As Apple released their new iPod Nanos, Touch's and Classics with their "Genius" features, I couldn't help but think of this similarity between him and Mr. Burns.

He's looking thinner and richer all the time. Albeit the new iPods, as usual, look pretty cool.



http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/09/live-from-apples-lets-rock-event-in-san-francisco/

I do like the idea of an accelermoter built in to the iPod. It'll make for some interesting hacking that will certainly occur.

Labels: computer, random

In my many previous jobs I have had the position of technician in numerous fields. I have been a Pager Technician (Motorola Certified), a PC technician, an Alarm Technician for ADT, and worked as a Computer Support Representative for an organization that serviced Mac computers.

I recently purchased a MacBook (Sept 07) and it has truly been a great machine, I have my issues with it, but all in all it is a pleasure to use. On Monday 2-11-08 my wife turned it on and the screen gave her an ambiguous message. We looked online and discovered some possible fixes, none of which worked and decided it was time to have Apple Repair it. I hadn't yet purchased AppleCare, and I realize I still had a year warranty, but I figured now is as good a time as any to purchase the 3Year extension. I know I will keep the computer for at least that long, so why not.

I arrived at the Apple Store here in Austin, TX in The Domain and spoke with JC (Sales), and John (Technician) about my machine. I was told I needed to make an appointment to receive any service. This was upsetting as nowhere in the process of purchasing the machine, or purchasing AppleCare was I told I needed an appointment anywhere to get service on a machine. Now, I understand the methodology here, and it's actually quite intelligent, no lines in the stores, and one on one time with a technician. Great Idea, truly. However, I was not in need of any of these things and would like to simply drop off the machine fill out a form with the issue and leave. I was told that if I wanted to do that it would cost me $85. This was very upsetting, and admittedly I kind of got in the face of JC for even suggesting I pay MORE money for this repair. I have $1700+ into this machine already, $250 of which is for repair service. I apologize to JC (he's a nice guy). He handled the situation well, and is at the mercy of Store Policy. He may even agree with Store Policy, but some customers don't.

I simply ask that if a customer walks into a store and wants to allow you to provide him or her LESS service then that should be allowed. The Technician (John) was quite helpful and actually came to talk to me without an appointment. This was outside of his job role and did it out of the kindness of his heart. John, thank you.

Apple, I am very disappointed in how you handle this situation of a customer wanting to come in an drop off a machine that needs repair. I don't care about data backup, I don't care about software installation, just FIX it. Thanks

Sincerly

Kenn North
Cedar Park, TX
kenn@kennandamy.com

Labels: computer, random, rant

So after 6 blissful months of our beautiful MacBook it died yesterday. We will be holding a funeral at the Apple Store in Austin, TX. In lieu of flowers, please send "I told you so's" and other "I hate Mac" comments in the comments section below.

Seriously though we have loved our MacBook, but when Amy turned it on she was presented with a blinking file folder and immediately thought, "that can't be good."





Upon further investigation and serious effort on my part it was deemed dead and must be repaired. It has a 3 year warranty so all is well hardware wise, and although I have an admittedly overzealous backup strategy some files will be lost, but the loss is minimal. Amy is frustrated about the lack of computer on top of being 8 weeks pregnant. All will be well soon enough. The computer next, and Amy and the new one sometime in September. Kenn... well we'll see.

Labels: computer

As most of you know Apple released their new MacBook Air. I must say it looks pretty sweet, but I won't be running out to pick one up. Amy and I got a MacBook last September while we were in Utah. We love it, and we love having another notebook PC around the house. My original intention was to install XP using BootCamp, but have never got around to it and don't think I ever will. the Mac OS is simply plenty and I have no want for programs that I need on a home PC. A work PC is a different story, but for home it's just great.

That said there are some things the bug me and I wanted to write a little bit about the quirks of owning a Mac as well as the things that I love about it.

The things I can't stand.

1. No way to restore a file from the trash by just hitting restore or right-clicking on a file and selecting "Restore to Original Location".If I delete something from multiple places or if you select many songs in iTunes and accidentally hit "Move to Trash" instead "Keep Files" this becomes very cumbersome. I don't want to have to remember each and every folder. This is a common trash/recycle bin feature that should be there.
2. Home, End, PgDn, PgUp are inconsistent depending on the app. This is entirely Apple's fault as part of OS API is to handle requests from the keyboard to do certain things. To hit Home, End, PgDn, PgUp you have to either hold down the Apple key or the Fn key first and then hit one of the arrows. Not only do some programs require to hold down a differnt hot key but the action that ensues is fundamentally different. There should only be one definition of PgDn and one definition of PgUp and so on, and you should only be able to get to it in one way.
3. Select boxes don't work in Firefox when filling out a web form. I've been told there is a way to remedy this, but I haven't found it yet. But basically if you are filling out a web form and you hit tab to go to the next field and the next field is a drop down select box, it doesn't see and skips to the next input textbox. I also am unclear if this is an OS issue or a Firefox, but I think it's a Firefox issue, so maybe it's unfair to post as part of this I hate about my Mac.
4. Why, Why, Why?!!! does the CD/DVD drive make noise when I open my Mac? I'm not using the drive, there is not disk in it, it can't know that I may be thinking about using it. What is doing? Why is it making noise? This is equivalent to your horn honking on your car after you start it.
   

Labels: computer