"We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot."
Eleanor Roosevelt
Monday, February 21, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
When Smartphones are dumb...
So, after having my "smart" phone for about a year and a half I have come to the conclusion that my smartphone is in reality "dumb." I would love to have the newest and greatest smartphones currently on the market, but that's not easily done when you don't take on "contracts" and you are left with the option of paying up front for the total cost of the phone you desire. Guess what? Not many cell phone companies around here offer great smartphones on pay-as-you-go plans and frankly, I think that they are really missing out on a pretty big demographic. There are many reasons why someone wouldn't want to take on a multi-year phone contract and yes I know that the contracts are offered to subsidize the phone, they lure you in with a low cost or no cost high-end phone but lock you into a multi-year contract, often with steep penalties for breaking it. Also, not everyone is able to pass a Credit check that is often required when purchasing these higher-end cell phone models that come on contract, we live in rough economic times and otherwise good customers are left on the wayside. As a pay-as-you-go customer, who would be paying for the phone up front and buying the usage time as needed, credit checks aren't an issue, but the types of phones available to them is.
Why would I want to "buy" a phone and "have" to keep it for "x' amount of years or keep a contract for multiple years if I don't like the company or their service? I frankly don't want to, I like the flexibility and freedom of using a pay-as-you-go service, I like paying for what I actually use and I like paying a fair price. But I would really like to be able to buy a smartphone that actually has some brains. I think that the major cell phone companies here in Canada are really missing out on the pay-as-you-go demographic, they offer "basic" phones for those plans, very few with the bells and whistles that most people want out of their cell phones today. I don't mind having to pay up front for a good smartphone on a pay-as-you-go set up, but not enough of the companies here offer good smartphones for that kind of service. They're really missing out, I've read reports about the fact that more and more people in the USA are going with pay-as-you-go services and the cell phone companies there are moving to improve that service and offering better high-end phones to go with it. Hellloooooo Canadian cell companies, take a hint from our larger neighbour to the South, start doing the same.
If you live in Canada, as I do, you probably know first hand that cell phone service is pretty much dominated by a handful of big players. The problem with this is we don't get the great deals on cell plans here that you tend to see in the USA. I'm always amazed at how my American friends have these ridiculously awesome unlimited plans for not a lot of money. This makes me wonder why we can't have the same thing here. Yes, we have a much smaller population, but come on, most Canadians pay through their noses for crappy cell phone plans because there is very little competition here. Our market is pretty much monopolized by a couple big players, namely Bell and Rogers, those are the two big players in the region I live in, so that really isn't a lot of choice is it. They basically offer pretty much the same plans at the same price and let me tell you, they just aren't cheap and there are often a lot of "conditions" that go with those plans.
Currently, my cell carrier is Virgin Mobile Canada and all in all I really like dealing with them. They offer good service at fair prices and I've had no complaints about them. Right now, I have a very basic cell phone, a Samsung model I bought from them to use with their pay-as-you-go service. I have a pretty basic monthly plan with them, I pay $10 a month for a 10-cent a minute rate, but that doesn't buy me any airtime, that's extra. I do get some extras with my plan, free unlimited incoming texts, free caller ID and free voice mail service. I buy time as I need it and so far it's worked out well enough. The only complaint I have with my phone is that I can't really surf the web the way I would like to be able too. It has a very basic web browser and it just can't handle the stuff I would like to be able to do, like access my online bank accounts, really helpful when your net is down and you need to move money ASAP. It's happened and I really hated the fact that my cell phone web browser couldn't handle the job.
So my dilemma is that I really like the Virgin Mobile services, they're more then fair, but the phones I want and need aren't available on pay-as-you-go, not as of right now anyway. I've been looking around for a better phone, that has a decent plan to go with it, but the only company I've taken note of is Rogers, who is offering a blackberry on their pay-as-you-go, but their rates for this service are no where near as good as Virgin Mobiles and I really don't want a Blackberry either. I really just want to stay with Virgin Mobile, I love their plans and I love their service, but I don't like my phone anymore and wish they offered some of their higher-end phones on their pay-as-you-go service. Give me that option and I would gladly pay up front for the phone.
