS

WiFi does not seem to close reaching its max speed because Verizon tops out at:

- Verizon Wireless:
   3G theoretically 3.1 MBPS
   4G 12-13 MBPS
- Verizon FIOS 15/25/50 MBPS.

Chrome OS PC ... coming Friday from Dell?

2011-03-08T19:31:00.004-05:00

A Dell chat person told me today that it might be available Friday March 11, 2011.

I was shocked because I've trying to find information that is not one or two years old. Wikipedia comments:

most of Chrome OS's advantages "can be found in other software environments without having to sacrifice native applications"

a useless brick when you are dealing with no or ancient Internet connections

Have they ever heard of the iPad? Wouldn't those objections apply to tablets?

I'm interested in a Chrome OS PC but disappointed that it continues to be relegated to netbooks. I tried an HP netbook with Linux but returned it because I could not load the the first application that I tried to install: Skype. HP support sucked.

I then bought an Acer netbook running WindowsXP. Many problems and Acer support sucked beyond belief.

Both the HP and Acer netbooks had a problem with the trackpad going out of control often. I'm guessing that it's a hardware problem with small screens since they ran different operating systems.

The Acer had an unconventional screen aspect ratio, which caused problems occasionally.

How about a 17 inch laptop running Chrome OS? Restricting Chrome OS to those stupid netbooks really limits the market. I use google docs online exclusively. I do not need applications on my PC. Just the browser.

I'm anxious to see what is introduced. I really don't to buy yet another laptop running bloated Windows when all I need is access to a browser, exactly what a Chrome OS PC would be. I also do not want to buy another netbook.

Argh!

To gig or not to gig?

2011-03-07T09:40:00.008-05:00

I sent an article to a friend. It dealt with Hong Kong, which is very densely populated, having companies that provide one gig of download throughput for residential Internet service. One of those companies charges only $26 per month ... for ONE GIG!

Here are the costs for Verizon FIOS Internet:

15 meg $50
25 meg $65
50 meg $140

And you need to check availability. Of course, you can bundle this with other services but the speeds and pricing indicate the large disconnect between Hong Kong and good old USA. The duopoly service providers in my area, Verizon and Cablevision, are not inclined to engage in anything approaching serious price competition but are content to basically share the pie evenly. Cablevision refused to provide Internet only pricing on its website, I'm sure to have a sales person try to convince you to subscribe to its triple play services (Internet, Voice and Video). Better to lock you in and make you dependent on Cablevision for all these services. Verizon has this same approach, just less insidious.

My friend and I both have Verizon FIOS, he in the outland of rural Massachusetts, I in more densely populated Westchester county New York. In other words, my friend is in no danger of getting one gig Internet speed. My friend's reaction was that he could not imagine needing the one gig. My thought is: if you build it they will fill it.

But he has a point. The biggest current download would probably be streaming HD video, i.e., watching HDTV in real time over the Internet on an HDTV, not on a computer. Even allowing for a family of four all doing this concurrently, it probably would not approach one gig. Somebody do the math. Current 3D TV takes the same bandwidth as HD, so that is not yet more of a factor.

I still want one gig at a reasonable price. That's not likely since conventional residential U.S. Internet service providers are fat, dumb and happy and the FCC is not pushing it.

I'm confident that the gig would be filled. For instance, it would make viable getting ALL video over the Internet and not paying for video service separately to say Cablevision. In fact, within five years of introduction, one gig would not be enough.

Motorola XOOM: service cancelled and returned.

2011-03-05T10:05:00.000-05:00

I called and cancelled before 9AM this morning to stay within the three day window for not being charged $35 activation fee.

Just received e-mail from Verizon Wireless over an hour later:

We are very pleased you have selected Verizon Wireless. We would like to welcome you to the nation's most reliable wireless network. This e-mail confirms the activation of your wireless phone service on 3/3/2011

You can't make up stuff like this.

Motorola XOOM; this dog is going back.

2011-03-04T19:34:00.000-05:00

installatiin of XOOM google body is still jerking around after almost an hour, just like Skype.

This has been frusrating and disappointing from ordering to simple basic use. Verizon compounds this every step.

Unless the Xoom makes an unexpexted ralley over the weekend, I will return it early next week.

Motorola XOOM: Skype app never installed after two hours.

2011-03-04T18:44:00.000-05:00

I finally gave up and cancelled. I started the Google Body app. It appears to be in the same stalled mode. It's now 6:45PM.

Motorola XOOM: apps are nuts and so are tablets.

2011-03-04T17:50:00.000-05:00

Have any of the mainstream reviewers actually installed any XOOM apps?

Wow, it's weird.

I tried Skype. I was lost for hours. When I finally found it I still had to install it. Installation, I think, is happening yet again but is taking a REALLY long time.

I'm beginning to think that I don't like tablets.

1. copy/paste sucks
2. I find myself using it like a netbook, propped up on that stupid "case", except there's no keyboard to save me.
3. I don't want to use even the GMail and contacts apps that I cannot quiesce without un-installing them, I guess.
4. It may be impossible to install XOOM apps. Few exist and, so far, none have been installed. In addition to Skype, I selected google body, which looks interesting. It's awaiting the fate of Skype for its attempt at installation.

The on screen keyboard is painfully slow, with a very annoying lag between hitting a key and the symbol that appears, which includes a following space that does not count, as a real space must be entered.

Maybe this tablet thing sucks.

So where the heck are those damn Chrome OS PCs with their charming keyboards?

To 4G or not 4G. That is the question.

2011-03-04T17:03:00.000-05:00

Verizon's latest incompetence described in the previous post may have been of value. While waiting for multiple Verizon employees to jerk me around and pass me from one to another, I did some quick research.

HTC Thunderbolt v. Motorola Bionic seem to be the 4G or pseudo 4G phones of choice when/if they ever actually arrive. Today was the most recent slipped date for the HTC Thunderbolt and Motorola Bionic is just a twinkle in someone's eye. I wonder if the phones are ready but the network is not.

Verizon e-mail to me: $100 off any Droid

2011-03-04T15:56:00.001-05:00

Yeah, right!

Message to Verizon:

I clicked and selected the Motorola Pro for $79.99. When I click on continue in the shopping cart your stupid website just sits there. I tried this many times.

So, ...

I logged in to my Verizon account and clicked on upgrade my phone. The same phone, Motorola Pro, is $179.99. What happened to the $100 off?

This is typical of the Verizon website.

Motorola XOOM: issues for a new user.

2011-03-04T09:12:00.000-05:00

Since it just came out, we're all new users.

One thing I did not notice in the reviews is that the HDMI port is mini on the XOOM. And it is OUT. Most reviewers did not note that either, nor do the specs.

Note: the power port on the XOOM is NOT USB, but a small round sucker. Groan! Also, the USB port may NOT be used to charge the battery, which during the the first charged lit the LED as described but thereafter, does not even though the battery charge percentage increases so I guess that it's chargeing but not not indicating that through the LED. Argh!

Setup was a whiz and, like my Motorola Droid smart phone, it seamlessly downloaded my contacts and calendar data. When I opened the gmail app I was presented with an unfamiliar interface.

I then tried accessing my e-mail through the browser. That same unfamiliar interface appeared. Finally I noticed something at the bottom of the browser screen that does not appear in the google Chrome browser for Windows: options for either the default mobile interface or the desktop interface. When I switched to the desktop interface I saw most of what I see on my Windows PC, except for the Priority Inbox.

My vision for modern computing is to keep my data on servers, not on individual computers. Currently my data is synced between google servers and my Motorola Droid. Now with the Motorola XOOM I would be syncing with yet another computer. I don't like that and considered using my google functions through the XOOM browser, not through the XOOM apps.

