Lately, it has seemed that companies just plan for their products to break right after the warranty. Like they have a self-destruct timer in it and as soon as that warranty is up, *boom*.
First, it was my phone; an LG VX8600 on Verizon Wireless. A few months after that stupid 1-year limited warranty was up, *boom*. I guess possibly from overuse, then clr, 0, and # buttons do not function properly. Sometimes they work the first time, other times it takes 30 pushes, and other times they just don't work at all. This makes it quite hard to text, but I have to live with it until my Verizon contract is up so I can get an iPhone.
Then, it was my laptop; a Dell Inspiron 1501. I was working on a school project, and I go upstairs to get a hole punch. However, while up there, I see that my laptop (which I had been using just a few hours before and it worked just fine), had a blue screen. I figured this wasn't a big issue considering there were no signs of hardware failure before this point, but when I tried restarting it, all I heard were loud "click"s. To find out where they were coming from, I removed the battery, RAM, and hard driver from my computer and put them back in one at a time, and started it. I found out that it was my hard drive doing the clicking. When the hard drive is in, my computer won't even boot from a live CD for some very strange reason. So now, I need to spend money to replace the hard drive, while trying to save up to buy a Mac, and all because Dell programmed it to "self-destruct" when the warranty was up.
I can only imagine what problems with my hardware I'll have next... But I guess I'll just have to live with it.
-Brady-
Monday, January 12, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Teen Jobs *sigh*
This one is kind of an issue, but more of just a problem I am currently having. With my laptop's hard drive being fried (it is a 2.5" SATA if anyone has one to give me :) ), and the fact that I've been trying to save up to buy a mac ever since I bought this laptop, I'm finding this time very hard. At the moment, I have absolutely NO way of earning money.
First off, it is the winter, so there really isn't any outdoor work to be done. Secondly, no real job (office, cashier, etc) wants to hire a fourteen, or fifteen year-old, and even if they did, I would have no way to get to work and back. In the summer I will be able to mow my lawn twice a week for $15 a mow. However, I'll be gone two weeks, which majorly decreases my profits. At this rate, I'll be 16 before I can afford a new computer. I'm positive I can't wait that long!
Being that I live just far enough away from everything, there is now way I'll be able to get a "real" job until I'm 16, and until summer, I have now way of earning money. If you have any suggestions, PLEASE leave them in comments!
-Brady-
First off, it is the winter, so there really isn't any outdoor work to be done. Secondly, no real job (office, cashier, etc) wants to hire a fourteen, or fifteen year-old, and even if they did, I would have no way to get to work and back. In the summer I will be able to mow my lawn twice a week for $15 a mow. However, I'll be gone two weeks, which majorly decreases my profits. At this rate, I'll be 16 before I can afford a new computer. I'm positive I can't wait that long!
Being that I live just far enough away from everything, there is now way I'll be able to get a "real" job until I'm 16, and until summer, I have now way of earning money. If you have any suggestions, PLEASE leave them in comments!
-Brady-
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Blog More Often
Well, I've been a full-on computer nerd for about the past two years, yet I've never really gotten into this blogging thing. I tried to start blogging a while back (6 months or so), but I couldn't get into it. Now, I'm paying a lot more attention to blogs, news, and other things and I'm pretty sure I am ready to start blogging almost every day.
Since I haven't really posted enough for you to know what this blog is about, here is a little summary of what will be here.
The title of this blog is a little misleading. Although I'll probably use this blog to rap on companies and explain the issues I have with them, or other issues I have with people in general, I'll also have much content with my opinion on current news in science & technology, and any other subject that I feel is relevant. I hope you subscribe to this blog, throw it in your RSS feed reader, or follow me on Twitter (@ComputerNerd53).
Since I haven't really posted enough for you to know what this blog is about, here is a little summary of what will be here.
The title of this blog is a little misleading. Although I'll probably use this blog to rap on companies and explain the issues I have with them, or other issues I have with people in general, I'll also have much content with my opinion on current news in science & technology, and any other subject that I feel is relevant. I hope you subscribe to this blog, throw it in your RSS feed reader, or follow me on Twitter (@ComputerNerd53).
Monday, October 27, 2008
Thank You @ChrisBatDell
Chris (@ChrisBatDell on Twitter) linked me up with a page from Dell that eventually ended up getting me the disc I needed to reinstall Vista. Although I am very very happy that this happened, I do not understand why it took three hours on the phone, arguing, asking for their "supervisors," and an angry blog post before I got that far.
I wish one of the 8 employees I talked to on the phone could've told me this within the first hour of time I wasted that day trying to get this fixed.
