sluggobear

I just received this in my Inbox today.

Don't forget to "Pay you tax bill."  (Proofread, please!)

I love how they say "Tax Season" and "The time is right!"  Umm... hello?  The time would've been right if you'd sent me this oh, say, around tax time?

Dumb-asses.

Someone in Marketing needs to be smacked.

OK, so about that rant.

The problem was not actually with Vista itself, but rather with its "Sync Center."  (It's a utility for keeping your devices synchronized with Outlook, Windows Media Player, etc.)  Microsoft had released a new version of the Sync Center, so I installed it.  (I've always experienced bugs with syncing, so I figured perhaps this minor update would fix some of 'em.)

The Sync Center basically wiped-out all the data on my phone, then seemingly replaced it with two versions of the data from Outlook on my PC: the current one, plus a backup from last week (which occurred automatically after an earlier sync went awry, with no explanation.)  Many of the items were duplicates, but they all got merged and re-added.  There's no real good, simple way to automate the deletion of duplicates, so I'm left to remove them manually... a loathsome task, considering I have about 1800 items (contacts + calendar + tasks + notes).

(In case it isn't obvious, I'm a Type A personality and I use Outlook + PDA for everything.  And yes, I do keep regular back-ups.)

The "unwanted duplicates from Outlook" problem has plagued PDA syncing from Day 1.  When I bought my first PalmPilot, this seemed to happen with maddening frequency.

Anyways.  All that unbridled hatred I posted was not just because of the issue I had that day... but rather a culmination of the non-stop bugs I've experienced with my handheld SmartPhone, a Palm Treo 700w (which runs Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.)  I can summarize my feelings about the Treo 700w as follows:

• I love the form factor, the features, the battery life, and the built-in QWERTY keypad.
  
• I am quite satisfied with the display, the 3G Internet speed, and its media player.
  
• But the device that inherently unstable, bug-ridden and unreliable.

I won't go into painful detail here, but I will say that I've missed phone calls because the stupid thing locks-up... and have experienced endless problems synchronizing with Outlook.  I've spent hours with tech support (both Verizon and Palm), plus searching online, plus my own troubleshooting time... to try and make the stupid thing work.

Perhaps it could be said that I was expecting too much from a "phone that does everything."  Companies were trying sooo hard to converge PDA's and phones.  After all, this thing purports to be a single device with phone, PDA, MP3 player, camera, and more.  BUT.  I can honestly say that I would love this device, if only it didn't keep crashing.

So yes... I'm looking for a new SmartPhone.


Anyhoo.  Just wanted to add that little chunk of information!  Now, back to our regularly-scheduled programming.

In our day and age, we have Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Wireless USB, and cordless phone frequencies.

Why then, in order to listen to our iPods over the car stereo, are we stuck with this type of crap?!

 


Auto and car audio manufacturers: please DO SOMETHING!

At MINIMUM could we get an audio jack, so we can use a cable like this!?

Please excuse the graphic nature of this post.

I don't know which is worse... Having to take a dump in an aircraft lavatory, or having to take a dump in O'Hare Airport's public restrooms. Jesus, were these toilets made for kids? They're tiny! I'm sitting there at a 45-degree angle, hoping I make it in!

And there's no escaping... every stall is the same.

Screw the guy who decided they wanted to install toilet seats with automatic rotating seat protectors.

For a minute I think I was actually considering plunking-down the cash to join the Admiral's Club so I could use their lounge!!!

Why I can't use ANY of the suggested security questions.


What is the name of your first school?  I don't remember how to spell it.
What street did you grow up on?  Which one?  There are about 15 of them.
What is the first name of your grandfather...?  I think it was James, or James Sr., or Red...
What is the title of your favorite book?  I could tell you, but it'll probably change... DUH
What is the name of your favorite high school teacher?  I had three.  When I logon in the future... will I remember which one I used?
What is your favorite... (ice cream, actor, actress)... it could change... I don't have a favorite...

Oh could you guys just please let me use a regular fucking password!?!?!?