I finally bit the bullet and reset my XOOM, erasing all the data that had been downloaded from the google servers. Upon re-initializing my XOOM I skipped providing my google account info.

Now when I open the XOOM gmail app I am prompted to provide my google account info, so the re-set worked erasing my data. Good. Same with the contacts app. I don't see anyway around syncing between google servers and my Motorola Droid smart phone because the screen is so small but the XOOM screen size seems large enough that I can use google online functions pretty comfortably in the browser and not be concerned that if my much more valuable XOOM were to be lost I would not also be losing all my data too.

For Calendar and Docs I had to individually select Desktop view. Docs warned me that my browser might not support all Docs stuff but stayed with Desktop. I don't expect to create or edit Docs much onn the XOOM anyway but we'll see. Hope the XOOM browser remembers my Desktop choices.

By erasing the data I also lost my WiFi passwords. Rats. Cannot seem to get stuff like that after fiddling with setting my google account for backup but not sync.

Let's see how this goes during the 14 day trial period.

The extra package of stuff that I ordered for $80 is a bit weird. The package includes:
- Display Portfolio protective cover/stand
- Standard Doc
- Display Protectors 3-Pack

The Display Portfolio is flimsier than I had expected and I do not see how the XOOM can remain in it and also be inserted into the Standard Doc even with switching the adapter, which itself seems impossible. The Display Portfolio has no holes on the bottom to provide access between the charger and the charging port so I don't know if I'll:

1. remove the XOOM from the Display Portfolio and drop it into the Standard Doc or
2. leave the XOOM in the Display Portfolio and plug it into the AC adapter, which renders the Standard Doc unnecessary.

All the Motorola documentation has a font size that is much too small, while wasting the obligatory white space. Hey, Motorola, not all of your customers have great eye sight. Even with a magnifying glass it's difficult to read. And as David Pogue noted, what's with those cryptic mini icons on the XOOM screen. There's plenty of screen real estate.

On the Windows PC I noticed that when I was logged in on the XOOM using the gmail app, Windows gmail indicated that I was logged in on a second computer, providing the IP address. That's not the case now that I'm accessing gmail on the XOOM through its browser.

I have not actually tried it yet but copy and paste appears to be the same junk, maybe worse, as that on my Motorola Droid. Computer finger painting has its limits.

Ordered Motorola XOOM ... sort of.

2011-03-01T09:47:00.007-05:00

I watched the David Pogue video again and realized that there's practically no chance that by waiting I would select any of these:

1. Apple iPad2
2. HP with its Palm OS, whatever it's called
3. Research in Motion's blackberry tablet thing.

So I ordered Motorola XOOM. Verizon hasn't changed much from its total monopoly days. It succeeds in spite of it's billing department.

I ordered online because the two Verizon retail I checked three days ago, which was two days after Verizon announced the XOOM, did not have the XOOM and provided only a vague sense as to when it might arrive, displaying minimal interest in having me buy from them.

I logged in to my Verizon account. There was no way to order the damn thing.

Next I opened the Verizon promotional e-mail, which provided a link to buy it. Fine but that was not associated with the fact that I had already logged in. I went through the ordering process, which made it clear that even existing customers (it did not ask for identification as such) had to supply driver's license ID and social security number so that Verizon could do a credit check. Verizon also assigned a new phone number even though I was ordering a computer, with no explanation about this stupidity. I had gone through this when I ordered MiFi hot spot service about 18 months ago.

I received an e-mail message confirming my order but, again, giving no indication that Verizon realized that I was an existing customer.

I called Verizon because I could see trouble. While waiting for some intelligent response by the Verizon human being I received a second e-mail message stating:

Unfortunately, we are unable to process your request for the following reason:

Our Credit Review Department has requested further information from you.

Say what?

Against my better judgement I called and was told that Verizon wanted to know if I wanted the new service to be in a new account or on my existing account. You cannot make up stuff like this.

I told Verizon, yes, I want the new service on my existing account! Geez! All this agita could have been avoided with a website that functioned like it had been designed by people on THIS planet.

I also asked both Verizon people I spoke to the rhetorical question of whether Verizon had a discount plan for the many and varied Internet services that a customer could have. No. This after my having to explain the concept of bundled service discount. The default reaction is for FIOS people to direct you to Wireless people and for Wireless people to direct you to FIOS people. I have a bundled discount between FIOS and Wireless but I also want one for what will now be three Verizon Internet services (something I had been determined to avoid), maybe analogous to a family plan for voice service. Note: Verizon does not have a family plan for data service among smart phones.

My three Verizon Internet services will now be:

1. FIOS at home
2. data plan for my Motorola Droid smart phone
3. data plan for my Motorola XOOM, which, despite being a computer, will have its own phone number so that the archaic Verizon computer systems can crawl through the information the manner of a monopoly.

Hot off the e-mail, one hour after I finished my conversation with the second Verizon person, the one who told me that I would receive the XOOM tomorrow:

Your order is currently in queue to be processed. In most cases orders are processed within 3 business days.

You can't make up stuff like this.

Motorola XOOM v. Apple iPad2

2011-02-26T09:08:00.003-05:00

The Motorola XOOM (manufacturer spells it with caps) tablet from Verizon Wireless running the Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) Operating System (OS) became available yesterday. Given that I had been waiting for this product it's strange that I have not yet pulled the trigger and bought the damn thing.

Most mainstream sources (NY Times, WSJ, ...) recommend waiting until March 2, only three days, for Apple's predatory announcement of its iPad2. It seems that the iPad2 announcement has been hurried to a strategically earlier date to impede XOOM sales.

These seem to be my reasons for hesitating:

1. Price. $600 with a $20 per month two year contract with Verizon Wireless for one gig per month or $800. Ouch! That's no pressure for Apple to be more reasonable, which Apple would have no inclination to be anyway.

2. XOOM is currently only available in one configuration, 3G with a future software upgrade to 4G when that version of wireless network becomes available. There is currently no WiFi only version. I asked two friends who know this stuff better than I whether such a software upgrade made sense but did not get a direct answer: there's only a marketing of version of 4G and why would you need all that speed. My thinking: I don't want a $600-$800 device to become obsolete in 12-18 months.

3. There will be plenty more Android tablets and the XOOM may not seem so hot in a few months. Others may be less expensive and more polished; XOOM currently lacks Flash video play, which is really odd given Apple's policy to never support Flash. I could live without an HD video camera and save that expense. I just want to look up stuff. A bare bones tablet for half the price would be compelling. I don't actually need an iPad clone.

4. iPad2 is the 800 pound and $800 gorilla, the market leader and trend setter. Maybe I should just succumb and buy from the evil Apple empire.

In the Westchester mall near my home are both an Apple store and a Verizon Wireless store. Maybe I'll wait 3-4 days and see if I can try each and then delude myself into thinking that my decision was not largely emotional and go ahead and buy the XOOM in hopes that the enlightened google will reward me by smiting mighty Apple with its open architecture.

So when the heck will PCs with the google ChromeOS finally be available? That product might preclude my consumer longing for the more expensive tablet.

bump

2011-01-11T08:01:00.000-05:00

I've had it on my Motorola Droid for months and never found someone with whom I could share something. Oh, for the Palm infrared port!

My Review of Roku XD Player

2010-12-28T16:19:00.001-05:00

Originally submitted at Roku

The new XD steps it up with 1080p HD video quality and extended-range wireless.

Good

By Ken from White Plains, NY on 12/28/2010

Pros: Great value, High quality picture, IT WORKS, Reliability, Compact

Cons: Make finding stuff easier, Difficult to set up

Best Uses: Robin Hood BBC series, Living room

Describe Yourself: Casual User

Never used Netflix before this but the $8.99 per month for unlimited Netflix and this Roku box were a compelling combination.

