CNET is reporting a SquareTrade story that contends that Blackberry handsets are less resilient than the iPhone.
The study was conducted by SquareTrade and looked at the 15,000 mobile handsets for which they provided warranties. They compared the repair data of Blackberries, iPhones, and Palm Treo devices and found that the iPhone came out on top.
Now, I read this article on a couple of different news sites (Slashdot, etc) and no one seems to point out the obvious flaw in this study: the dataset.
There are only 2 versions of the iPhone (3G and non-3G) and both of these have been produced in the last 2-3 years -- speaking in terms of the technological age (how long components of this type have been produced) of their components (screens, logic boards, etc).
Compare this to RIM's Blackberry which has a much larger collection of different models in stores -- definitely more than 2 -- and most of which have been in production for the last 3 to 4 years, if not longer (again, speaking in terms of technological age of components parts).
It's like comparing apples and oranges. Not only is the Blackberry fail rate going to be higher because of the larger amount of Blacberries in the market in comparison but the fail rate will be higher because the Blackberries are using older components than the relative newcomer in the iPhone. In other words, iPhones haven't been sitting on shelves as long as Blackberries. And as we all know, electronics have limited lifespans not always based on use (solder connections can become loosened over time, for example...).
Also telling is the fact that the study promotes the iPhone as having less failure than the Blackberry on bad data, but then goes on to say that the iPhone is prone to damage via owner accident.
For full disclosure, I currently do not own an iPhone or a Blackberry. However, this study certainly does not convince me that the iPhone is the superior product. Again, I think these two phones are very different and are aimed at very different types of consumers. Ah, bad data that gets circulated like crazy around the internet frustrates me greatly!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Google RSS Feeds are down
RSS Feeds created via Google are not working right now. Now, I could go to the website's whose RSS feeds I subscribe to and read their content there but instead I will gripe about how this service is unavailable.
Whenever these things happen, it reminds me how much we depend on -- sometimes unreliable -- internet services... and mostly provided by one company! I am definitely a Google whore. My domain name email forwards to my Gmail account; I use Blogger, which is now also a Google property; and when I'm out and about, I use Google SMS (text GOOGLE) to get an address for the conference I'm attending or to find out some sports scores for an important game.
But let's not get into my dependency on Apple. Then we'd be here all day.
And then there's the everyday tech that even the least geeky can't live without. Toasters, lamps, coffee makers, alarm clocks, and etc. which begs the question, what technology can't you live without?
Whenever these things happen, it reminds me how much we depend on -- sometimes unreliable -- internet services... and mostly provided by one company! I am definitely a Google whore. My domain name email forwards to my Gmail account; I use Blogger, which is now also a Google property; and when I'm out and about, I use Google SMS (text GOOGLE) to get an address for the conference I'm attending or to find out some sports scores for an important game.
But let's not get into my dependency on Apple. Then we'd be here all day.
And then there's the everyday tech that even the least geeky can't live without. Toasters, lamps, coffee makers, alarm clocks, and etc. which begs the question, what technology can't you live without?
And the beat goes on...
Sort of continuing from my last post, it seems that popular electronics retailer Circuit City is filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. According to reports, Circuit City will be laying off about 20% of its workforce.
In other financial news, the WSJ is reporting that Citibank is buying "a bank." They have no word on the name of the bank except that most of its branches are in Texas and California.
Finally, both Nortel Networks and DHL are cutting jobs. I don't mean to be negative, but doesn't this sound like a recession to anyone else?
Luckily it seems that in unstable economic times, cuteness prevails. I bring you: a baby pygmy hippo. Enjoy.
In other financial news, the WSJ is reporting that Citibank is buying "a bank." They have no word on the name of the bank except that most of its branches are in Texas and California.
Finally, both Nortel Networks and DHL are cutting jobs. I don't mean to be negative, but doesn't this sound like a recession to anyone else?
Luckily it seems that in unstable economic times, cuteness prevails. I bring you: a baby pygmy hippo. Enjoy.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Layoffs...
First, I'd like to say congratulations to President-Elect Barack Obama! Bravo on a truly heart-felt acceptance speech and a campaign that was fought the right way.
Speaking of change, rumor has it that layoffs are coming to the techies and VC firms are drying up. Seeing as how I'm thinking of leaving "The BIG Job," this makes for an uneasy time to be looking to move.
The bug seems to be spreading as the end of the year approaches. Conde Nast's Portfolio.com layed off 75% of its employees according to some reports and pretty much eliminated Men's Vogue. Yahoo, whose stock has tanked since the Microsoft buy talks, has decided to cut 10% of its workforce. Viacom employees seem to be next on the chopping block. CNET has a scorecard for those of you at home keeping score.
So, I have to ask the question that I think everyone like me is asking at this time: what does this mean to me?
For this geek lady at current time, it means nothing. Though there are swirling rumors in every office right now, nothing is written in stone one way or another. However, this is a good time for great techies to do what they can to be prepared. Start polishing off that resume or re-writing the cover letter. Begin building your brand and marketing yourself as an expert in your line of work.