I think there is a pretty big untapped market out there, give pay-as-you-go customers more choice in the phones available, give them the opportunity to have the newest and greatest smartphones, I'm fairly certain that they won't mind paying up-front for the phone, I know I wouldn't. Pay-as-you-go customers should have the opportunity to have the same phones as those on multi-year contracts. Things are changing and the needs of people change with them. Canadian cell companies should keep up with the demand and offer more choice across the board.
So, for now, I'm staying with my "dumb" smartphone and I'm staying with Virgin Mobile Canada because I like their service and their rate plans. I've yet to see anything tempting enough to make me jump to any other cell company, even if they have a better phone then I have right now, because their plans just aren't as good as Virgins. All I really need is for Virgin Mobile to start offering high-end pay-as-you-go phones and I would be one VERY happy Virgin Mobile camper!
Why would I want to "buy" a phone and "have" to keep it for "x' amount of years or keep a contract for multiple years if I don't like the company or their service? I frankly don't want to, I like the flexibility and freedom of using a pay-as-you-go service, I like paying for what I actually use and I like paying a fair price. But I would really like to be able to buy a smartphone that actually has some brains. I think that the major cell phone companies here in Canada are really missing out on the pay-as-you-go demographic, they offer "basic" phones for those plans, very few with the bells and whistles that most people want out of their cell phones today. I don't mind having to pay up front for a good smartphone on a pay-as-you-go set up, but not enough of the companies here offer good smartphones for that kind of service. They're really missing out, I've read reports about the fact that more and more people in the USA are going with pay-as-you-go services and the cell phone companies there are moving to improve that service and offering better high-end phones to go with it. Hellloooooo Canadian cell companies, take a hint from our larger neighbour to the South, start doing the same.
If you live in Canada, as I do, you probably know first hand that cell phone service is pretty much dominated by a handful of big players. The problem with this is we don't get the great deals on cell plans here that you tend to see in the USA. I'm always amazed at how my American friends have these ridiculously awesome unlimited plans for not a lot of money. This makes me wonder why we can't have the same thing here. Yes, we have a much smaller population, but come on, most Canadians pay through their noses for crappy cell phone plans because there is very little competition here. Our market is pretty much monopolized by a couple big players, namely Bell and Rogers, those are the two big players in the region I live in, so that really isn't a lot of choice is it. They basically offer pretty much the same plans at the same price and let me tell you, they just aren't cheap and there are often a lot of "conditions" that go with those plans.
Currently, my cell carrier is Virgin Mobile Canada and all in all I really like dealing with them. They offer good service at fair prices and I've had no complaints about them. Right now, I have a very basic cell phone, a Samsung model I bought from them to use with their pay-as-you-go service. I have a pretty basic monthly plan with them, I pay $10 a month for a 10-cent a minute rate, but that doesn't buy me any airtime, that's extra. I do get some extras with my plan, free unlimited incoming texts, free caller ID and free voice mail service. I buy time as I need it and so far it's worked out well enough. The only complaint I have with my phone is that I can't really surf the web the way I would like to be able too. It has a very basic web browser and it just can't handle the stuff I would like to be able to do, like access my online bank accounts, really helpful when your net is down and you need to move money ASAP. It's happened and I really hated the fact that my cell phone web browser couldn't handle the job.
So my dilemma is that I really like the Virgin Mobile services, they're more then fair, but the phones I want and need aren't available on pay-as-you-go, not as of right now anyway. I've been looking around for a better phone, that has a decent plan to go with it, but the only company I've taken note of is Rogers, who is offering a blackberry on their pay-as-you-go, but their rates for this service are no where near as good as Virgin Mobiles and I really don't want a Blackberry either. I really just want to stay with Virgin Mobile, I love their plans and I love their service, but I don't like my phone anymore and wish they offered some of their higher-end phones on their pay-as-you-go service. Give me that option and I would gladly pay up front for the phone.
I think there is a pretty big untapped market out there, give pay-as-you-go customers more choice in the phones available, give them the opportunity to have the newest and greatest smartphones, I'm fairly certain that they won't mind paying up-front for the phone, I know I wouldn't. Pay-as-you-go customers should have the opportunity to have the same phones as those on multi-year contracts. Things are changing and the needs of people change with them. Canadian cell companies should keep up with the demand and offer more choice across the board.