(legalese)

Google's OS

2010-09-02T16:56:00.000-04:00

Google's operating system, ChromeOS, may be loaded on small new laptops by the end of 2010. That probably means netbooks only. I hope that ChromeOS as an option on larger PCs.

Reports are that users may not be able to load ChromeOS on older PCs. I hope that's not true.

I use the cloud for everything now, including Google Documents. I don't use programs on my PC to create files. All I want to do is connect to the Internet. In theory, ChromeOS should suffice. An OS that loads quickly, is integrated with its browser and is light on resources. Sounds great.

Windows7 and Mac PCs are bloated messes. I have not been able to get Linux to run consistently. Here's hoping that ChromeOS is a viable alternative.

Android OS does not copy and paste.

2010-03-25T19:39:00.002-04:00

After the fuss about the original Apple iPhone not having copy and paste it's especially amazing that Android OS 2.0 does not include that simple function. What was google thinking? It is disappointing that my Motorola Droid using the Verizon Wireless network lacks copy and paste.

Is Best Buy going out of business like Circuit City?

2010-02-13T08:59:00.003-05:00

Best Buy keeps sending me e-mail messages about it's RewardZone program to encourage customers to buy more stuff. OK, I get that. However, it appears to require users to PRINT something that store employees must scan. Say what? Is this a time machine thing taking us back to the 1950s and S&H green stamps?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S&H_Green_Stamps

When I was in the Best Buy store in Hartsdale, NY recently trying unsuccessfully to make this RewardZone thing work the employees had the customers outnumbered 5 to 1.

Is Best Buy going out of business like Circuit City?

Google Buzz

2010-02-10T09:03:00.000-05:00

First Buzz. I've read that this is a lame attempt by google to get into social networking, i.e., facebook. I have a facebook account but still have not used it much nor seen any real value, plus I find it cluttered and confusing. Who are those people?

The integration that google has done so far seems much better than that described by pundits and I would be much more inclined to extend my use of google services than those in facebook and that ridiculous twitter.

Message sent to Verizon Wireless about google voice app incurring minutes using WiFi

2009-12-05T08:11:00.004-05:00

Side issue: I am logged in to my account yet I must enter ALL my info to send a message. Is this a way to discourage messages?

I have the Motorola Droid running Android 2.0. I loaded the google voice app. When I call with the google voice app using the Verizon Wireless 3G network I get charged minutes. OK, that makes some sense.

However, I also get charged when I call with the google voice app using a WiFi connection. This does not make sense. Here is a recent example that caught my attention:

12/04/2009 02:04 PM 5183149466 37 PLATTSBG

That phone number is used by the google voice app for all my outgoing calls.

I should NOT be charged voice minutes against my plan of 450 voice minutes per month when I call with the google voice app using a WiFi connection.

Google Voice for Droid

2009-11-21T10:11:00.003-05:00

I finally found a substantive use for google voice. There's an app to run it from my Verizon Wireless Motorola Droid. I have tried it using WiFi. Next I'll try it using the Verizon Wireless 3G network. That should work, too.

When using the Verizon Wireless 3G network to make google voice calls, what will be increased:

1. voice plan minutes
2. data plan bytes?

If data plan bytes, it seems that one could use google voice all the time and not incur any voice plan minutes to make outgoing calls. That would be cool.

Droid

2009-11-12T10:52:00.004-05:00

I bought the Motorola Droid for Verizon Wireless. Best feature, which is also totally under appreciated in formal reviews:

SYNC!

The damn thing does auto sync directly between the Droid and gmail contacts and calendar! No PC! That revolting iPod Touch that I tried for a day required a PC to get it started so that the evil Apple Computers, Inc. could force you to register with its money sucking iTunes software. That's just to get the iPod Touch started. If you simply wanted to connect to the Internet and not listen to music you could not!

Google's FREE syncing works well, although a contact's address is still a one field mess in gmail. In the Droid postal address, as it is known, is broken into discreet fields.

Sprint, the deceiver!

2009-09-21T14:59:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I saw TV ads with the Sprint CEO promoting Sprint's new calling plan, which includes free calls to any mobile phone. I was tempted. I just checked the Sprint web site. This plan starts at $70! What the heck? That's because it requires the data plan with only 450 minutes to non-mobile phones. In other words, the same type of plan that I could get from ATT or Verizon. Since they have most of the mobile phones, it's not much of a plan.

It also appears to cover only outgoing calls, not incoming.

No thanks.

Wither a cool Verizon Wireless device?

2009-09-16T07:54:00.003-04:00

My trusty three and half year old Palm Treo 700P died. The jack for the headset stopped working, preventing the mic from working. Who would have thought that? I tried using my old Motorola blue tooth head set (never liked its performance), figuring it would bypass the mic, but that thing would not come to life after not being used for years even though I kept the battery charged ... I thought.

I considered my wireless options: iPhone on ATT, Palm Pre on Sprint, G1 google phone on T-Mobile. I really wanted to stay with the Verizon Wireless network hoping that it would approve a cool device soon enough to reward my patience. Supposedly the Palm Pre will be on the Verizon Wireless network early in 2010.

I dusted off my previous phone, an LG, and switched my Verizon Wireless account back to it. It works fine! I still have the car charger, which also works. I set up my old Palm TX to sync with MS Outlook on my PC. Bingo, back to the future. This is what I used four years ago before I bought the Palm Treo 700P for $400. Now, however, I have the Verizon Wireless MiFi modem, which works well with the Palm TX via WiFi, connecting it to the web. The only uncool thing is the need to carry three items: LG phone, Palm TX, MiFi modem.

I will probably get whichever of the three smart phones becomes available on Verizon Wireless: iPhone, Palm Pre, (G1 or some other running the Android OS). Unless Verizon Wireless does something unexpected and introduces a device that the other service providers do not already have. It would require a significant change in corporate culture and is very unlikely. Verizon Wireless could also consider some creativity in its billing plans. ATT has rollover minutes. Verizon Wireless has a favorites option but it would require me to increase my monthly cost from $40 (plus tax and tip over 25%) to $60; it would increase my allowed minutes from 450 to 900.

When will a U.S. wireless service provider charge only for outgoing calls and not for incoming calls? I think that's how it is done in Europe. Here, both the caller and called are charged minutes.

Nokia renages.

2009-07-27T09:43:00.002-04:00

Despite spending almost two hours on the phone Friday and having Nokia tell me that it would waive the 15% restocking charge, when I called today Monday to get a return authorization (RA) number Nokia acted like it had never heard of me and charged the 15%. I just took the RA and ended the call. You can't fight city hall or customer service.

Verzion Wireless, save me from all this! Get some good devices.

Nokia N810

2009-07-25T14:08:00.003-04:00

I tried using it. Advertised softaware is not loaded but lised. The user can decide to load it. I had the N810 load Rhapsody.

Then I tried to have it load Skype. Error message indicated that I needed to upgrade the Nokia N810 software. More evidence that Nokia sent me an old device. I downloaded the required program but received another error message indicating that the N810 could not recognize the file type.

That was it. I removed the battery and packed it into its box. Monday I will call Nokia the get a return Authorization (RA) number.

Nokia N810 arrived: used, NOT new!

2009-07-24T17:52:00.005-04:00

It is clearly used. Packaging makes that obvious. I paid for new and got used!

I am on hold with Nokia, which wants ME to pay to return it for a new device plus 15% restocking! Apple only hit me for 10% restocking when I returned the iPod Touch.

I asked Nokia to check its inventory system and determine whether the device had already been sold and returned. I'm waiting for the answer.

This sucks.

These companies do not deal with customers well at all.

Forty minutes on this call to Nokia and WAITING!

