Book Reviews and Money Saving Tips

I just read a review on the Smart Cover in the June 2011 issue of Wired magazine.   The author states that one of the reasons Apple is so successful is the quality and thoughtfulness of their products.   He accurately describes the functionality and elegance of the Smart Cover and it’s shortcomings as a truly protective cover.   Admittedly when I saw the Smart Cover I was impressed with it and, yes, it is cool.  However I have 2 nd hand experience that you may want to recognize that it is not perfect.   A close Apple-centric relative reveled in her new iPad2 when she visited.   I, sadly, did get tablet envy but that is beside the point.   The point is that she forked out the $69.99 for the leather Smart Cover and was very happy with it.   However on returning home she was using her tablet and ill advisedly picked the iPad2 up by the Smart Cover.   Disaster struck, the magnets released and her ne...

I just read a ZDNet Blog about Jason Perlow’s experience with HP tech support and his deceased laptop. Click on ZDNet link if you want the details. After reading the blog I read many of the 189 comments. (Oh, if I could get that kind of response.) It was interesting that some folks thought Perlow was unreasonable. Some thought he was bigoted regarding outsourced tech support when he expressed concern about understanding the use of English as a second language. Our zealotry for political correctness knows no bounds when a guy verbalizes concerns about understanding technical issues when handicapped by an inability to translate through a dialect. I don’t care where the technical support may be outsourced; a REQUIREMENT should be a clear speaking and understanding of whatever language the customer is using. That’s not bigotry or rocket science it is plain common sense. After 25 years in the computer business, I was hardly surprised when HP stiff armed Perlow on his laptop. Wh...