So, for now, I'm staying with my "dumb" smartphone and I'm staying with Virgin Mobile Canada because I like their service and their rate plans. I've yet to see anything tempting enough to make me jump to any other cell company, even if they have a better phone then I have right now, because their plans just aren't as good as Virgins. All I really need is for Virgin Mobile to start offering high-end pay-as-you-go phones and I would be one VERY happy Virgin Mobile camper!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
P!nk Raise Your Glass
Totally LOVING this song! I just love everything about it, it has a great beat and the lyrics are just awesome. This is the kind of music I love to listen to, it makes me want to get up and dance like a nitty gritty dirty little freak!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Kodak Holding My EashyShare 5500 Printer Hostage!
I have a few words to say about these printers, DON'T BUY THEM! I have had the worst trouble with this item, purchased by me not even 3 years ago and lightly used. This printer line is the WORST and I spent a lot of money buying this all-in-one printer, I got suckered into the whole "save money on ink replacement" that Kodak uses to promote this line. I thought this wasn't a bad printer, it printed, scanned, faxed, printed pictures and seemed like a good all around item. I also figured that the $200 odd dollars I spent on it would pay off in the end as I would be able to get ink cartridges for it at a reasonable rate and in time the unit would pay for itself...boy was I wrong!
I spent over $200 dollars to buy this unit and only printed about a dozen small pictures before the printerhead went on it. After some research on the issue, I discovered that this is a common and re-occurring problem with this line of printers. So, I emailed Kodak and they did send me a new printerhead for my unit, I figured great, all is well, at least I didn't have to fight to get the issue resolved.
I wish I was that lucky...these printers are not what they seem, I am a very disappointed consumer and very disappointed in a brand that recognizable would sell such a disaster of a printer. I am not a heavy user of my Kodak EasyShare 5500 Printer, I printed a handful of pictures and mainly used it every now and then to print postage for shipping my Ebay sales. So, basically, it was rarely used. This whole "hype" about Kodak ink cartridge replacements being cheaper then the competitions is a joke, want to know why...because the cartridges become "empty" quickly and you are always replacing them, case in point, I replaced both black and colour cartridges for my unit recently, just to print out some postage to ship some items, I printed 3 labels and then 3 months later went to fire it up and guess what...the colour cartridge was said to be empty!
Are you kidding me! Oh, by the way, the printerhead is shot again! But the really worst part of this all is the fact that once the printer tells you to replace a cartridge you can do NOTHING with your unit at all, it makes your entire unit non-functional until you replace the cartridge. So, I can't scan or send a fax, two features that don't require ink usage to use. Neat huh! That's right, Kodak is holding my all-in-one EasyShare 5500 hostage until I fork over for a new cartridge. Great way to do business Kodak!
And Guess what...I'm not doing it anymore, I don't care how much money this piece of crap cost me and how little use I actually got out of it, I will NOT buy another single cartridge for this piece of crap, that's right I am junking this unit as of now. I have nothing good to say about these Kodak printers and guess what I am not alone. All you have to do is spend a little time online going through blogs and forums about these printers and they are filled with the very same complaints and about how Kodak is doing nothing to address these issues. I myself spent many hours, after this last kick to the shins, trying to figure out how I could at least get my unit to function using the scanning and faxing features and the bottom line is...you just can't! That might be the biggest kicker of them all, it renders your entire unit USELESS. Who designed this and who thought that was a neat thing to do, force your consumers to buy your "cheaper" ink cartridges and save, what a load of BS!
I also discovered during my research that during a study conducted by one of their competitors, Kodak ink cartridges "read" as empty and ready to change when they actually had more then 64% ink left in the cartridges, check out this article that spells it all out http://arstechnica.com/hardware/news/2007/06/study-inkjet-printers-are-filthy-lying-thieves.ars
I have nothing good to say about my experience with the Kodak EasyShare 5500, it's been one issue after another since I've had this unit and considering what little use it did get its even more surprising. I won't recommend this company to anyone, I won't ever buy another Kodak item. Never. Period. As far as I am concerned this brand now means nothing more then a way to waste your money.