What will Nokia decide? The tension mounts. Plus, stupid Verizon Wireless cannot handle my switch to paperless billing. I called and its systems are down!

What the heck?

Nokia group to provide a return authorization (RA) number have all gone home. They are in Indiana.

I am on hold for the group that MAY be able to tell me if this device had been sold and returned before it was shipped to me.

Apple is starting to look good.

On hold with person looking up my Nokia device. One hour, three minutes. Thank goodness I'm using Skype.

74 minutes. I grow weak.

80 minutes.

90 minutes. Nokia will wave the 15% but charge me for shipping. I said no. They are checking again.

95 minutes.

100 minutes. They are sending me back to sales, which dumped onto some semi techie group. Nokia could not tell me whether I had to pay for shipping, the reason I was placed on hold.

I played with it while I was on hold. I think I will return it no matter what. It sucks.

Verizon Wireless, get something: Palm Prem G1, G2, even the damn iPhone! Something!

112 minutes. It's over. Nothing resolved. I must call back Monday.

Oh, the humanity!

Linux Ubuntu returns!

2009-07-22T08:01:00.002-04:00

Yes and it is actually installed and working on my trusty four year old Dell eight pound laptop. I received the version 9.04 CD from The Netherlands in record time.

Initially, I ran it from the CD. Then in a bold move I had it create its own partition on my 40 gig hard drive and install. At start up I have the option to boot either Ubuntu or WindowsXP. It's working well.

However, it limited the size of the partition and there appears to be almost no free space. It presented me with a long list of program updates that cannot be installed because they need almost 400 meg of disk space and I seem to have less than 100 meg free. I tried removing some programs such as Open Office but that did not free nearly enough space.

Both the Update Manager and Add/Remove apps seem to have been created by some being from a nearby galaxy, not too far from our own but not too close either.

Hey, at least it's working.

Nokia N810 back ordered.

2009-07-22T07:58:00.002-04:00

I ordered it directly from Nokia. Let's see if they produce and ship it. Price is $229, same as the iPod Touch from the hated and deservedly so Apple Computers.

Nokia has a real slide out keyboard. It's an Internet tablet, not a phone. This is the WiFi only version, no WiMax.

Acer supprt: still dense.

2009-07-20T08:37:00.001-04:00

Response (Arun_GWSI663) - 07/20/2009 06:42 AM

Dear Aaa Ken,

Thank you for contacting Acer America. I’ll be happy to assist you with this issue.

As per your Serial number we verified that your product is in Warranty.

I understand that you are unable to do recovery using the recovery partition, and also find out that there is no eRecovery program installed in the PC.

Could you please understand that you can install it from the recovery CD.

So could you please go though this link for purchase the recovery the recovery CD: https://secure.tx.acer.com/RCDB/Main.aspx?brand=acer.

_________________________________________

from Kenneth Matinale

to Acer Technical Support

date Mon, Jul 20, 2009 at 8:37 AM

subject Re: Invitation to view a photo from Ken's Picasa Web Album - Tech [Incident: 090711-000847]

How about letting me download it? If it fits on a CD, it must be no larger than about 650 meg, right?

The Acer eRecovery program is supposed to already be on my PC. Why should I pay for something that I am supposed to have?

Plus, my Acer netbook does NOT have a CD drive. You should know that, plus I have informed Acer support about that in this thread alone, MANY times.

Acer support: still crazy after all these years.

2009-07-20T06:06:00.001-04:00

Response (Shelly_GWSI408) - 07/20/2009 12:42 AM

Dear Aaa Ken,

Thank you for contacting Acer America. I’ll be happy to assist you.

I understand that you are unable to do recovery using the recovery partition. As per our records your computer is in warranty.

We would recommend you to purchase the recovery CD and do the recovery with the help of an external optical drive.

To order replacement recovery discs/media, please refer to Acer's online order form located at:

https://secure.tx.acer.com/RCDB/Main.aspx?brand=acer.

This can also be found under the eRecovery CD Purchase link at:

http://www.acerpanam.com/synapse/forms/webpage.cfm?siteid=7293&areaid=7&website=AcerPanAm.com/us.

__________________________________________________

from Kenneth Matinale

to Acer Technical Support

date Mon, Jul 20, 2009 at 6:12 AM

subject Re: Invitation to view a photo from Ken's Picasa Web Album - Tech [Incident: 090711-000847]

Why?

Why would I pay any more money to Acer for something that is supposed to work but does not?

Go back and read the exchange of messages between Acer and me. You will find a consistent pattern of silly suggestions from Acer, which show that Acer support people do not use common sense.

Are you trying to make me hate Acer? Your eRecovery program is apparently not installed on my Acer PC and you do not want to admit

it.

I would not recommend Acer. This would not happen with Dell or HP.

Acer support: you cannot make up stuff like this.

2009-07-19T22:11:00.001-04:00

Response (Hashim_GWSI667) - 07/19/2009 04:52 PM

Dear Aaa Ken,

Thank you for contacting Acer America. I’ll be happy to assist you.

I am glad to inform you that as per our record your product is in warranty.

Having reviewed your email, I understand that your Netbook is having some issues with its performance and you need to know how to do recovery using eRecovery.

You could get complete eRecovery steps from the following link :-

http://www.acerpanam.com/synapse/forms/portal20.cfm?recordid=1156&formid=3390&website=acerpanam.com&siteid=7117&words=all&keywords=&areaid=2

___________________________________________

from Kenneth Matinale

to Acer Technical Support

date Sun, Jul 19, 2009 at 9:45 PM

subject Re: Invitation to view a photo from Ken's Picasa Web Album - Tech [Incident: 090711-000847]

"Immediately, press ALT on the keyboard and start tapping F10.

Continue holding ALT and tapping F10 as the unit boots up."

Screen stating "Starting Acer Erecovery" does NOT appear.

I tried it a couple of times. It does NOT work!

Acer support: the beat goes on.

2009-07-19T15:44:00.001-04:00

Response (Akash PRamesh) - 07/18/2009 01:17 PM

Dear Aaa Ken,

Thank you for contacting Acer America. I’ll be happy to assist you with this issue. I am glad to inform you that as per our record your product is in warranty.

Having reviewed your email, I understand that your netbook is having some issues with its performance and you need to know how to do recovery using partition.

Aaa, in order to do recovery using the recovery partition I would recommend you to click on start, click on all programs and select empowering technology.
_________________________________________
fromKenneth Matinale <matinale@gmail.com>toAcer Technical Support <acer1@mailwc.custhelp.com>
dateSun, Jul 19, 2009 at 3:37 PMsubjectRe: Invitation to view a photo from Ken's Picasa Web Album - Tech [Incident: 090711-000847]

"click on start, click on all programs and select empowering technology."

There is nothing like "empowering technology". Please provide more info. Thanks.

Apple iPod Touch returned ... ten percent charge.

2009-07-18T14:54:00.003-04:00

I arrived at the mall about 9:45AM. The Apple store opens at 10AM and about half a dozen people were already waiting outside. This was odd because customers were already inside and an Apple employee (Applista) was coming out to see if any of us had early appointments.

At 10AM I entered and indicated that I was returning an Apple iPod Touch. There was some grumbling among Apple employees, apparently bracing for the day's onslaught. I was asked why I was returning it and stated that it did not function as a stand alone product, that when I turned it on I saw an image that wanted me to use iTunes. An Applista suggested that iTunes would enable it and I said that iTunes on my PC presented me with an agreement and that I would not declare my allegiance to iTunes.

OK, we were ready for the actual return:

Applista: There is a ten percent re-stocking charge.

Ken: I was not told that.

Applista: It's on the receipt.

Ken: The receipt was sent to me by e-mail.

Applista: Then you received it.

