Software and Beyond

Software and Beyond - great software at great price

This is actually a great place (so far) to get what you need, if they have it. I recently placed an order (Thursday, September 16) with this company for eight OEM instances of Norton Internet Security 2004. Through PriceGrabber, these guys were the best price and could handle selling me eight of them.

They are not paying me to say this.

I got the product yesterday (Monday, September 20) in rural south Georgia. Not only am I pleased with my purchase, I am surprised at the validity of the company. Take a look at the website if you wonder what I'm talking about. There are spelling and grammar mistakes all over it, and they're not limited to computer software and hardware. They also sell "similar" items such as watches and pepper spray.

I'm not condemning the place at all - I had an excellent experience and they earned my trust. I will buy some more stuff from them again, but the website hurts their credibility. Third-grade-level errors and an obviously non-professionally designed site makes them appear less reputable. I mentioned the errors and how they might be perceived in an inquiry to the company, but the customer service rep answered my question without mentioning the elementary errors. I guess literacy doesn't matter in good business.

I did feel secure in my purchase because all the billing is handled by Yahoo! shopping. Anyway, I hope someone reads this and is enlightened.

If so, you're welcome.

Why Georgia?

I really do believe now that I picked the wrong time to move to the southeast region of the United States. Besides the political conservatism, tropical storm Bonnie and hurricanes Charley, Frances, and Ivan have caused me to rethink my new venture to the South.

Nothing about the election today; I'm not in the mood to discuss anything, much less argue with the closed-minded conservative "patriots" who just swear they know what's right for everyone else.

I felt guilty this morning because I'm blogging instead of working. Now I don't feel so bad, because everyone else was late, and now they're just telling hurricane stories. They haven't done any work either. I'm the new guy. Maybe I'm not supposed to work in the first hour of the day.

You, on the other hand, are not new at your job and do know what to do. Your job actually matters to people all year long.

So get to work and stop reading this.

Mayer for President

So I'd like to write more to this blog, but when inspired, I am never near a computer. When I am able to post to this blog, I am at work and can never write creatively.

I was going to talk about John Mayer and something I read about him at a bulletin board somewhere last week. Someone who has never touched a guitar said that Mr. Mayer is not talented. I can sing. I can play the guitar. But I can't do those two things at the same time. John can sing, play, dance, and attract women all at the same time and make it look like he's done it all his life. The man is full of talent. He can also write songs that I wish I had written, and craft the neatest tunes to sing them to. Don't believe anyone who says John is not talented. John Mayer is my favorite artist; I just wish his website didn't suck ass.

I would talk about the Presidential race, but I'm not as heated now as I was yesterday about it. All this crap with their military records. If I run for president in twelve years, I'll be investigated just the same, and they'll find out that I really didn't attend the hand-to-hand combat course in the Army's basic training. I'll let the truth out now: I was on K.P. Everything else is legitimate. No purple hearts, no silver medals. I do, however, have the college money, and now a college degree. Thanks, Uncle Sam.

To all of you:

I have been out for several weeks as I was moving and learning a new job. Thank you for your patience (I know that no one reads this, so I can thank anyone for anything) with my postings. I know you all waited anxiously for my next blog.

I have a website now: benrehberg.com, the easy-to-navigate, user-friendly site that has only one page and no real pliable information. Is "pliable" a word, and did I just use it correctly?

Anyway, I should be posting fun stuff soon.

Job?

So I was talking to a lady at school today who said she knew of a job possibility where she works. "I'm moving soon," I thought. Then she mentioned that it was an entry-level position that pays around $38K. My thinking changed to "Colorado's not so bad, what with the weeks of wind and years of drought, the lack of technical jobs and soaring competition for the biggest house." I will apply, if not only for the experience and security clearance it offers (not to mention the $38K).

So Spain and Honduras are pulling out of the desert. When's it gonna be our turn?

P.S. John still hates the French. They're "aginn" us.

What's in the South?

So we're moving to Georgia in a few months and I wonder what's to be expected of the South. Should I get my slurred southern drawl back, or keep my percieved intelligence and articulate normally? Should I get a Ford or Chevy pickup to increase business? I know I'll be expected at church, but I haven't decided yet whether to attend.
I will try to ease the technological pain these remote people are suffering. I just don't know how I'll get along well without the Internet blasting to my home constantly. I won't even have cable. Not close enough for DSL. I am an engineer. I will find a way.

UK vs Microsoft

So who owns the rights to Windows? Last I heard, Microsoft did. How can the EU, or any government, tell Microsoft what it can or can't do with its own product? I can choose who my customers are, who to serve and who not to serve, and what services I offer. Can the government tell me that I offer too much, or cater to myself; do I do things so well that my competition is left behind? No. If Real Networks and the others want source code, they can create their own operating systems. The consumer can choose to use any media player supported by Windows, as I do. I have iTunes, RealOne player, and Windows Media player currently. I use all three nearly every day. When the government tells businesses what to do, it all goes downhill from there. I bet they're gonna make me serve everyone. I won't be able to turn down a contract or call, because they made Microsoft change their own product to aid their competition. All the competition has to do is make a better product. That's what a free market is all about.