Time for Device Independent Data Plans
Technology, cloudave January 27th, 2010
Now that everybody talks about the iPad, let’s talk about something just as important as the new device:
It’s a screenshot from Engadget’s coverage. Yes, reasonable data plan prices. Except… how many of them do you need? An iPhone data plan, too?  A data plan for your USB stick for the times you do need a “regular” notebook to work on?
Remember this?
Yes, phones looked like that. And there was a time when phone companies (Ma Bell) charged extra when you had more then one outlet in your home….
Remember the early days of cable TV?  You had to ( well, were supposed to) pay extra for each additional cable outlet.
How about the early days of the Internet, before wireless became pervasive? Yes, ISPs expected us to pay extra for each outlet.
These anachronistic charges are all gone – we pay for the service, no matter what device we use to access it.
So why would wireless access be any different? We will soon have an increasing number of devices, but the underlying service is the same. In fact chances are when I use my iPad (which I don’t have), I will not be using my Netbook / Notebook, or browse the Net on iPhone, Google Nexus One … as a consumer I may own a variety of devices, but chances are I will only use them one at a time.
It’s time wireless providers wake up to the 21st century and charge for consumption on a per account (person) basis, not per device.
(Cross-posted @ CloudAve )
Tags: 3G, Apple, Internet service provider, iPhone, ISP, wireless plans, xref
Brand vs. Quality. Which Would You Pay For?
Technology December 7th, 2009
Time to re-evaluate just what we consider “good brands” vs. junk.
I could not resist the summer back-to-school discounts and upgraded two laptops – one of them is already making funny noises. Tired already?  It’s an HP. Perhaps just a co-incidence - but my desktop monster, just two years old has long been pretending it was a turbine – at least in terms of the unhealthy hard disk whining it makes. Oh, it’s an HP, too. Noticed it while under warranty, but did not have any desire to deal with HP Support again. So be it.
Of course I had not seen this report before those purchases. Yes, shocking as it is, every fourth HP laptop fails within three years.
That’s awful. My personal experience prior to the recent purchases has been a lot better. I can’t possibly recall how many computers I’ve had since the mid-80’s, but not one of them died on me. They slowly became obsolete – like the trusted old Sony after 7 years or so.
But there’s another name worth paying attention to: Asus. They had been manufacturing component for PC makers, but were not exactly a household name until they emerged out of nowhere riding the netbook-wave. And wow – look at the stats: the formerly no-name “cheap Chinese” (actually Taiwanese) laptops have become #1 in reliability. So just who has a better brand now? Or: would you rather pay for brand or quality?
Oh, before I forget.. as they say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here’s one of the three Windows 7 Upgrade packages waiting to be installed.
Amazon mailed the retail version in proper packaging on October 22nd, Win& Launch Day.
Sony took their time, they were 3 weeks late, but it still came in a decent plastic box.
HP? Over a month late, 2 DVD’s stuck in one paper sleeve. Reminds me of the tech-savvy admin assistant from the mid-80s who happily reported she overcame the technical difficulties, and finally managed to stick the 5.25” floppy disk in the drive. Too bad it already had one inside.
(Cross-posted @ CloudAve )
Tags: amazon, asus, brands, hp hardware, windows 7 sony laptop malfunctions computer failures, xref
Comcast Data Usage Meter: What’s to Celebrate About Being a Year Late?
Customer Service, Technology December 1st, 2009
I admit I’m baffled. If a major service provider imposes consumption caps without providing a way to measure consumption, then promises a metering tool and fails to deliver for a year, than what exactly is the reason to celebrate when finally they start limited testing a year late?
But that’s exactly what’s happening: Comcast keeps promise, launches data usage meter says ZDNet and some others - GigaOM calls it a step in the right direction.
Yeah… a right step. Long overdue. I said over a year ago it was ridiculous to introduce the cap without a way of measuring it, and that the few tools available were largely inaccurate.
It’s not that Comcast had no way of measuring consumption – otherwise how would they shut down the “guilty” accounts? No, it took them over a year to develop a tool to present the data – and even now it’s at limited pilot stage in Portland.
Not that such delays are unusual for Comcast. Does anyone recall the first promise of Tivo-driven Comcast DVR’s? Was it two or three years ago? I’m still waiting.
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(Cross-posted @ CloudAve )
Tags: broadband cap, broadband meter, comcast, Digital video recorder, Set-Top Boxes, tivo, xref
Qu’est-ce QUE c’est? A Killer e-Book? A Kindle Killer?
Technology October 19th, 2009
A picture is worth thousand words. So the next two images of the Que, Plastic Logic’s ultrathin, bendable e-reader should save 2,000 words… courtesy of MediaMemo:
I’ve said before, dedicated e-readers won’t go away anytime soon, and Plastic Logic’s product is the one to keep an eye for – simply because this is the first one that feels like holding a piece of paper. I want my Que. Now.
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(Cross-posted @ CloudAve)
Skype is not Only VOIP: It Reigns in IM But How Long?
Technology October 19th, 2009
Nowadays the only context we hear about Skype is the legal fight (care to bet how long it will take for the previous Net Celebs to become the Hated Greedy Ones who try to sc**w all of us?) – I would much rather read about new features, improvements.
After all, Skype is the single most popular voice and video calling application. But let’s not forget it’s also an IM system – in fact as this Infoworld article points out, it has become the reigning IM system.
And therein lies the rub: it is less and less suitable for text chat.
