Book Reviews and Money Saving Tips

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...

My wife got this email as one of those ubiquitous forwards we all receive. She usually deletes them on my advice as so many forwards have been contaminated by malware. She opened this one, read it and thought I would want to read it. She forwarded it to me, I did read it. I pulled it out of the email, cleaned up the formatting and am posting it. I don’t know who wrote it. I don’t know if it is true or not. Even as fiction, it makes a good point. I am not sure I agree with the author as to the disappearance of honor. His actions defy his assertion. Many, perhaps most people today respect the sacrifices our troops and their families are making. We may not agree with why they are in foreign locales but we HONOR their willingness and commitment. The Sack Lunches I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read, perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought. Just before take-off, a...

Despair is the most common reaction when I have to call anyone’s customer service. My recent experience with US Air customer service was abysmal. I called Comcast Customer Service regarding a commercial for upgrading service and two different representatives had no clue what they were advertising on TV. So imagine my delight when I assembled a Sauder TV stand and had a pleasant and fulfilling experience with customer service. The unit assembled easily with good directions but one of the two door pulls was defective. I emailed customer service regarding the problem, they promptly emailed me back requesting my address and said the part would be shipped immediately at no charge. Wow, what a delight! Kudos go to Jessica Stuckey at Sauder Woodworking in Internet Support. Thank you for doing your job when so many are not. On a side note, the tv stand was well made, good quality at a terrific price of $70.00 at Target. This is not a paid blog and I have no financial connection besides being a...