Free Shipping! (sometimes)

With "Black Friday" quickly approaching many companies such Best Buy, JC Penny, Wal-Mart, and Sears are advertising heavily for "FREE SHIPPING" in attempt to lure customers away from stores.
BUYER BE WARE! An article I read this week talks about the fine print behind the large banners that pop up on your screen. Apparently most of these free shipping deals have a catch...In the case of Best Buy and Wal-Mart, the free shipping only applies to a very limited amount of products.  Things like computers and cameras are not included in Best Buys "free shipping" offer.
However, there are still good deals out there, but as the consumer you need to be aware of the fact that not all products are included in the special offer.
Keep an eye on the fine print, and enjoy the shopping season!

Online Colleges Target Veterans

An article I read this week talked about the increasing number of military veterans who are attending for profit online colleges. At first I was simply curious as to why veterans would be interested in an online degree...My impression has always been that a degree from such an institution was worth about as much as the piece of paper it is printed on.
The article, Online Colleges Target Veterans, goes on to say that the number of veterans attending these colleges is expected to double in the coming year because of a recent GI bill that was passed increasing the amount of money that the government will put up towards a veterans education.
I feel that if our tax dollars are going to be paying for veterans to obtain higher education then there should be stricter regualtions involved. For one, I believe that the funds should be limited to public institutions, and that private for profit institutions should not be able to recieve public funding. After all, why should I dump my tax dollars into someone elses pocket?

IT employees may grow restless

An article I read this week talks about the increasing restlessness of IT employees. While many IT specialists have been happy just to hold down their job over the past two years, this trend appears to be coming to an end. 

Most people expect the economy to improve in the near future, and recent studies show that current IT employees are not going to be satisfied if their salaries do not increase.

That being said, it is still an employers market, meaning that jobs will be hard to come across.  When IT employees do find a job that suits there skill set, they can expect multiple interviews and strict guidelines as to the skills the employer requires.

So although the economy is looking up, there is still a rough road ahead for us all. IT specialists might just have to wait a little bit longer before demanding a big raise!

The Not so Private Facebook

Facebook has announced that it has suspended approximately 10 application developers for leaking UIDs to data brokerage firms. A UID is an individualized number that is assigned to each facebook user. Advertisers can use UIDs to focus their advertisements on their target audience, and custimize adds to the individual.
I for one am not the least bit suprized to find out that my private information could be sold through facebook. It is for that very reason that I am very careful about what I put on facebook. In this day in age, you have to be careful about what image you portray online.
Bottom line is facebook needs to tighten up security, but it is up to the individual to limit their facebook exposure.

Why won't the Fax Machine die?

An article I read this week (Dead Technology) focused on the concept of outdated technology dying off, as opposed to fading away. The article goes on to list 20 technologies that are on the verge of disappearing from our everyday lives.
When I started thinking of technologies that seemed outdated to me, the first thing that came to my mind was the fax machine. Many businesses still rely on fax machines as an everyday necessity in their business operations. I have a personal vendetta with the fax machine, and I doubt anyone will be happier than me when this outdated technology becomes obsolete.
Fax machines are inefficient, un-reliable, slow, and just generally a major headache. They jam, run out of paper and/or ink, fail to connect properly, and provide a poor quality copy. I do not claim to have the solution to this problem, but I do eagerly await the day I can take my companies fax machine outback and proceed to disassemble it with a baseball bat (anyone else picturing the scene from "Office Space"?).
All I ask of you is to do your part. If you haven’t come up with a substitute for the dreaded fax machine then start using scanners, email, or runners instead. But PLEASE don't support the fax machine, it is time that we make a stand and eliminate it from our lives for good.

Windows Phone 7

It is expected that that new phones operating on the Windows 7 OS will be released on October 11th. This event has been much talked about since the announcement in February that AT&T will have exclusivity rights on the smart phone operating system.
There are high expectations for the Windows phone are high, and many consider this Microsoft's last chance to compete with Apple in the smart phone market. According to AT&T the new system will be available on 3 different phones (Samsung, LG, and HTC), and it is believed that the phones will be available for sale in early November.
This is your last chance Mr. Gates. Apple has dominated the smart phone market since the release of the iPhone, and we have only seen Microsoft lose ground each period since. Its time for Windows to step up to the plate and perform, or sit down and watch the competition take over.
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How smart are Smart Meters?

You may have heard that many entergy companies across the nation are beginning to implement "smart meters". These smart meters monitor the electricity consumption of your home, and transmit the results wirelessly back to your power provider.  In theory, they are also supposed to provide the consumer with accurate readings, and help the average home owner to monitor their power consumption. The ease of self monitoring would help consumers reduce their energy consumption, and make them more aware of peak time energy use.

Unfortunately, there are some kinks that need to be worked out. Many people who are currently using the smart meters are complaining that readings are inaccurate. Furthermore, the fact that the customer does not always have the option to retain their original power meter irks others. There is also skepticism that the benefits of these meters do not justify the costs.( link )

I can definitely see where the motive is behind these smart meters. If the kinks are worked out they could reduce cost and energy consumption, as well as help power companies avoid potential black outs. But, until the technical glitches can be worked out, it is unfair to press the unproven meters on customers. At the very least, customers should be given the option to reject the new smart meter.

To conclude my thought, this technology should not be forced on the public until it can be guaranteed that the new systems work properly, and it has been proven without a doubt that the expenditure is financially justified.