And for those of us without the safety net of trust funds or rich mamas and daddies, it's time to get frugal. Save your pennies and start that rainy day fund because it might just start to pour sooner than you think.
Speaking of change, rumor has it that layoffs are coming to the techies and VC firms are drying up. Seeing as how I'm thinking of leaving "The BIG Job," this makes for an uneasy time to be looking to move.
The bug seems to be spreading as the end of the year approaches. Conde Nast's Portfolio.com layed off 75% of its employees according to some reports and pretty much eliminated Men's Vogue. Yahoo, whose stock has tanked since the Microsoft buy talks, has decided to cut 10% of its workforce. Viacom employees seem to be next on the chopping block. CNET has a scorecard for those of you at home keeping score.
So, I have to ask the question that I think everyone like me is asking at this time: what does this mean to me?
For this geek lady at current time, it means nothing. Though there are swirling rumors in every office right now, nothing is written in stone one way or another. However, this is a good time for great techies to do what they can to be prepared. Start polishing off that resume or re-writing the cover letter. Begin building your brand and marketing yourself as an expert in your line of work.
And for those of us without the safety net of trust funds or rich mamas and daddies, it's time to get frugal. Save your pennies and start that rainy day fund because it might just start to pour sooner than you think.
Monday, November 3, 2008
The BIG Job
I landed "The BIG Job" just about 4 months ago. This job is my first corporate experience with a major company (one of the largest in this particular industry). And now I can't stand it.
This isn't what I had in mind when I started. I was hoping this was the place where I could stay for more than 2 years and really get my career going. This place is where careers end and jobs begin.
How did I come to this conclusion? Ah, let me count the ways.
When I first started this position, I was trained by my teammate. My teammate is one of those disgruntled lifers. More like a prisonmate than a teammate, she spilled all the office dirt because she hates her job. However, she's been in her position for well over 5 years and isn't counting on leaving yet. She even told me, "well, you can leave because you have talent."
Not very reassuring in my first few weeks on the job. Though, I figured she was probably just the one nut in the batch. There's always one. Right?
Later, I got to know my other teammate. She has been here for a couple of years and has gotten very good at looking busy. Either that or she takes on the work very slowly to dull the mind-numbing boredom. She has conveyed her disdain for some of the people we work with, albeit in a very nuanced way -- until today. Now she is very quick to tell me how someone doesn't want to do his job and, even if my proactive response of setting up regular check-in meetings was to happen, the person in question would not attend them.
These women and I work with a clique of men. Think of Mean Girls, except Mean Boys. Individually, they aren't mean people. Put them together and they are downright rude. They arrange to eat or order lunch together and don't throw out an invitation unless you have been initiated first. They also choose to have 2 hour lunch breaks during meetings they schedule and, oh yeah, they choose not to answer to women -- unless they are cute, blonde and bubbly.
All these things, I am more or less used to. Having worked at other smaller organizations before, I know that there are always problems within groups. And, though the sexism is downright unbearable to someone like myself who often identifies with feminists, I understand it. I have worked with men and usually, once you prove yourself competent, these feelings dissipate. Here, however, the dissipation is not happening despite the "give it a good 4 months" that a former colleague and friend advised.
Instead, I'm finding myself very very bored. I come to work and, aside from my designated projects, there is rarely anything left to do. Even when I am given projects they are generally very very simple. I don't want to say they are beneath me but in some cases, much of this work I could have (emphasis on the "could") found challenging as a high school geek lady, but certainly not now.
And perhaps a more experienced geek lady would have noticed the lack of diversity in upper management. This geek lady interviewed with all men, not a single woman. And indeed, perhaps next time I will ask about diversity in race as well. The department I work in is decidedly homogenous and lacks desperately in underrepresented minorities.
So, despite the big pay that "The BIG Job" provides, I'm tempted to look elsewhere. I read this article and it has helped me come to terms with what I need to do to fight the boredom. Today, I've gone ahead and spruced up the resume and cover letter. Tonight, I will send those out to select companies at which I would enjoy working. I never really thought I would want to work at "The BIG Company" and sure enough, I am not enjoying it.
I am at a point now where my career advancement is important enough for me not to waste any further time in a position I don't want to be in. So, I will try to make the best of the situation, collect my handsome bi-weekly paycheck, as I attempt to jump ship.
This isn't what I had in mind when I started. I was hoping this was the place where I could stay for more than 2 years and really get my career going. This place is where careers end and jobs begin.
How did I come to this conclusion? Ah, let me count the ways.
When I first started this position, I was trained by my teammate. My teammate is one of those disgruntled lifers. More like a prisonmate than a teammate, she spilled all the office dirt because she hates her job. However, she's been in her position for well over 5 years and isn't counting on leaving yet. She even told me, "well, you can leave because you have talent."
Not very reassuring in my first few weeks on the job. Though, I figured she was probably just the one nut in the batch. There's always one. Right?
Later, I got to know my other teammate. She has been here for a couple of years and has gotten very good at looking busy. Either that or she takes on the work very slowly to dull the mind-numbing boredom. She has conveyed her disdain for some of the people we work with, albeit in a very nuanced way -- until today. Now she is very quick to tell me how someone doesn't want to do his job and, even if my proactive response of setting up regular check-in meetings was to happen, the person in question would not attend them.