Ken: Not while I was in the store and could do something about it.

Applista: Well, there's nothing that I can do about it.

That cost me $23. I took the hit and left, never to return again. Apple has alienated me.

Acer support: the final insult, declaring the unsolved problem solved

2009-07-18T12:35:00.003-04:00

Classic case of a company ignoring what the customer tells it.

**********************************

from Kenneth Matinale

to Acer Technical Support

date Sat, Jul 18, 2009 at 8:16 AM

subject Re: Invitation to view a photo from Ken's Picasa Web Album - Tech [Incident: 090711-000847]

Just tell me how "to do system recovery ... using the recovery

partition". Instructions in the pfd file have not worked.

_________________________________________

Response (Akash PRamesh) - 07/18/2009 08:10 AM

Dear Aaa Ken,

Thank you for contacting Acer America. I’ll be happy to assist you with this issue.

I am glad to inform you that as per our record your product is in warranty.

Having reviewed your email, I understand that your netbook is having some issues with its performance and you need to know how to do recovery using partition.

Aaa, please go through the link for doing recovery using empowering technology http://www.acerpanam.com/synapse/data/7117/documents/Acer%20eRecovery%20Management.pdf

There would be a data loss if you are using RCD. So please take back up of your data before you do a recovery. To take a back up, you can contact Answers by Acer which is a paid support or else you can take the system to any local store nearby.

Your service request has been updated, please make a note of the SR number:1-524JJQ for future references.

For further clarifications please feel free to visit our web site

http://www.acerpanam.com/synapse/forms/webpage.cfm?website=acerpanam.com&siteid=7117&areaid=2

Thank you for contacting Acer,

Have a great day!

Respectfully,

Acer America

Online Technical Support

Customer (Aaa Ken) - 07/18/2009 07:25 AM

- Show quoted text ---

Last Updated: 07/18/2009 08:10 AM

Status: Solved

_________________________________

from Kenneth Matinale

to Acer Technical Support

date Sat, Jul 18, 2009 at 12:41 PM

subject Re: Invitation to view a photo from Ken's Picasa Web Album - Tech [Incident: 090711-000847]

http://techthoughtsmatinale.blogspot.com/

Hey, clown, check the blog above. The entire world knows how lousy Acer support is. I just wrote to Acer (again) that the Acer recovery pdf file did not have good info and you tell me to read it, then declare the problem SOLVED!?

That is terrible support.

Apple, the evil empire, adds a touch of evil.

2009-07-18T07:20:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I bought an Apple iPod Touch. I will return it today.

When it is powered on it does not start up. It shows an image of a USB cable with an arrow pointing to an iTunes icon. It is crippled. When I attach it to my Windows PC an iTunes service agreement appears on my PC. I must agree to continue. I declined.

I bought it to access the web and run Skype. However, Apple will not let me do those things without buying into its insidious all encompassing iTunes world. No thanks.

Plus, where does it say that I must have a PC to use an iPod Touch?

What if my PC runs a non-iTunes OS: Linux, ChromeOS (future), whatever?

Acer support ... MORONIC!

2009-07-18T06:19:00.006-04:00

Here are the messages exchanged between me and Acer support over six days regarding the very SLOW performance of my Acer netbook running WindowsXP. There are some common themes:

1. Acer does not respond directly to what a customer writes.

2. Acer does not know what PC I have.

3. Acer does not know whether my model PC is made by Acer or by one of its acquisitions such as Gateway.

4. Acer cannot provide solutions to its own problems, specifically, system recovery.

____________________________________

Customer (aaa Ken) - 07/11/2009 07:25 PM

Processors [Incident: 090709-000123]

Acer: Come on, come on! I sent this screen shot to you a day ago. It clearly shows TWO processors, both in device manager and in task manager.

Please explain the TWO processors.

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Ken

Date: Fri, Jul 10, 2009 at 9:08 AM

To: matinale@gmail.com

You are invited to view a photo from Ken's photo album: Tech View Photo

Message from Ken:

View the TWO processors in my Acer netbook. If you are having problems viewing this email, copy and paste the following into your browser:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=matinale&target=PHOTO&id=5356816930879671810

&aid=5356816224913769969&authkey=Gv1sRgCIXasL-0sPrGuQE&invite=CLSdjMsD&feat=email

To share your photos or receive notification when your friends share photos, get your own free Picasa Web Albums account.

____________________________________

Response (Rajesh P) - 07/11/2009 11:00 PM

Dear aaa Ken,

Thank you for contacting Acer America.This is Rajesh. I’ll be happy to assist you in this issue.

It is extremely hard to determine the exact cause from the information you have provided.

With this in mind, could you please give more detailed information about the issue/error message if any or any other information that you think may help us to help you.

For further clarifications please feel free to visit our web site http://Acer.com/

Have a great day!

__________________________________

from Kenneth Matinale

to Acer Technical Support

date Sun, Jul 12, 2009 at 9:16 AM

subject Re: Invitation to view a photo from Ken's Picasa Web Album - Tech [Incident:

090711-000847]

See attached file. It is a screen shot that clearly shows TWO processors in BOTH:

- device manager

- task manager.

Please explain why there are TWO processors and how TWO processors impact performance.

Thank you.

__________________________________

Response (Shefin) - 07/12/2009 08:54 AM

Dear Aaa Ken,

Thank you for contacting Acer America. I’ll be happy to assist you.

I understand that you can see two processors in device manger and task manager.

Please note that, if you are using Hyperthreading processor with your computer, it will shows two processors in device manager. That means there is one physical processor and two logical processors, it works like two but there is only one processor.

We are sorry that we'll not be able to pull up your computer records without the serial number. In order to assist you better we would like to have the Serial number of your system. We would recommend you to verify the correct Serial Number which is 22 or 13 character alphanumeric or 11 digit SNID number before sending the same to us.

You could locate the serial number:

On the bottom of a notebook

On the back or side of a desktop

Under the front sliding door on a desktop

On the original computer box

We would also recommend you to confirm whether you bought the system from US or Canada.

I will do the needful after getting the required information. For further clarifications

please feel free to visit our web site http://Acerpanam.com/

Have a great day!

__________________________________

from Kenneth Matinale

to Acer Technical Support

date Sun, Jul 12, 2009 at 12:54 PM

subject Re: Invitation to view a photo from Ken's Picasa Web Album - Tech [Incident:

090711-000847]

I sent all that info. I am away from the Acer netbook now.

I did not install hyperthreading. I never heard of it. Acer must have done it. Could that slow down my Acer pc?

__________________________________

from Kenneth Matinale

to Acer Technical Support

date Sun, Jul 12, 2009 at 3:20 PM

subject Re: Invitation to view a photo from Ken's Picasa Web Album - Tech [Incident:

090711-000847]

nvoice# 553430140

SSCC# (00)047182358002188744

LoadID: U21868-005,113

MFSG.DATE:0811 AOA 110-1588

S/N: LUS030B0438482A2972536

SNID: 84817269525

On Sun, Jul 12, 2009 at 9:54 AM, Acer Technical

__________________________________

Response (Shefin) - 07/12/2009 02:40 PM

Dear Aaa Ken,

Thank you for contacting Acer America. I’ll be happy to assist you.

I understand that the computer shows two processors in device manger and task manager. I have verified the serial number and found that the computer is in warranty.

Please note that Hyperthreading is an advanced technology for the Processors. If the computer is having a Processor with Hyperthreading, it will shows two processors in device manager. That means there is one physical processor and two logical processors, it works like two but there is only one processor. It will increase the ability of the Processor. There is nothing to worry about it.

I sincerely hope the above information will help you with the issue. Please make a note

of the service request number, 1-51GV7G for further assistance.

For further clarifications please feel free to visit our web site http://Acerpanam.com/

Have a great day!

