Tag: Technology

I understand websites wanting to put you on mailing lists.

I get that it’s about the click count and revenue.

What I don’t get is a web site that won’t let me at least do a little “window shopping”

I’ve been to a few websites, the most recent was something called Wayfair. This site bills itself as a Home goods site in the clickthrough ad, BUT they want your email address before you even get to find out if they carry anything that you’d purchase.

For example, I know Williams-Sonoma and Bed Bath & Beyond carry name brand products from Cuisineart, and Keurig, and both sites will sell online.

I don’t know if Wayfair sells quality products unless I give up an email address and they have no way of knowing if the address I’ve given them is legit, or a “Burner”.

Perhaps if they’d let me browse for a bit, or they hid their prices until I gave them an email address, I’d be more likely to cooperate.

As it is, if the first thing I see when I’ve clicked on a retail site from an AD, is “Give use your email address” I’m 100% likely to close the browser window. They’ve wasted their advertising dollar and time. And I’m not going to waste any more of my time looking at their site.

I feel like I shouldn’t be asked to sign up for yet more JUNK mail, before I’ve even had a chance to decide if the retailer carries products I’m interested in.

I know an email address isn’t that big a deal, but I feel like email addresses are to some extent the currency of the internet and as such me being charged an entry fee to a website I know nothing about is kinda like prepaying to eat at a restaurant while standing in line with no menu and no idea what the place serves.

I use an ad blocker all the time. Recently, I’ve been seeing some websites scolding me about my use of an ad blocker and telling me I should open myself to the flood of ads that make trying to get real information from the internet so difficult. I disagree.

When I actually do notice an ad that is NOT popping up over what I want to read, and I do click on it I have some reasonable expectation that I’ll “window shop” and make a decision based on what I see.

I’m not likely to pay for food before I see it, I’m equally not likely to give up an email address just to gain entrance to a “me too” site.

I know I’m in the minority, but a guy has to have some standards!

Since I wrote this piece, Wayfair has apparently removed the email wall. Maybe I’m not the minority I thought I was.

Hmm.

The evil “Service Battery” is back all the time now. I’m going to have to get the machine in for a battery replacement. It’s not that big a deal, it’s just a matter of time and how long can I be without the computer.

I’ve decided that I want Apple to handle it rather than doing it myself, in part because Apple will warranty the battery and in part because all the online battery suppliers I’ve spoken with, want me to remove the battery to read them the model number.

Apple started building many of their laptops with non-removable batteries after 2009.

The fact that this machine is a 2012 MacBook Air, and the MacBook Air was never manufactured with a removable battery gives me great concern when chatting with a battery supplier who doesn’t know this.

This is especially true when I’m asking them about a battery from their website where I’ve copied their part number into the little chat dialog, and am asking a specific question like:

“Your site says this battery will work in all MacBook airs but then specifically says this product is for a 2014 MacBook Air. Is the product compatible with a 2012 MacBook Air?”

“Please remove the battery from your computer and read me the model number. If your machine in plugged in you can remove the battery and not have the computer turn off.”

“Uh you understand this is a MacBook AIR right?”

“Yes, simply remove the battery and we can get started.“

“Again, you understand this is a MacBook Air, correct?”

“Yes.”

“OK, we’re done!”

For those unfamiliar with the MacBook Air construction. Just to get the bottom panel off requires removal of 10 screws. These particular screws are something called Pentalobe. While I have a Torx screwdriver set, I haven’t had a need to purchase a Pentalobe set. The screwhead looks like the image to the right, obviously not the run of the mill “Computer Tool Kit” from The Dollar store.

How can I trust anything that the representative of a battery manufacturer tells me, if they don’t know the most basic of facts about the product that they’re selling me a replacement battery for? I am after all accessing their consumer website, not their commercial supply site.

The cost to have Apple replace the battery is about $120. Purchasing a replacement on my own is $99, and there’s no warranty.

The difference is insignificant by the time I pay shipping, taxes, buy the proper screwdriver, and then splay my machine across my kitchen counter.

When I get round to needing a Terabyte drive in my machine, everything changes. (I want a TB drive now, but I don’t need a TB drive.) On that day, I’ll buy the proper tools to get into my beloved MacBook and while I’m in there I’ll look at any other upgrades that I might be able to install.

Based on pictures of the main logic board, I doubt there’s much I can do other than upgrade the hard drive, but it’s always worth a look.

I tend to buy maxed out machines right from the get-go so there’s little to add. When I bought this machine, I got the max memory and biggest hard drive available. The only reason that a TB drive is an option now, is because technology has made TB solid state drives available and reasonably affordable.

As an aside, it looks like Apple may be able to replace the battery while I wait. That is IF they have any in stock, so I guess it’s in my best interest to schedule my visit to Apple in advance.

I wonder if I’ll be able to get in and out of an Apple store without making additional purchases?

Hmm, self control? Me?

I do like the overall look and feel of this tool.

I’m not sure that this has all the features that I’m used to. I’ve got a 21 day trial so I should have time to figure it out.

This is all my way of telling you gentle reader, that you may see some really interesting blog posts in the next few days.

Perhaps “interesting” is the wrong word. “Unique” might be better, uhh “strange”, “Weird”, “unreadable” or just plain “broken”.

Tinkering with, and learning the quirks of new software is always fun.

On Oct 2, one of my NAS drives downloaded a firmware update. The drive has been up, and as long as things are working, I typically don’t mess with them. That is after all why you spend money, set up a reliable network, and work hard to make the spells and incantations persistent. 

That way, if the power fails, when the power comes back on, all of your devices power-up in a usable state.

SO, what this means is that I don’t spend much time in the management consoles of the various devices, unless I need to change something.

Which brings me to today.

I wanted to set up a network scanning share from the multifunction printer / copier / scanner / fax, to the NAS. Which required creating a user ID for the printer.  Enter the management console for the NAS… Except the console isn’t there. The NAS responded that the storage was there, but the web interface rejected my attempt at login. It didn’t tell me the login was wrong, it said that the interface wasn’t even there.

Okaaay, Power down then power back up. Ahh, there’s the interface, and it’s all different. Great! Now I have to do is accept the new terms and conditions. No probem.

New screen opens, then… There are no users, all the shares are missing, and suddenly I’m thinking 2TB of data has just vanished.

The drive is a 3TB drive which I had approximately 2/3 full.

Breathe, just breathe, it will be OK. Deep breath ok, so what is going on?

Wait. I’m logged in using my standard administrative login which I created, so at least one of the users must exist. I check again, now there are two users. The drive is really busy too. I take my hand off the power switch… 

 An hour later it looks like the data is in fact there as are the users. Whew! I was really worried.

Now what the hell was I trying to do?