I’ve Got Productized by Nokia
Humor, Technology September 14th, 2009
It’s not every day one sees his family name as headline on TechMeme. Well, if that name is Scoble or Arrington, sure, but for the rest of us it’s a red-letter-day…
Well, it just happened to me, courtesy of Nokia, and the shiny new Nokia Erdos luxury phone. Last I checked a few years ago, they could not keep up with demand for the $5K Vertu phones in platinum, gold and diamond casings. The Nokia Erdos will only have brushed aluminum casing, but it’s stuffed with hi-tech, like the OLED display, a rising keyboard, 5 megapixel auto-focus camera with Carl Zeiss optics, etc. Here’s a promo video:
(Why is this, and all other copies on Youtube so blurry?)
Anyway, back to Nokia. I’m a little pi***ed that they did not ask me … but in the end, it’s OK. I don’t get productized every day, after all.  Just remember to send me a test unit, Nokia!
Come think of it… I think I Open Source my name. Apple, Dell, Sony, BMW, Mercedes..etc, I’m looking forward to your Erdos models. Just don’t forget to send a courtesy unit.
Related posts:
- Nokia Erdos spotted in promo video
- Nokia Erdos Leaks: Decadence Defined
- Nokia Erdos: a shiny specter, or an OLED-equipped reality?
(Cross-posted @ CloudAve)
Tags: gizmo, mobile phone, nokia, nokia erdos, schwag
The New Lenovo: Nice Hardware, Dumb Support
Customer Service, Technology July 21st, 2009
Lenovo, home of the (formerly IBM) Thinkpad’s is not exactly known as a price leader: those Thinkpads have a great reputation and a matching price-tag. But times are changing, and Lenovo is becoming budget-friendly: the recently announced Ideapad U series, the G550, and the all-in-one Ideacentre are all “cool” computers with an attractive price. For all my love of Netbooks I admit I got tempted to get my hands on a new Ideapad U350 – basically somewhere in between a superslim notebook and a netbook, for $599 – not a bad price.
And of course getting the free Windows 7 upgrade put me at ease that I won’t be stuck in Vista prison for long… but wait! How will I install the upgrade? Lenovo says:
Each upgrade kit will be mailed separately and contain:
- Windows 7 Certificate of Authenticity
- Windows 7 OS Upgrade DVD
- Lenovo Drivers / Apps DVD1
- Instructions on how to upgrade the operating system
But there’s a small problem: this unit does not have an optical drive at all – which is all fine with me, in fact I’ve removed it from another, heavier laptop: all I need is a lightweight, portable productivity tool, won’t be watching DVD’s. Still, the prospect of installing DVD-based software without a DVD-drive is not that heart-warming, so I fired up this email inquiry to Lenovo (after some struggle to find an address):
To: websales@lenovo.com
Date: 07/18/09 10:04
Subject: Windows 7 upgrade for Ideapad U350
I’m considering a U350, but wonder how the upgrade to Win7 will take place since these units don’t have an optical drive. If the upgrade is done via download, does that mean Vista has to remain operational and I can’t get a a ‘clean’ Win7 install?
Thanks a lot,
Zoli
Today I received the following non-response:
Dear Zoli,
Thank you for contacting Lenovo, the makers of ThinkPad and ThinkCentre products.
I understand that you want to know if you can place an order for a U350 and want to know about the Windows 7 upgrade. You also want to know how to upgrade since these computers does not have an optical drive. I request you to please contact our Sales Department to get accurate information about the upgrade and to get help in placing an order,
If you have further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at 866-42-THINK (84465) option number 2. We will be happy to assist at that time.
Once again, thank you for contacting Lenovo.
What load of crap! Why should I call Sales Department? Doesn’t his email address read Websales? Customer Service 101: respond at the channel you were contacted at. And it’s not like I am asking for a very difficult, individualized answer: in fact my question is so obvious it should have been answered as part of the Win& FAQ @ Lenovo’s website.
Serious loss of credibility… what kind of support can I expect when I have real problems?
(Cross-posted from CloudAve)
Tags: Customer Service, Customer support, ideapad, laptop, lenovo, netbook, thinkpad, websales, xref
Opera Unite Turns Your Computer into a Web Server. But Will You Want It?
Software, Technology June 16th, 2009
The little browser that could … was how the Opera browser was often referred to around 1996-98. The best browser packed with innovative features that Internet Explorer and Firefox were forced to copy: tabbed browsing, popup-blockers, saved sessions, zooming, mouse gestures to name a few. But it never really took off, continuing to hover around 2% market-share forever.
Today Opera proves again they are innovators: they claim to “reinvent the web” with the launch of Opera Unite.
Read more…
Tags: browser wars, browsers, chrome, Collaboration, file sharing, firefox, ie, opera, opera unite, web infrastructure, web server, xref
Forget all the news coming from Iran, there’s real excitement on TechMeme: the unboxing of the CrunchPad prototype, posted on Youtube by Loic Le Meur:
I hate to say this.. but I think what we’re seeing here is Prototype C, the previous version, not the final, Launch prototype. Compare the photos and decide for yourself.
Given how I am waiting for the CrunchPad myself, I’d be happy to be proven wrong this time…
(Cross-posted from CloudAve)
Tags: crunchpad, situational device, situational hardware, tablet, techcrunch, xref
Experimental Green Flight Across the Atlantic
Technology June 9th, 2009
American Airlines is about to test eco-friendly new technology on it’s regular flight between Paris and Miami this Thursday.
Read more…
Tags: air travel, airlines, american airlines, aviation, eco-friendly, environment, green flight, xref
Zoli Erdos