__________________________________

from Kenneth Matinale

to Acer Technical Support

date Sun, Jul 12, 2009 at 4:05 PM

subject Re: Invitation to view a photo from Ken's Picasa Web Album - Tech [Incident:

090711-000847]

1-51GV7G

OK, if two processors is not the problem, then why is it so slow? I added only a few new programs:

- google Chrome, Updater, Desktop

- Skype

- Norton Internet Security (turned off everything)

- VZ Manager (for mobile broadband) - not used

Removed MS Office

Deleted MS Works (would not uninstall)

On Sun, Jul 12, 2009 at 3:40 PM, Acer Technical

__________________________________

Response (Shefin) - 07/12/2009 04:27 PM

Dear Aaa Ken,

Thank you for contacting Acer America. I’ll be happy to assist you with the system performance issue.

Please go to the link given below and follow the instructions to resolve the performance issue with your computer.

http://support.gateway.com/s/Checklists/Q42006/ck2006110918.shtml

I sincerely hope the above information will help you with the issue. Please make a note

of the service request number, 1-51GV7G for further assistance.

For further clarifications please feel free to visit our web site http://Acerpanam.com/

Have a great day!

__________________________________

from Kenneth Matinale

to Acer Technical Support

date Sun, Jul 12, 2009 at 5:45 PM

subject Re: Invitation to view a photo from Ken's Picasa Web Album - Tech [Incident:

090711-000847]

1. It's an ACER, not a Gateway!

2. Don't you know how much RAM is installed? It's YOUR PC! One gig.

3. I do the rest. It's boiler plate junk.

This PC stinks. How do I return it?

RSVP

On Sun, Jul 12, 2009 at 5:27 PM, Acer Technical

__________________________________

Response (Praveen_GWSI407) - 07/12/2009 07:42 PM

Dear Aaa Ken,

Thank you for contacting Acer America. I will be happy to assist you with the system performance issue.

After verifying your information, we found that your product is in warranty.

Please go through the provided the link to resolve the system performance issue.

Would you please provide us with more detailed information about the issue/error message if any or any other information that may you think would help us would be a welcome.

Your service request id is:- 1-51GV7G

It's been a pleasure assisting you.

For further clarifications please feel free to visit our website:- http://Acerpanam.com

Have a great day!

__________________________________

from Kenneth Matinale

to Acer Technical Support

date Tue, Jul 14, 2009 at 6:42 PM

subject Re: Invitation to view a photo from Ken's Picasa Web Album - Tech [Incident:

090711-000847]

Refund!

I'm sick of this Acer!

How do I get my money back?

__________________________________

Response (Anoop_GWSI352) - 07/14/2009 08:44 PM

Dear Aaa Ken,

Thank you for contacting Acer America. I’ll be happy to assist you with the system performance issue .

As per our records, your computer is in warranty .

I am really sorry for the inconvenience that you have experienced .

Please go to uninstall the Norton anti-virus and then check whether the issue is resolved or not. You could uninstall the Norton software by going into control panel- add or remove programs-click on Norton anti-virus and then click on remove .

Please do reply with the result .

The service request number for this issue is 1-51GV7G .

For further clarifications, please feel free to visit our web site http://acerpanam.com/

Have a great day !

__________________________________

from Kenneth Matinale

to Acer Technical Support

date Tue, Jul 14, 2009 at 10:01 PM

subject Re: Invitation to view a photo from Ken's Picasa Web Album - Tech [Incident:

090711-000847]

I turned off Norton. I want a refund!

REFUND!

__________________________________

Response (Chaithra) - 07/15/2009 01:03 AM

Dear Aaa Ken,

Thank you for contacting Acer America. I’ll be happy to assist you.

For resolving the issue you may please perform a system recovery.

For performing the issue you may go through the following link:

http://www.acerpanam.com/synapse/data/7117/documents/Acer%20eRecovery%20Management.pdf

Note: Please note System recovery completely erases the C partition and reinstalls factory-shipped files from the recovery partition. All your personal data files and applications will be lost. Be sure that you have your data files backed up before performing this option.

Service Request: 1-524JJQ

For further clarifications please feel free to visit our web site

http://www.acerpanam.com/

Have a great day!

__________________________________

from Kenneth Matinale

to Acer Technical Support

date Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 6:38 AM

subject Re: Invitation to view a photo from Ken's Picasa Web Album - Tech [Incident:

090711-000847]

1-524JJQ

How can I set it up for dual boot with two partitions:

1. WindowsXP

2. Linux Ubuntu?

__________________________________

from Kenneth Matinale

to Acer Technical Support

date Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 7:50 AM

subject Re: Invitation to view a photo from Ken's Picasa Web Album - Tech [Incident:

090711-000847]

Service Request: 1-524JJQ

"burn the factory image (from the hidden partition) to an optical disk."

This is a NETbook. There is no optical disk!

__________________________________

Response (Alvin_GWSI662) - 07/15/2009 07:12 AM

Dear Aaa Ken,

Thank you for contacting Acer America. I’ll be happy to assist you with the issue regarding your system.

While going through your system record in our database, we came to know that your system is in warranty.

You can also perform the system recovery using recovery CD.

You may use an external USB CD drive to perform the system recovery.

Below are the steps to rebuild your computer back to factory configuration. Please note that the instructions that appear on the screen when they start to reload the HDD have a small typo.

The instructions referenced Recovery CD 1.

They should have referenced Recovery CD 2.

1) Power up your system

2) Press the CD-ROM eject button and insert the System CD

3) Close the CD-ROM tray

4) Press CTRL-ALT-DEL to reboot the system.

5) Press F12 to select the boot drive option when you see the Acer splash screen

6) Select Boot from CD option

7) The system will boot from the System CD (CD 1)

8) Follow the on-screen instruction to restore your system.

9) When the restore from CD function is complete and the system is booted into Windows,

re-insert the System CD and let the CD auto-play.

10) Click the "Restore to factory default"

11) Remove the System CD and insert the "Applications CD". Re-install the desired applications from this CD.

You can restore your computer and operating system to factory settings using this recovery CD. It will install the Operating System, all the pre-installed Software and all the drivers of your system. Recovery disc configures your system to the factory defaults. There would be a data loss if you are using RCD. So please take back up of your data before you do a recovery.

Please make a note of your updated SR(Service request) No# mentioned below for further reference

SR No# : 1-524JJQ

For further clarifications please feel free to visit our web site http://Acerpanam.com/

Have a great day!

__________________________________

from Ken:

07/16/2009 01:18 PM

http://www.acerpanam.com/synapse/data/7117/documents/Acer%20eRecovery%20Management.pdf

Using Acer eRecovery Management

"By pressing the hotkey Alt + F10 during the boot-up process, or at any time when you are running Microsoft® Windows®."

This does not work.

__________________________________

Response (Sumesh_GWSI673) - 07/16/2009 04:30 PM

Dear Aaa Ken,

Thank you for contacting Acer America. Ill be happy to assist you with this issue.

I understand from your mail that you have an issue with system.

In order to resolve the issue please perform system recovery using Recovery Disk. Please refer the previous mail to get steps for the same.

Below are the steps to rebuild your computer back to factory configuration. Please note that the instructions that appear on the screen when they start to reload the HDD have a small typo.

The instructions referenced Recovery CD 1.

They should have referenced Recovery CD 2.

1) Power up your system

2) Press the CD-ROM eject button and insert the System CD

3) Close the CD-ROM tray

4) Press CTRL-ALT-DEL to reboot the system.

5) Press F12 to select the boot drive option when you see the Acer splash screen

6) Select Boot from CD option

7) The system will boot from the System CD (CD 1)

8) Follow the on-screen instruction to restore your system.