Cheaper Ink? How is it cheaper when you have to replace cartridges that aren't actually fully empty? And don't start with the argument that it's to protect the printerhead from damage, I've already gone through two printerheads, on full cartridges, I would say that that's about one to many. There are far to many design flaws in these Kodak printers to just excuse away, flaws that Kodak has done nothing to address, not really. If I had known prior to purchasing my Kodak 5500 printer that the entire unit would become non-functional once the machine said it was time for a new cartridge...I wouldn't have bought the damn thing. I bought this item when it was newly released and the sea of complaints didn't yet exist. What use is it to me to have a multifunction printer that cant even "function" with it's other non-ink uses...it boggles the mind folks, it just boggles the mind.
To those out there that do own this line of Kodak printers and haven't had any problems, consider yourself lucky, I wish I had been that lucky, I just kissed hundreds of dollars good-bye.
I spent over $200 dollars to buy this unit and only printed about a dozen small pictures before the printerhead went on it. After some research on the issue, I discovered that this is a common and re-occurring problem with this line of printers. So, I emailed Kodak and they did send me a new printerhead for my unit, I figured great, all is well, at least I didn't have to fight to get the issue resolved.
I wish I was that lucky...these printers are not what they seem, I am a very disappointed consumer and very disappointed in a brand that recognizable would sell such a disaster of a printer. I am not a heavy user of my Kodak EasyShare 5500 Printer, I printed a handful of pictures and mainly used it every now and then to print postage for shipping my Ebay sales. So, basically, it was rarely used. This whole "hype" about Kodak ink cartridge replacements being cheaper then the competitions is a joke, want to know why...because the cartridges become "empty" quickly and you are always replacing them, case in point, I replaced both black and colour cartridges for my unit recently, just to print out some postage to ship some items, I printed 3 labels and then 3 months later went to fire it up and guess what...the colour cartridge was said to be empty!
Are you kidding me! Oh, by the way, the printerhead is shot again! But the really worst part of this all is the fact that once the printer tells you to replace a cartridge you can do NOTHING with your unit at all, it makes your entire unit non-functional until you replace the cartridge. So, I can't scan or send a fax, two features that don't require ink usage to use. Neat huh! That's right, Kodak is holding my all-in-one EasyShare 5500 hostage until I fork over for a new cartridge. Great way to do business Kodak!
And Guess what...I'm not doing it anymore, I don't care how much money this piece of crap cost me and how little use I actually got out of it, I will NOT buy another single cartridge for this piece of crap, that's right I am junking this unit as of now. I have nothing good to say about these Kodak printers and guess what I am not alone. All you have to do is spend a little time online going through blogs and forums about these printers and they are filled with the very same complaints and about how Kodak is doing nothing to address these issues. I myself spent many hours, after this last kick to the shins, trying to figure out how I could at least get my unit to function using the scanning and faxing features and the bottom line is...you just can't! That might be the biggest kicker of them all, it renders your entire unit USELESS. Who designed this and who thought that was a neat thing to do, force your consumers to buy your "cheaper" ink cartridges and save, what a load of BS!
I also discovered during my research that during a study conducted by one of their competitors, Kodak ink cartridges "read" as empty and ready to change when they actually had more then 64% ink left in the cartridges, check out this article that spells it all out http://arstechnica.com/hardware/news/2007/06/study-inkjet-printers-are-filthy-lying-thieves.ars
I have nothing good to say about my experience with the Kodak EasyShare 5500, it's been one issue after another since I've had this unit and considering what little use it did get its even more surprising. I won't recommend this company to anyone, I won't ever buy another Kodak item. Never. Period. As far as I am concerned this brand now means nothing more then a way to waste your money.
Cheaper Ink? How is it cheaper when you have to replace cartridges that aren't actually fully empty? And don't start with the argument that it's to protect the printerhead from damage, I've already gone through two printerheads, on full cartridges, I would say that that's about one to many. There are far to many design flaws in these Kodak printers to just excuse away, flaws that Kodak has done nothing to address, not really. If I had known prior to purchasing my Kodak 5500 printer that the entire unit would become non-functional once the machine said it was time for a new cartridge...I wouldn't have bought the damn thing. I bought this item when it was newly released and the sea of complaints didn't yet exist. What use is it to me to have a multifunction printer that cant even "function" with it's other non-ink uses...it boggles the mind folks, it just boggles the mind.
To those out there that do own this line of Kodak printers and haven't had any problems, consider yourself lucky, I wish I had been that lucky, I just kissed hundreds of dollars good-bye.
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