Rant / Rave

post thumbnail

like unicorns, only more rare.

I don’t know when I’m going to learn that customer service is like the fabled creatures of old. It does not exist. The goblin hunters of the witch of ‘bottom line’ have broken the horn of that unicorn long ago. I am infrequently surprised when I come across a company that treats it’s customers well.
Today [...]

13Oct2009 | Jim | 0 comments | Continued
post thumbnail

Let me pray about that.

This well meaning phrase parrotted by Christians has always annoyed me. It is usually an easy way out for folks who just don’t want to say ‘no’. I always wonder if they are really going to sincerely take the question to the Lord, or if they are just buying time to make a decision, which [...]

4Apr2009 | Jim | 0 comments | Continued
post thumbnail

Is Dell 4 hour on-site service worth it?

For this evaluation, we’ll be comparing:
PowerEdge R200
Intel® Celeron® Processor 430 at 1.8GHz, 512K Cache, 800MHz FSB, No Operating System. I also included 1GB of RAM, and a 160GB single SATA HDD.
Hardware Alone:
Starting Price        $749
Instant Savings        $210
Subtotal        $539
Hardware and 3 year 4 hour on-site 7/24 IT mission critical hardware / software support:
Starting Price    [...]

1Apr2009 | Jim | 2 comments | Continued
post thumbnail

Why the perception of compliance certification is not always reality.

I’ve toured several data center facilities since I’ve been involved in IT. I’ve also been a direct and indirect customer of many of them. First let me say that I am happy that there are standards available that help us to measure quality control and accounting practices. Without these standards, there would be no chance [...]

1Apr2009 | Jim | 0 comments | Continued
post thumbnail

The Internet Killed The Radio Star (or why i think that traditional media is dead)

I think it is pretty obvious that CDs are soon going to be all but replaced by downloadable digital content, and it’s only a matter of time before the format war in this space is settled. Digital downloads are too disruptive to the traditional media marketplace for them not to be placed on top. Physical [...]

31Mar2009 | Jim | 0 comments | Continued
post thumbnail

Why In Person Customer Support Is More Important Than Ever, Or How Hastings Book Store Lost My Business

Even with all the options available to me online, I still enjoy going into a book store and holding a book in my hand before buying it. This is unfortunately becoming more and more difficult for me to do. Sites like Amazon and Half.com consistently beat brick and mortar bookstores on price and customer service. [...]

22Feb2009 | Jim | 1 comment | Continued
post thumbnail

mistaken identity

I’m amazed with how frequently i’ll get mixed up between actors when watching movies. Tonight I was watching ‘Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day’ … (don’t hold that against me, Melissa picked it out.) the ‘Joe’ character was played by Ciaran Hinds, and the whole movie… i’m thinking about how i liked him in Spiderman [...]

1Sep2008 | Jim | 0 comments | Continued
post thumbnail

Are You Gunna Order Anytin?

I was watching the olympics at the airport today… sitting in this little ‘bar’ / ‘restaurant’ in the middle of the LAX terminal. I think it was water polo, and we were tied with the Netherlands. I was eating McDonalds food, and not too happy about my lack of options. I’m amazed with the lack [...]

21Aug2008 | Jim | 0 comments | Continued
post thumbnail

Momentum as one of your greatest assets

A few months ago, I had a friend who’s car would not start while he was visiting me at my house. Fortunately it was a stick shift… and anyone who has driven one of these knows what it means to ‘pop’ start it when the battery is dead. For those who have not had the [...]

14Aug2008 | Jim | 4 comments | Continued
post thumbnail

“In 5 years your wealth will equal the average of your 5 closest friends.”

I love that quote from Kevin Trudeau, and i’ve heard it said similarly by others… it is so very true… but I would also say that true wealth cannot be measured the way that the world currently measures it. one of the most difficult things for me to learn has been that 100% of this [...]

14Aug2008 | Jim | 0 comments | Continued
Older Entries