Reports by Consumers

If you're thinking about a house remodel, this consumer reports on some of the work you can look forward to:

We're close to getting back on track and feel like we are making a little progress. We are slowly making progress on the framing for the first floor and we will be getting the necessary tools for plumbing later this week. The varnishing of doors continues as I don't have much energy after teaching 4th graders all day, but the doors are set up and ready to go- I just have to set my mind to it and get them done. The sink and dishwasher will move to the new location (new appliances won't be bought until we're closer to building the cabinets) and the cat door might be re-installed in the next week.

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Read more from this blogger: Back on track and lots to do

Financial management is a tough chore for many couples to figure out how to share.

In my household, I handle the money and the bills. I am sure that all of you reading this post are truly shocked at that news flash! My wife does not really like to mess with it – the investments, the retirement plans, the college savings plans, the credit card bills, etc…So I take care of it all.

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Read more from this blogger: Someone Take Control…Please!

With more hearing impaired pedestrians, keep your eyes open!

So I’m driving to campus to drop off my girlfriend at her astronomy class. I’m trying to deal with the fact that there are a million students walking around, who like me, don’t really take notice to cars driving around campus and haphazardly walk into the streets while, unlike me, listening to the new Ashley Simpson cd on their iPod.

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Read more from this blogger: The good news…

Consumers should check this report on battery problems with HP notebooks.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission along with Hewlett Packard has issued a product recall on 135,000 batteries - 50,000 of which have been sold outside the US - for a range of Compaq and HP badged notebooks.

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Read more from this blogger: HP recalls notebook batteries

Consumers beware! Check this report on Blackberry thumb.

Blackberry Thumb first shows up as a throbbing sensation, then it moves onto aching, and finally it becomes so painful that it hurts to dial telephones or use remote controls.

If you've blogged about a product you like or don't like, pass it on! Submit your post with the submit button at the top of the left column.

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Read more from this blogger: BlackBerry Thumb?

Good report on consumer spending habits and happiness.

Considerable evidence suggests that if we use an increase in our incomes, as many of us do, simply to buy bigger houses and more expensive cars, then we do not end up any happier than before. But if we use an increase in our incomes to buy more of certain inconspicuous goods–such as freedom from a long commute or a stressful job–then the evidence paints a very different picture. The less we spend on conspicuous consumption goods, the better we can afford to alleviate congestion; and the more time we can devote to family and friends, to exercise, sleep, travel, and other restorative activities. On the best available evidence, reallocating our time and money in these and similar ways would result in healthier, longer– and happier–lives.

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Read more from this blogger: How to be happy though hominid

A first hand account of the problems teachers face dealing with government initiatives.

When I was student-teaching I recall how stressed out my master-teacher got when a couple of new students were placed in her class midway through the school year. It was a lot more disheartening after she evaluated their grade levels in the various subjects (below level). It reminds me of when I used to work as a dishwasher. I always busted my ass trying to finish washing all the dishes in the sink. At about the time that I had about 2 or 3 dishes left, someone would come by and fill up the sink with dirty dishes. It was a never ending task. In many ways education is the same way. In the end I quit the dishwashing job because it was driving me crazy. But I digress. I think that our own “governor” is doing a real good job scaring everyone out of education. Come on now, trying to get the voters to pass a proposition that will put new teachers on a 5-year probationary period is absurd. The school districts would be able to fire you for any reason for five years! Just great.

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Read more from this blogger: This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed

This consumer reports that cell phone insurance probably doesn't pay.

Even the British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) recently said that "mobile phone insurance policies can prove expensive and may be difficult to claim on" because of the get outs built into those policies - the very times when you need to claim will probably be the situations where they've said they won't pay up! (e.g. leaving your phone unattended in a public place).

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Read more from this blogger: Mobile phones: don't bother with insurance?

Apparently Apple consumers paid more attention to the iMac announcements than the iPod announcements. Click through for the full report.

The iMac got a warmer greeting than perhaps either of the other products Apple unveiled Wednesday. Many blogs showed that the company’s move to bring the PC to the center of the living room piqued users’ interest–especially given that many analysts presumed the Mac Mini would take that role. But again, Apple seems to have fallen just short of making a slam dunk with the new product. More than a few bloggers who were excited about the iMac’s Front Row software also lamented that they wouldn’t move to an entertainment system centered on their computer until Apple offers more integration with television.

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Read more from this blogger: Apple bloggers hot for iMac, not for iPod

This consumer reports on a marketing strategy gone awry.

From the U.K this Guardian article says,”household products usually promise to help get rid of dirt, but one leading brand has been shamed into cleaning up its own act after an internet marketing campaign backfired spectacularly.

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Read more from this blogger: Viral advertising backfires

This consumer reports on the technology team that publishes Soft Reset.

I have to take a moment to comment on the latest addition to my list of podcasts that I listen to. The list is short as there is so little time to listen to all the good folks out there. However, one that is at the top of my list is Soft Reset. It is collaboration between Tony Vincent and Mike Curtis. I have bugged Tony for years picking his brain as I have been using handhelds in my classroom for a couple of years. These two guys really know their stuff. Like I said, I have used both the Palm and the PPC for quite some time and I learn more good things from their podcast each time.

Good listening if you want to learn more about technology.

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Read more from this blogger: Soft Reset

A report on the PDA market shifts from this avid PDA consumer.

Last week, one of the bigger news in the tech industry was that two archrivals, Palm and Microsoft has teamed up, and Palm would soon be licensing Windows Mobile for its future Treo Cell phones. Thus the end of the intense rivalry between these two companies which has been running for nearly 8 years. I have used more than 7 PDAs going back a few years, and feel qualified to tell you my version of this colorful story which I have closely followed?

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Read more from this blogger: My Analysis on Palm vs. Microsoft

The consumer nightmare ... finding decent affordable housing. Click through for the full report.

What began as a frustrating apartment search turned quickly into a demoralizing one. There were serious questions of safety and affordability, and I found myself conceding on most of the major points on my list of ideal qualities in an ideal apartment. Washer and dryer? OK, I knew that was a pipe dream. I held out for about a day. Dishwasher? Not necessary when you live alone. Running water? A luxury. Safe neighborhood? I'll carry a club.

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Read more from this blogger: A place to hang my alleged hat

This consumer reports on his first Home Theater Personal Computer.

Well, recently, Anne and I purchased a home. With every home these days, you must have a television. In my quest for a “smart home”, I have purchased the parts for an HTPC (home theater personal computer). I told Anne about the idea, which she didn’t seem very wild about. I’m not sure if I just didn’t explain its full purpose and capabilities. Anyway, she gave me the okay to buy a new computer with some money that I’ve earned. So, I decided to build an HTPC for the house, instead of a new computer for me. Hopefully Anne likes it as much as I (already) do. I am still waiting on the parts, but I will try and take some pics of it and put them on here.

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Read more from this blogger: My First HTPC

This consumer reports on the impact of IM, blogs and cell phones on interpersonal communications.

With the instant gratification of messenging systems such as AIM, iChat and MSN messenger, blogs, and sites such as facebook.com and myspace.com, and cell phones that do everything, it seems that everyone is walking around with one hand on a keyboard and the other holding cell phone. Students walk around campus jamming to iPods and avoiding human contact.

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Read more from this blogger: The Lost Art of Talking in Person