So if they are so easy, why did you install them? ;) The set top box stuff is cool, and it is getting close, however they still don't do things like decode a digital signal from your cable or satellite company. Media Center has some cool stuff with online integration, but it still is for entertainment. It does some cool things.
I have a media center PC, that I hardly ever use, for TV it is about useless compared to what my cable company gives me. It is nice for online integration. The internet channels and the movielink stuff is great. But I don't use them. Sure a lot of people use them. But considering that these things require a broadband connection, which is still not the norm in this country, the PC is relegated to the office. They don't provide a real solution for most people. As for the Dell support, if you bought the software and hardware from Dell, they should be providing support for it. That is part of the OEM agreement; Dell buys the software for so much less, because of that reason. > -----Original Message----- > From: Jerry Johnson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2006 3:36 PM > To: CF-Community > Subject: Re: Mossberg: Apple Winning So Far > > I KNOW people want it, since I have about 40 family and friends and family > of friends who constantly need help with their computers. They use them > for > internet access, email, cd burning, and just a little bit of actual work > (money, word, excel, etc). They NEED a toaster, and would by an Apple if > it > didn't have such a negative public image due to very successful marketing > and FUD by Microsoft over the years. > > I have successfully installed 5 minis lately, so I do see that tide > shifting. A couple of Tivos. I installed NAS boxes (6 so far), and a > couple > of the linksys wireless music jukeboxes. And these are not for early > adoptors, or for people with any tech knowledge at all. Because these > things > are finally getting to be true "plug and play". > > What I was comparing was a component consumer electronic system (PC) to a > single-source consumer electronic system (iPod). > > It isn't the product type, but the ability of my mother to understand, buy > and operate the product without help that really makes a difference. There > are mp3 players and cameras she just doesn't understand. The iPod, and her > Canon digital camera, with docking station and printer, she gets. > > If I were to call Dell right now, they would tell me that I am out of luck > and out of service. They won't help me update my PC to a new OS version. > They won't help me upgrade to a new version of Symantec. They WILL sell me > a > new laptop, but won't help me much with my old one. When I need updated > and > patches for the os, they send me to Microsoft. > > On 5/11/06, Nick McClure <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > Two things, first your comparing a Dell PC to an iPod. You buy a Dell > DJ, > > then you have the same thing as an iPod. > > > > 2nd, you buy a Dell and it comes with Windows and Symantec, and you call > > those two companies for support, they'll tell you to call Dell. The OEM > > provides support, not the software developer. > > > > Problem with PCs is they aren't toasters. Set top boxes can be, but they > > have a specialized function. > > > > For years people have been talking about this stuff, but I don't think > > people really want it. > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: Jerry Johnson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2006 3:08 PM > > > To: CF-Community > > > Subject: Re: Mossberg: Apple Winning So Far > > > > > > If I buy a Dell, and need to upgrade the OS, I need to go to Microsoft > > to > > > do > > > so. If I need to fix the cd player, I need to go to Dell. The Virus > > > software > > > to Symantec. > > > > > > > > > > > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:206593 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