By once again, thank you very much, Chris, for allowing me to put Vista back on my system!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Dumb Dell
Okay, so today my computer crashed for the thrid or fourth time in a year and a half. In the past I have used my Windows Vista re-install discs provided to me by Dell to get it up and running again. Every time I would call technical support to see if there would be a better way of fixing the issue (other than losing all my data), they would offer me new reinstall discs (in case I had lost mine).
However, now that I actually have lost my set of reinstall discs, I call Dell, and after getting transfered four times and hung up on once, I finally get to a woman who says I have to contact their "Expired Warrenty Support." The only issue I had with this is the fact that they were going to make me pay $49.99 for a one-time use of this service, then there would be a chance that they would just tell me I needed to buy a whole new copy of windows (which I could've done without paying that $50). I don't need a new copy of Vista, I bought that when I bought my computer; I just need a new set of reinstall discs.
Anyway, long story short, I either have to live with my computer going very slow due to a couple viruses of which this is the only way to get rid of (trust me; I've checked everywhere), OR pay $200-$300 for a new copy of Vista.
Friday, August 22, 2008
HOW DARE THEY!
Okay, so for those of you who don't know, I live in Washington State of the US. In Washington State, we have one of the 10 largest fairs in the WORLD!
Over the years, people have come from throughout the nation (and world) to come see this fantastic event. It has been known mainly for it's jingle used in all (or at least almost all) of it's promotions (commercials) since 1976. Every year they have a different way of incorporating it into their commercial. Sometimes they redo the whole song into a different style of music to fit the current style of music, others they just play a different part of the song then before. The lyrics for the original are posted below for whoever is interested.
HOWEVER, this year, I think they totally messed up the entire tradition. This year they just have some announcer dude talking over some music (nothing like the original until the end). Here are some links to see/hear more:
2008 Commercial: http://www.thefair.com/puyallup-fair/fair-experience/video.php
Original Jingle by Saxon Rawlings: http://www.thefair.com/_assets/managed/files/D6408F57EA72C83070E0DB153A04805C_DoThePuyallupcountrymp3.mp3
I sure hope they fix this stupid mistake. If you would like to help me make my point, you can find their e-mails at: http://www.thefair.com/utility/about-us/contact-us.php
Lyrics to the original jingle: (provided by: http://andrewfry.blogspot.com/2007/09/do-fair-comparison.html)
"Do the Puyallup"
musics and lyrics by Saxon Rawlings, (slogan by Denny Hinton)
Oh you can do it at a trot,
You can do it at a gallop,
You can do it real slow so your heart won't palpitate.
Just don't be late.
Do the Puyallup.
All the people and the animals down at the fair,
They do the Puyallup like they didn’t have a care
And it looks like so much fun to do
I think I’m gonna learn how to do it too.
I saw a duck and a chicken down by the farm,
A kickn' up the hay and a raisn' such a storm,
That I asked the farmer what they were up to
and he said "Puyallup, That's what they do."
You can do it at a trot,
You can do it at a gallop,
You can do it real slow so your heart won't palpitate.
Just don't be late.
Do the Puyallup.
Asked the farmer if he’d show me how to do it
And he said "why son their ain’t nothin to it.
Just move to the music and jump in the air
Like everyone else who comes to the fair"
You can do it at a trot,
You can do it at a gallop,
You can do it real slow so your heart won't palpitate.
Just don't be late.
Do the Puyallup
You can do it in the rain or the sun or the fog
It comes real easy like rolling off a log
Get a partner from Tacoma or Seattle or Fife
Even let you do it with your husband or wife.
It’s a natural thing there isn’t any doubt
Folks do it while they’re sittin’ or walkin’ about
While over on the midway on the merry go round
Kids are doin it in circles going up and down.
Now it don’t matter if it’s rain or shine
When you do the Puyallup you have a good time
So guys grab get gals and gals grab a fellow
If you’re worried ’bout the rain just bring an umbrella.
You can do it with a mouth full of cotton candy
Caramel apples, salt water taffy
Hot dogs, hamburgers, man oh man
Hot buttered scones with strawberry jam
I do the Puyallup cause it feels real neat
Put a smile on my face and a tickle in my feet
Ain’t no way not to do it right
You can do it all day and into the night
you can do it at a trot,
You can do it at a gallop,
You can do it real slow so your heart won't palpitate.
Just don't be late.
Do the Puyallup
Do the Puyallup
Do the Puyallup
Over the years, people have come from throughout the nation (and world) to come see this fantastic event. It has been known mainly for it's jingle used in all (or at least almost all) of it's promotions (commercials) since 1976. Every year they have a different way of incorporating it into their commercial. Sometimes they redo the whole song into a different style of music to fit the current style of music, others they just play a different part of the song then before. The lyrics for the original are posted below for whoever is interested.
