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Next Version Free

That’s basically what Susanne is asking, at least for folks who purchase the current version of SBS between now and the release of SBS Next AKA Cougar AKA SBS 2008.

Which is fine, and makes sense…but still smacks of retail tomfoolery.

As soon as Cougar was officially announced as arriving in 2008, we began including Software Assurance in all our quotes, basically explaining to customers that based on our info, it’s a good guarantee that they would receive the next version automatically. In other words, it’s nearly assured that their software would be eligible for the upgrade.

But people still don’t bite on SA all that much.

You know why I think that is?

Because SA smacks of market timing. Nobody like the idea of being jacked out of their money simply because they signed on a dotted line at the wrong time. Ask the early iPhone buyers about that.

And yeah…sure…there are other benefits to SA. A whole LiveMeeting session or 3 worth of them.

But SA isn’t called…

Mr. Ligman’s Amazing Add-on Pack Of Spectacular Training, Management And Usage Rights With Limited Edition Decoder Ring

If it were, then that stuff might carry more weight with customers.

But since the central idea of Software Assurance is the Assurance about their Software…

Then adding Next Version Free AKA NVF to that Assurance would carry a lot of weight.

Obviously, MS could then start pushing out insanely thin version updates to fulfill NVF. R3 anyone?

But we can cross that bridge if/when we come to it.

Personally? I won’t be holding my breath.

|| posted by chris under business, freebie, rx || comments (4) || ||

Where Have I Been, And What Have I Been Doing?

For the last several months, I’ve been heavily engaged in the planning of an electronics recycling collection event for West Alabama, which is now formally known as…

West Alabama E-Cycling Day

It’s being spearheaded by our local Chamber of Commerce. I happened to be named the chair of this event’s planning task force because I was the one who made the simple off-hand comment…

Why don’t we have an e-cycling initiative here in our area?

And that’s how it all got started. Just from that one little question.

Here are some more particulars about the event…

• Date
• January 24, 2008
• Time
• 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Location
• University Mall rear parking lot (behind Belk’s men’s store)
• Items accepted
• Laptop/Desktop Computers
• Computer Monitors
• Mainframes/Midranges
• Keyboards/Input Devices
• Printers/Scanners
• Fax Machines/Copy Machines
• Digital Cameras/Camcorders
• PDAs/Handheld Devices
• Video Game Systems
• Printer Cartridges
• Cell Phones/Telephones
• Record Players/8–Track Players
• Typewriters
• Stereos/Radios/CD Players
• Projectors/VCRs
• CB Radios
• Network Equipment
• Computer Parts/Cables
• UPS/Battery Backups
• Items NOT accepted
• TVs of any kind
• Cost
• FREE (Monetary donations to help defray event expenses will be accepted).

The team that’s been working on this event has been nothing short of amazing. All that we’ve been able to accomplish in a very short period of time is directly attributable to their hard work and dedication.

In fact, we were just contacted this morning by a business here in town that wants to donate roughly 3/4 of a trailer truck of equipment to our event, by themselves!

So if you have a LARGE equipment donation (which has been set as the equivalent of 10 computers or more), please call the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce office at 205–758–7588. We’re also encouraging companies that will be bringing large equipment donations to also make a monetary contribution to help the Chamber defray event expenses, and assure that E-Cycling Day becomes a yearly event for West Alabama.

|| posted by chris under business, community, freebie, hardware, media, rx || comments (3) || ||

Big Whoop

So, the crazy kids over at Engadget posted a sprinkling of details regarding Windows Mobile next…

As in the next 2 versions on the whiteboard past the intermin 6.1 release.

And I have to admit that my reaction is a resounding…

Y-A-W-W-W-W-W-N

Besides ignoring the absolutely crucial fact that Windows Mobile needs a complete interface overhaul NOW if it wants to even survive to the next year or three.

The other thing is…so what?

All of the mondo-cool services hinted at will mean neither jack nor squat if the trend of carriers/operators stripping out core features and functionality of Windows Mobile, in favor of their own lame-ass pay services that no one in their right mind would ever think about using, continues to grow. In case you missed it…

http://www.chrisrue.com/funcave/2007/12/where-have-all-the-features-gone.html

http://www.chrisrue.com/funcave/2007/10/i-want-my-rdp.html

Yeah, I’ve got a Treo 750 from AT&T. No, it doesn’t have Windows Live for Mobile on it since upgrading to WM6.

Am I surprised? Not at all.
Am I pissed? You betcha.

|| posted by chris under beta, clueless, hardware, kma, mobility, thumbs down || comments (1) || ||

Running Antelope’s Favorite Video Of The Day 5

The next time you see orange and blue…just think of what you’re doing to the children!

 Nice stealth prank there. Congrats to whoever the unknown relative is.

|| posted by chris under game, rx, thumbs up || comments (2) || ||

That Was My Story Yesterday

For 3 hours.

Leadership Tuscaloosa implemented a new simulation this year. You are given your own individual scenario, with a certain set of unique circumstances, and you are required to find local resources to help you deal with those circumstances.

And you are treated, by those agencies, just like any other type of client walking in for service would be.

So if there is a line…you wait.

If you don’t have the necessary documentation required by a particular agency or assistance program…you might asked to come back, or turned down.

It was an eye-opening experience.

Finding myself at places I never thought I would ever need to visit pushed me waaaaaaaay out of my comfort zone. I’d have never thought there would be armed guards at the Department of Human Resources, which is where we went to apply for food stamps. Once we could find it, that is.

To be sure, there’s waste out there with some duplication and overlap in services. And I’m even more convinced that the aid systems need clear ways to lead people up and out.

I’m of the firm opinion that the goal of social services, taken as a whole, should be the end of the need for their own existence. Unfortunately, that’s a vast political hotbed in and of itself.

More than anything tho, I don’t know how anyone can figure out the maze of what’s available and what isn’t.

So, to answer Daniel’s comment…I’m not homeless.

But it’s also not a joke.

|| posted by chris under community, rx || comments (3) || ||