9) When the restore from CD function is complete and the system is booted into Windows,

re-insert the System CD and let the CD auto-play.

10) Click the "Restore to factory default"

11) Remove the System CD and insert the "Applications CD". Re-install the desired applications from this CD.

Please make a note of the service request number:1-524JJQ

For further clarifications please feel free to visit our web site

http://www.acerpanam.com/

Have a great day!

__________________________________

from Kenneth Matinale

to Acer Technical Support

date Fri, Jul 17, 2009 at 5:08 AM

subject Re: Invitation to view a photo from Ken's Picasa Web Album - Tech [Incident:

090711-000847]

I just told you that Alt F10 does NOT bring up recovery program. Are you sure that works on my netbook?

__________________________________

Response (Santo JohnE) - 07/17/2009 05:18 AM

Dear Aaa Ken,

Thank you for contacting Acer America. I’ll be happy to assist you…

After verifying your email I came to understand that you are facing issues related to recovery.

If you dont have recovery cd please follow the steps below to purchase it.

You may restore your computer and operating system to factory settings using this recovery CD. It will install the Operating System, all the pre-installed Software and all the drivers of your system. You need to back up the entire data before using the RCD. You may either place an order for a recovery CD online or if you are interested we may send across one for you. If you need us to place an order for the CD, you will need to provide a method of payment. The Restore CD cost approximately $19.95 including shipping and handling on your Credit Card. FedEx would deliver the CD at your door steps and may take 7 - 14 business days to arrive, depending on the availability of the recovery disc. Recovery process resets your system to the factory defaults. Please be advised that there would be a data loss if you are using Recovery CD. So please take back up of your data. Acer disowns any kind liability in account of Data Loss.

Alternately, if you are skeptical on giving your credit card information, you may place an order for recovery online. Please visit the following link, which would help you purchase an RCD online.

https://secure.tx.acer.com/RCDB/Main.aspx?brand=acer

Below are the steps to rebuild your computer back to factory configuration. Please note that the instructions that appear on the screen when they start to reload the HDD have a small typo.

The instructions referenced Recovery CD 1.

They should have referenced Recovery CD 2.

1) Power up your system

2) Press the CD-ROM eject button and insert the System CD

3) Close the CD-ROM tray

4) Press CTRL-ALT-DEL to reboot the system.

5) Press F12 to select the boot drive option when you see the Acer splash screen

6) Select Boot from CD option

7) The system will boot from the System CD (CD 1)

8) Follow the on-screen instruction to restore your system.

9) When the restore from CD function is complete and the system is booted into Windows, re-insert the System CD and let the CD auto-play.

10) Click the "Restore to factory default"

11) Remove the System CD and insert the "Applications CD". Re-install the desired applications from this CD.

Please make a note of the service request number:1-524JJQ

For further clarifications please feel free to visit our web site

http://www.acerpanam.com/

Have a great day!

__________________________________

from Kenneth Matinale

to Acer Technical Support

date Fri, Jul 17, 2009 at 11:18 AM

subject Re: Invitation to view a photo from Ken's Picasa Web Album - Tech [Incident:

090711-000847]

This Acer netbook does NOT have a CD drive. Do you want me to buy that too?

The Alt and F10 keys are supposed to start the recovery program, which is supposed to be stored on Acer solid state memory but that does not work as I have written TWICE before.

__________________________________

Response (Santo JohnE) - 07/17/2009 11:45 AM

Dear Aaa Ken,

Thank you for contacting Acer America. I’ll be happy to assist you…

After verifying your email I came to understand that you are facing issue related to

recovery.

Please arrange an external optical drive and do the recovery as prescribed in the previous mail.

Please make a note of the service request number:1-524JJQ

For further clarifications please feel free to visit our web site

http://www.acerpanam.com/

Have a great day!

__________________________________

from Kenneth Matinale

to Acer Technical Support

date Fri, Jul 17, 2009 at 2:55 PM

subject Re: Invitation to view a photo from Ken's Picasa Web Album - Tech [Incident:

090711-000847]

Arrange how? What happened to the recovery program that Acer is supposed to have on my PC?

__________________________________

Response (Vinay MV) - 07/17/2009 05:13 PM

Dear Aaa Ken,

Thank you for contacting Acer America. I would be happy to assist you with the eRecovery management software cannot be loaded issue.

As per our records your system is in warranty.

Have you installed any other Operating system?

Have you deleted the Recovery partition, usually D:/ partition?

Please get back to us with the relevant information regarding the above questions.

We will do the needful after getting the information.

Your SR number for this issue is: 1-524JJQ

For further clarifications, please visit our website http://www.acerpanam.com/

Thank you for contacting Acer,

Have a nice day!

__________________________________

from Kenneth Matinale

to Acer Technical Support

date Fri, Jul 17, 2009 at 6:21 PM

subject Re: Invitation to view a photo from Ken's Picasa Web Album - Tech [Incident:

090711-000847]

No other OS installed on Acer.

D drive is the SD card. You should know that.

Is the recovery partition something that I can see? I thought it was hidden.

__________________________________

Response (Chaithra) - 07/18/2009 12:16 AM

Dear Aaa Ken,

Thank you for contacting Acer America. I’ll be happy to assist you with this issue.

Please try performing system recovery using recovery disks. For that you need to purchase external CD drive.

Service Request: 1-524JJQ

For further clarifications please feel free to visit our web site

http://www.acerpanam.com/

Have a great day!

__________________________________

from Kenneth Matinale

to Acer Technical Support

date Sat, Jul 18, 2009 at 6:49 AM

subject Re: Invitation to view a photo from Ken's Picasa Web Album - Tech [Incident:

090711-000847]

You want me to "purchase external CD drive"? This is not acceptable.

What happened to the recovery program that my Acer netbook is supposed to have on it? Please address that and do not ask me to spend any more money on this Acer PC. Thank you.

__________________________________

Response (Akash PRamesh) - 07/18/2009 07:08 AM

Dear Aaa Ken,

Thank you for contacting Acer America. I’ll be happy to assist you with this issue.

I am glad to inform you that as per our record your product is in warranty.

Having reviewed your email, I understand that your netbook is having some issues with its performance.

Aaa, the only way to improve the system performance is to do system recovery. You can do it either using the recovery partition or CD. And about how to set it up for dual boot with two partition since this issue involves third party software, we fall short of resources with which we could better diagnose and resolve it for you. However Acer technicians are bound to support its customers with the removal or installation of any hardware or software shipped across with Acer machines. But they are not trained on all the advanced features of the software or hardware Acer sells.

Because this calls up on a higher level of expertise the advance troubleshooting, we only have support over the phone on these issues and it is chargeable. You may avail this support on 1-866-621-2237 at a rate of $2.95 per minute with the slots 30 minutes ($59.99), 90 minutes ($129.99), or 15 issues ($199.99) and the validity will be 1 year which can be billed to a credit card.

Note: Items from the Acer Accessory Store are fully supported by the manufacturer of the hardware or publisher of the software that you purchased.

I sincerely hope that one of these options provides a resolution for this issue.

Your service request has been updated, please make a note of the SR number:1-524JJQ for future references.

For further clarifications please feel free to visit our web site

http://www.acerpanam.com/synapse/forms/webpage.cfm?website=acerpanam.com&siteid=7117&areaid=2

Thank you for contacting Acer,

Have a great day!

__________________________________

from Kenneth Matinale

to Acer Technical Support

date Sat, Jul 18, 2009 at 8:16 AM

subject Re: Invitation to view a photo from Ken's Picasa Web Album - Tech [Incident: 090711-000847]

Just tell me how "to do system recovery ... using the recovery partition". Instructions in the pfd file have not worked.