HOWEVER, this year, I think they totally messed up the entire tradition. This year they just have some announcer dude talking over some music (nothing like the original until the end). Here are some links to see/hear more:
2008 Commercial: http://www.thefair.com/puyallup-fair/fair-experience/video.php
Original Jingle by Saxon Rawlings: http://www.thefair.com/_assets/managed/files/D6408F57EA72C83070E0DB153A04805C_DoThePuyallupcountrymp3.mp3
I sure hope they fix this stupid mistake. If you would like to help me make my point, you can find their e-mails at: http://www.thefair.com/utility/about-us/contact-us.php
Lyrics to the original jingle: (provided by: http://andrewfry.blogspot.com/2007/09/do-fair-comparison.html)
"Do the Puyallup"
musics and lyrics by Saxon Rawlings, (slogan by Denny Hinton)
Oh you can do it at a trot,
You can do it at a gallop,
You can do it real slow so your heart won't palpitate.
Just don't be late.
Do the Puyallup.
All the people and the animals down at the fair,
They do the Puyallup like they didn’t have a care
And it looks like so much fun to do
I think I’m gonna learn how to do it too.
I saw a duck and a chicken down by the farm,
A kickn' up the hay and a raisn' such a storm,
That I asked the farmer what they were up to
and he said "Puyallup, That's what they do."
You can do it at a trot,
You can do it at a gallop,
You can do it real slow so your heart won't palpitate.
Just don't be late.
Do the Puyallup.
Asked the farmer if he’d show me how to do it
And he said "why son their ain’t nothin to it.
Just move to the music and jump in the air
Like everyone else who comes to the fair"
You can do it at a trot,
You can do it at a gallop,
You can do it real slow so your heart won't palpitate.
Just don't be late.
Do the Puyallup
You can do it in the rain or the sun or the fog
It comes real easy like rolling off a log
Get a partner from Tacoma or Seattle or Fife
Even let you do it with your husband or wife.
It’s a natural thing there isn’t any doubt
Folks do it while they’re sittin’ or walkin’ about
While over on the midway on the merry go round
Kids are doin it in circles going up and down.
Now it don’t matter if it’s rain or shine
When you do the Puyallup you have a good time
So guys grab get gals and gals grab a fellow
If you’re worried ’bout the rain just bring an umbrella.
You can do it with a mouth full of cotton candy
Caramel apples, salt water taffy
Hot dogs, hamburgers, man oh man
Hot buttered scones with strawberry jam
I do the Puyallup cause it feels real neat
Put a smile on my face and a tickle in my feet
Ain’t no way not to do it right
You can do it all day and into the night
you can do it at a trot,
You can do it at a gallop,
You can do it real slow so your heart won't palpitate.
Just don't be late.
Do the Puyallup
Do the Puyallup
Do the Puyallup
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Why do people rely on one download mirror?
I'm back with another issue:
I was just trying to download a program that someone recommended for me to try and so I clicked the link to go the the website to read more about it. After reading about it, I click the download link and it brings me to the download site with all of the links to the different versions (Windows, Mac, Linux, and Linux). I click the windows link and it brings me to SourceForge... or did it. It brought up a blank white page so I figured it just wasn't done loading, so I waited... and waited... and waited. Until finally I gave up and thought... "huh... it must be a broken link." So then I say "Wait a minute, let's just search SourceForge to see if there is a different download link..... so I navigate to http://www.sourceforge.net. And guess what.... a blank white page!
This brings me to my final point: When people rely on just one download mirror (SourceForge in this case) and that mirror goes down, they could lose thousands of customers. HOWEVER, if they would've had a second mirror, maybe a small server (nothing as big as SourceForge), I (and whoever else wanted to download this program) would've been able to download it!
Why can't people just use common sense and predict that eventually their ONE server is going to go down? WHY?
-Brady
P.S. Please scroll to the bottom for information on my sponsor: Giant Campus!
I was just trying to download a program that someone recommended for me to try and so I clicked the link to go the the website to read more about it. After reading about it, I click the download link and it brings me to the download site with all of the links to the different versions (Windows, Mac, Linux, and Linux). I click the windows link and it brings me to SourceForge... or did it. It brought up a blank white page so I figured it just wasn't done loading, so I waited... and waited... and waited. Until finally I gave up and thought... "huh... it must be a broken link." So then I say "Wait a minute, let's just search SourceForge to see if there is a different download link..... so I navigate to http://www.sourceforge.net. And guess what.... a blank white page!
This brings me to my final point: When people rely on just one download mirror (SourceForge in this case) and that mirror goes down, they could lose thousands of customers. HOWEVER, if they would've had a second mirror, maybe a small server (nothing as big as SourceForge), I (and whoever else wanted to download this program) would've been able to download it!
Why can't people just use common sense and predict that eventually their ONE server is going to go down? WHY?
-Brady
P.S. Please scroll to the bottom for information on my sponsor: Giant Campus!
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