The whole HD-DVD/Blu Ray format war continues. So do your homework first.

I personally favour the HD-DVD format, so I have created a quick video with my current thoughts about the costs/offers for Christmas 2007.

I may however choose to sit this one out as I think within the next 6 months the format war will be over and this seasons sales will play a big part in that decision.

Interested in this topic? Check the video below.

This video runs for 3m47s

Click the Play Icon to view.

Notes: Amazon Does not list the two free HD-DVD’s in the box, other retailers do. If you want piece of mind you could order from Play.com for example.

Play.com Link:
http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/3497129/Toshiba-HD-EP30-HD-DVD-Player/Product.html

Amazon Link
Toshiba HD-EP30 - HD DVD Player - With 1080P Full HD3 - Plus 5 Free HD DVD’s (See Below For Voucher)

I have nearly finished migrating all my clients from Symantec Internet Security products.

However one of my clients has a mix of Windows and Unix servers. They recently experienced a problem when passing a compressed backup file from a Unix Server to a Windows PC.

The backup files was in the b2z file format and Nod32 was creating gigabytes worth of temp files in the local c:\windows\temp folder. I assume it was trying to decompress the b2z file and then scan it.

Getting Nod32 to ignore b2z files didn’t work so I contacted eset.co.uk for some help.

Eset.co.uk are the company that sell Nod32 in the UK and one of their tech support guys offered to take over the customers problem machine and diagnose it for me.

I was happy for them to be involved as I assumed this would be the quickest way to get the clients problem  solved. They identified the problem in about 10 minuets and gave us the exclusion settings we needed.

Afterwards my client told me he was really impressed that they cared enough to get involved.

So a big thumbs up for Eset.co.uk and Nod32.

Link: www.eset.co.uk

Update: 29/10/2007 2pm I see from my Weblogs, Acer have now read this post. Now please do the right thing, as I would love for this to have a happy ending.

Update: 30/10/2007 Acer have now stepped up and offered Leon a brand new machine - See the comments for the  latest…

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Site visitor Leon Robotham contacted me with a terrible story about how Acer has failed to help him resolve an issue with his PC.

I asked Leon to write up all the details so other people considering purchasing Acer products can at least know the facts about Acer’s after care.

If anyone from Acer requires Leon’s Contact details just ask me colindiponio@gmail.com

Over to Leon:-

1. 15th September - I contacted the tech line and was advised that my machine needed to be sent back to be looked at as the ethernet controller, cardbus controller and broadcom adapter were having problems which meant I had no internet connection.

- I was advised that my machine would be returned within 4 - 12 days.

2. 25th September - I received my machine and was elated, great I’m back online! I opened the box and there was a technicians note saying that the main board had been replaced. When I switched the machine on I found that the screen didn’t work.

3. 25th September - I called the tech line to explain that the situation and had the phone put down on me. I called back and asked to speak with a senior manager and was then passed to Angela Foster who advised that she would now be dealing with the matter and that it would be dealt with ASAP. She advised that a courier would be re-sent and that she would do her best to have the machine returned to me quickly.

4.  I called back in a few days later (either the 28th or 29th) once I’d given my case ID the tone of the advisor changed instantly. I asked to speak with Angela again and when I got through to her I asked for a copy of all of my recorded calls so that I could present them to a solicitor only to be told that my calls hadn’t been recorded - I had been warned about this from a friend.

5.  About the 5th October I still haven’t received my machine but received a call from Angela Foster to say that the machine was waiting for parts to be fitted and that she would be getting it signed off herself so it could be sent out.

6. I receive another call from Angela on the 6th being advised that they are unable to fix my machine but would be able to send me a new machine. I asked all about the ‘new machine’ and was told that actually it is a refurbished machine but it is in immaculate condition and that the spec is an upgrade from my own. At this point I’m just happy that I will soon have a machine to work on as I’m losing work for my fitness business as it’s based online.

7. I receive the machine on the 10th October switch it on and it doesn’t work, there’s no Internet connection and the mouse doesn’t work. I call Angela on the 11th and am advised that the machine unfortunately needs to be returned. So off it goes back to Esplex!

8. I’m advised that she will have the machine back to me in the next two days.

9. I call in on the 15th to ask what is happening with my machine and am told that the main board is being replaced and I was told that I had put a screw through a wire and that was why the mouse didn’t work apparently I should look after my machine. Appalled I explained to the girl on the other end of the phone that in fact the machine that she was referring to was actually the same replacement machine that I had been told was in immaculate condition and had been checked by the technicians….. Silence, I again ask for all of my recorded calls to be told once again that they have not been recorded.

10. After sending an email to Angela explaining how I feel and telling her that I’ve never experienced such a poor level of service. I was told that she would do what she could. Well it seems to me that she can’t do anything.

11. Frustrated still I email details of the situation to watchdog.

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Thanks Leon

I agree very frustrating and simply not good enough.

I would say persevere but clearly you already have. 40/50 days waiting on Acer to do the right thing is more than any consumer should have to contend with.

Please let us all know what happens next.

The Dell XPS 420

The Dell XPS D420 is unique in that it has an embedded Windows Sideshow on the top of the case.

This can show you system information, access to your outlook calendar and some media controls.

You can access this when the machine is switched off.

Check out this Direct2Dell blog post all about the XPS 420 - it includes a 10 minute video

http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2007/10/23/32123.aspx

However the Dell XPS 420 is still just a box and give or take the shine, the same kind of box you would have got 20 years ago.

Apple have pioneered and persevered with the all in one design in their iMac’s pictured below.

Now Dell want in on the action and have as yet unnamed XPS all-in-one product, pictured below.

The good news is the age of bland PC’s is over.

If Apple shipped with Windows a lot of PC companies would be in serious trouble.

Not that I believe in conspiracies but:-

Apple Run on Intel CPU’s

Apple hardware can run Windows Via Bootcamp or Parallels

If Apple wanted to enter the “Windows” market they could, the general population is ready. Their brand is strong, they have established Internet and retail sales channels.

With Apple’s OSX Leopard being the sixth version of OSX how many more times can keep redoing essentially the same thing.

Gates and Jobs are publicly all touchy feely:

http://d5.allthingsd.com/20070530/d5-gates-jobs-interview/

Importantly Gates is retiring, so no industry ego issues to worry about.

If I was an Apple shareholder I would saying “Why ignore that huge Windows market”.

Look at the iPhone, back Apple HQ they must have thought will this/wont this work. Now they have sold more than a million into an established market that didn’t exist for them  6 months ago. The product is considered a success. So what’s next?

Call me mad (Use the comments) but I predict Apple will start selling Windows PC’s in the coming years.

What does Jobs call iTunes “The best Windows Application ever”.

The highest percentage of iPod/iPhone users are Windows users.

Therefore Apple’s customers are now predominately Windows users, why ignore their needs.

Please feel free to taunt me about this post in the future (say 2012 ish).