__________________________________

Linux Ubuntu: not again!

2009-07-13T08:21:00.004-04:00

OK, I must be an idiot for even considering installing the Linux Ubuntu operating system (OS) again after all the trouble I had with it already installed on my first netbook from Dell.

After returning the Dell netbook in January I finally received my free CD with Ubuntu 8.10. I put it aside. A couple of days ago I tried to run Ubuntu on my 3.5 year old 15.4 inch Dell laptop, two gig RAM. It booted from the CD and ran pretty efficiently after loading up. I am running Ubuntu now.

So, I figured it may save that stupid Acer netbook that runs Windows slower each day. However, the Acer has no CD drive. It has an SD slot and USB ports, which could accommodate my SanDisk four gig flash drive. The objective would be to make the flash drive bootable with Ubuntu. Seems simple enough.

Argh! Fear and loathing!

I went to Ubuntu land and found that in six short months the version of Ubuntu had gone from 8.10 to 9.4! What the heck? The version I had seemed ancient. I ordered a new free 9.4 CD, which will take 6-8 weeks, I'm sure to encourage you to pay for something approaching normal delivery time. Could these clowns make it available on a flash drive? Who the heck uses CDs any more?

I downloaded two versions of Ubuntu 9.4:

1. to my Dell
2. to my Acer; this version is optimized for the small screen of netbooks.

On the Dell when I tried to run an .ISO file it fired up Nero (to make it bootable and/or burnable, who remembers?), which stated that my trial period had ended and that I needed to pay $80 to even attempt to enter the vast underworld of creating an Ubuntu boot device.

I hit on the idea of removing Nero from the Dell, figuring that maybe I could start a new trial period. Nero ran a special un-install that took an hour.

Meanwhile I downloaded the netbook version of Ubuntu onto the Acer and encountered an image file that could not be executed.

I'll read through my previous posts and maybe I'll find a clue to making this Ubuntu portable and installable. What a joke. These feel good open system freebies never seem to work. Try some of the open system Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) programs. Good luck getting them to work. There's a reason that proprietary Skype dominates VoIP: it freakin' works!

Google's Chrome OS, announced four days ago, cannot arrive fast enough.

I also stumbled onto a site that provides instructions for running MacOS on x86 PCs.

Acer netbook: screen shot of TWO processors!

2009-07-10T09:11:00.001-04:00

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=matinale&target=PHOTO&id=5356816930879671810&aid=5356816224913769969&authkey=Gv1sRgCIXasL-0sPrGuQE&invite=CLSdjMsD&feat=email

Let's see how Acer support responds to this proof.

Acer responds and so do I.

2009-07-09T14:45:00.002-04:00

from Acer Technical Support

reply-to Acer Technical Support

to ken@matinale.net

date Thu, Jul 9, 2009 at 10:37 AM

subject Processors [Incident: 090709-000123]

signed-by mailwc.custhelp.com

Response (Arun_GWSI663) - 07/09/2009 09:37 AM

Dear Kenneth Matinale,

Thank you for contacting Acer America. I’ll be happy to assist you with this issue.

As per your Serial number we verified that your product is in Warranty.

I understand that you are facing an issue related to the processors.

We would like to inform you that there is only one processor in the system.In the task manager it shows the Central processing unit usage history and the page file usagehistory, it is not the two processors.

As per your mail we found that your system have an issue related to the slow performance.

Are any LEDs (lights) lit on the system and do you hear the power supply fan blowing?

Have recently changed anything? Have you installed more memory, a new hard drive, downloaded or installed new software etc…?

Since when are you facing this issue?

Did your system give any error message on virus earlier?

___________________________________________

Look, the task manager shows TWO processors side by side under CPU

Usage History. There is a third box under Page File Usage History.

I'm not an idiot. Plus, task manager view has two CPU History options:

- One Graph, All CPUs

- One Graph Per CPU.

My Dell laptop, also running XP, does not have that option.

Please read what I sent previously and which you ignored in your

response. Let's count the processors then deal with performance.

Device Manager also shows two processors.

Below is info copied from its system info:

Acer Device Manager

Computer - ACPI Multiprocessor PC

Disk drives - SSDPAMM0008G1

Processors

Intel(R) Atom(TM) CPU N270 @ 1.60GHz

WindowsXP service pack 3

Intel AtomCPU N270 @1.60GHz1.60GHz, 0.98 GB of RAM

Gianfranco alerted.

2009-07-09T08:39:00.001-04:00

from Ken Matinale <ken@matinale.net>
to Gianfranco.Lanci@acer.com
dateThu, Jul 9, 2009 at 8:38 AM
subjectAcer support
mailed-bygmail.com

Gianfranco,

http://techthoughtsmatinale.blogspot.com/

Ken

E-mail from Acer Technical Support

2009-07-09T08:29:00.002-04:00

from Acer Technical Support <acer1@mailwc.custhelp.com>reply-toAcer Technical Support <acer1@mailwc.custhelp.com>
token@matinale.net
dateThu, Jul 9, 2009 at 7:15 AMsubjectProcessors [Incident: 090709-000123]signed-bymailwc.custhelp.com
hide details 7:15 AM (1 hour ago) Reply

Your question has been received. Messages are answered in the orderreceived.

Question Reference #090709-000123---------------------------------------------------------------
Summary: Processors
Product Level 1: Netbook
Product Level 2: Aspire One AOA110
Category Level 1: Others
Date Created: 07/09/2009 06:15 AM
Last Updated: 07/09/2009 06:15 AM
Status: New Operating System: Windows XP
Serial Number---------------------------------------------------------------
Discussion Thread---------------------------------------------------------------
Customer (Kenneth Matinale) - 07/09/2009 06:15 AM

Below is info copied from its system info:

Acer Device Manager
Computer - ACPI Multiprocessor PC
Disk drives - SSDPAMM0008G1
Processors
Intel(R) Atom(TM) CPU N270 @ 1.60GHz
Intel(R) Atom(TM) CPU N270 @ 1.60GHz
WindowsXP service pack 3
Intel AtomCPU N270 @1.60GHz1.60GHz, 0.98 GB of RAM
__________________
ACA AOA1101588 Netbook with WindowsXP.

Note the two processors from system info device manager:

Intel(R) Atom(TM) CPU N270 @ 1.60GHz
Intel(R) Atom(TM) CPU N270 @ 1.60GHz

Two processors are also shown in task manager. Why are there two? Doesn't that cost more than one? Are the two working at cross purposes? Are they using the operating system inefficiently. Can the OS even handle two processors? What about the apps?
System performance is SLOW!

1. How many processors are there?
2. If one, why are TWO shown?

Auto-Response - 07/09/2009 06:15 AM

Acer netbook: how many processors?

2009-07-09T07:16:00.002-04:00

Your Question has been Submitted
The reference number for your question is '090709-000123'.
You will receive an acknowledgement Email from us within the next few hours verifying that we have received your question. The Email will come from Acer Technical Support. If you don't receive the comfirmation Email it is probably going to your Spam folder, or the Email Address that you supplied is incorrect.
Messages are answered in the order they are received.
If you need to add information to or cancel your question, you can do so by updating it from the 'My Question History' tab.

___________________________________

That's what I received when I submitted info on the two supposed processors in my SLOW Acer netbook. I asked two basic questions:

1. How many processors are there?
2. If one, why are two shown?

Let's see what Acer support does with this.

Acer netbook: more annoying stuff.

2009-07-01T15:34:00.003-04:00

Rather than provide a two minute warning when the battery is getting low the stupid Acer netbook simply closes down. Sometimes in reviving it after it's been connected to an electrical outlet, Acer remains dormant for minutes, sometimes the cursor cannot be moved for minutes.

Hey, Gianfranco, what the heck it that!?