These women and I work with a clique of men. Think of Mean Girls, except Mean Boys. Individually, they aren't mean people. Put them together and they are downright rude. They arrange to eat or order lunch together and don't throw out an invitation unless you have been initiated first. They also choose to have 2 hour lunch breaks during meetings they schedule and, oh yeah, they choose not to answer to women -- unless they are cute, blonde and bubbly.
All these things, I am more or less used to. Having worked at other smaller organizations before, I know that there are always problems within groups. And, though the sexism is downright unbearable to someone like myself who often identifies with feminists, I understand it. I have worked with men and usually, once you prove yourself competent, these feelings dissipate. Here, however, the dissipation is not happening despite the "give it a good 4 months" that a former colleague and friend advised.
Instead, I'm finding myself very very bored. I come to work and, aside from my designated projects, there is rarely anything left to do. Even when I am given projects they are generally very very simple. I don't want to say they are beneath me but in some cases, much of this work I could have (emphasis on the "could") found challenging as a high school geek lady, but certainly not now.
And perhaps a more experienced geek lady would have noticed the lack of diversity in upper management. This geek lady interviewed with all men, not a single woman. And indeed, perhaps next time I will ask about diversity in race as well. The department I work in is decidedly homogenous and lacks desperately in underrepresented minorities.
So, despite the big pay that "The BIG Job" provides, I'm tempted to look elsewhere. I read this article and it has helped me come to terms with what I need to do to fight the boredom. Today, I've gone ahead and spruced up the resume and cover letter. Tonight, I will send those out to select companies at which I would enjoy working. I never really thought I would want to work at "The BIG Company" and sure enough, I am not enjoying it.
I am at a point now where my career advancement is important enough for me not to waste any further time in a position I don't want to be in. So, I will try to make the best of the situation, collect my handsome bi-weekly paycheck, as I attempt to jump ship.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Wii Fit = OMG!
Last weekend I watched a preview video for Wii Fit and was more thoroughly convinced that I needed to own the game the very second it came out here in the United States.
I should probably mention that in the last year and 6 months, I've lost 47 pounds. I haven't really found a consistent exercise that I can do near daily -- and I've tried quite a few. I always get bored after some time with my workout DVDs. Also, I refuse to purchase a gym membership so I need a workout I can do at home and stick with.
With another 15 pounds to lose, that's where Wii Fit will come in -- I'm hoping. I just read on wired.com that it has actually already come out here in New York City (the rest of the US will get it beginning Wednesday, May 21). I'm tempted to go down to the Nintendo store and buy it tomorrow, but Friday is pay day so I might as well wait until then. And that way I'll be able to give it a nice thorough review on the weekend.
I should probably mention that in the last year and 6 months, I've lost 47 pounds. I haven't really found a consistent exercise that I can do near daily -- and I've tried quite a few. I always get bored after some time with my workout DVDs. Also, I refuse to purchase a gym membership so I need a workout I can do at home and stick with.
With another 15 pounds to lose, that's where Wii Fit will come in -- I'm hoping. I just read on wired.com that it has actually already come out here in New York City (the rest of the US will get it beginning Wednesday, May 21). I'm tempted to go down to the Nintendo store and buy it tomorrow, but Friday is pay day so I might as well wait until then. And that way I'll be able to give it a nice thorough review on the weekend.
An Introduction
Hello! Welcome to a blog which I hope will appeal to all other geek ladies out in the blogosphere (though I despise the word "blogosphere" with every inch of my 5 foot 6 being...). I'd like to take a minute to introduce myself.
I've been a geek for as long as I can remember. When I was just a little girl, I spent my days and nights editing "config.sys" and "autoexec.bat" files on an old Gateway 2000 personal computer to simply get it to start up properly. Later, I was introduced to Visual BASIC where I played around and created a simple application to give you a horoscope if you entered your astrological sign (by the way, I'm a Leo). As a teen, I spent most of my free time designing websites. I must have re-designed my own website at least 6 times in the span of 4 years. It was in my teen years that I decided to enter the freelance world. My friend's wise words, "you know, you should charge money for this!" inspired me to go for it. Since then, I've been doing simple freelance web design and development for local musicians and artists. I eventually decided to major in Computer Science at New York University and have been developing websites (with benefits now!) ever since. I currently live and work in New York City.
I've been a geek for as long as I can remember. When I was just a little girl, I spent my days and nights editing "config.sys" and "autoexec.bat" files on an old Gateway 2000 personal computer to simply get it to start up properly. Later, I was introduced to Visual BASIC where I played around and created a simple application to give you a horoscope if you entered your astrological sign (by the way, I'm a Leo). As a teen, I spent most of my free time designing websites. I must have re-designed my own website at least 6 times in the span of 4 years. It was in my teen years that I decided to enter the freelance world. My friend's wise words, "you know, you should charge money for this!" inspired me to go for it. Since then, I've been doing simple freelance web design and development for local musicians and artists. I eventually decided to major in Computer Science at New York University and have been developing websites (with benefits now!) ever since. I currently live and work in New York City.
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