When I first started my current job, I had a laptop provided to me and didn't have the option of choosing it. I was not the first user and the computer had seen better days. Eventually the time came and I got to order a new laptop and I selected one of the larger laptops available. I did so based on the processing power available. I also liked the size of the larger screen.
I liked the new laptop and used it for several years longer than required. Our company policy allows us to refresh our computers every couple of years. At the 4-year mark, I decided to make some changes. I noticed that others carried their laptops with them a lot more than I did. The larger format of mine discouraged that. Instead of the 15-inch model, I chose the 13-inch one. I am pleased with the change. I find myself bringing my computer with me everywhere. I also find myself pulling out my laptop a lot more on planes and in airports. It is much easier to find space for a smaller machine.
If you are in the market for a new laptop, think about any changes you would like to make with your current one. Think about more than just processor speed and memory. Is your computer bag too heavy when you put your laptop in it or do you even notice. Is your screen too small to be useful or is it more than adequate. These are small things that are often overlooked but end up making more of a difference than you probably realize. I know it surprised me.
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Thursday, September 15, 2016
Tokyo Game Show
I am sitting in one of the first-class lounges at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Earlier I got off a flight from Tokyo and my connecting flight to Salt Lake is delayed by more than an hour. If everything had worked out, I would have been able to spend an entire day in Tokyo, cross the International Date Line and gotten home on an hour before I left Tokyo. Instead I will get home an hour into the day after a very important day to me. I am kind of upset that I won't be home on time but there is not much I can do about it. Just remember that when you need the airlines to be on time, they won't be.
So what brought me to Tokyo? Tokyo Game Show (TGS), Japan's largest video game conference. I had some important meetings and so I needed to attend. I just wish the show occurred a week earlier or later. Then I could be home on this special day.
I don't have official numbers but the show seemed larger than last year. I didn't see any surprises other than games that are popular in Japan but not in the US. I think the one big stand-out from the show is Resident Evil 7: Biohazard from CAPCOM. I'm not sure if I gave this game more attention because one of my co-workers from Japan really likes the game and so we spent more time watching trailers. What I do know is that it looks like a scary game that should be very entertaining.
I do have to disclose that I work for a video game company but no, we don't work on Resident Evil 7. Also, I have never played a Resident Evil game but have to admit this one does look interesting. I'll have to give it a try when it releases in January of 2017.
So what brought me to Tokyo? Tokyo Game Show (TGS), Japan's largest video game conference. I had some important meetings and so I needed to attend. I just wish the show occurred a week earlier or later. Then I could be home on this special day.
I don't have official numbers but the show seemed larger than last year. I didn't see any surprises other than games that are popular in Japan but not in the US. I think the one big stand-out from the show is Resident Evil 7: Biohazard from CAPCOM. I'm not sure if I gave this game more attention because one of my co-workers from Japan really likes the game and so we spent more time watching trailers. What I do know is that it looks like a scary game that should be very entertaining.
I do have to disclose that I work for a video game company but no, we don't work on Resident Evil 7. Also, I have never played a Resident Evil game but have to admit this one does look interesting. I'll have to give it a try when it releases in January of 2017.
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Online Ski Stores
A few days ago I wrote about my experience purchasing my son ski bindings from an online store. Afterwards I thought that others might be interested in sites that I find reliable for picking up ski stuff. One of the largest ski retailers in my area closed their doors earlier this year and while other stores are stepping up to fill the void, I am resorting to purchasing more and more online. Here is my list of recommended places to shop:
Backcountry.com - This site used to be my favorite as they always seemed to have the best deals around. Recently their prices have not been as good as in the past. I have purchased quite a few pairs of skis as well as a lot of rock climbing equipment from them. They also have Steep and Cheap, a site that showcases one item at a time for huge discounts. You have to be quick though as each item is only available for about 10 minutes. If it doesn't sell out, they switch to a new product. Should that happen you can always check the Department of Goods to see if they still have what you are looking for. They have a retail location in Salt Lake and so if I don't want to pay for shipping, I can always pick it up at the store. It also works great for returns.
Evo.com - Purchasing boots online is very difficult. You don't know if the boot will fit correctly and you run the risk of having to ship stuff back. Evo has a very liberal return policy that allows you to purchase several pairs of boots at once and then ship back the ones that don't fit. This came in very handy as I purchased new ski boots for my daughter last Christmas. I did have to pay to ship things back, but it is a small price to pay to get the right size. If you do need boot work after you purchase them, you will have to find a local boot fitter to take care of that for you and that may eliminate any discount from buying online.
Level 9 Sports - This is another online store with a Salt Lake retail location. I first received a recommendation to their site when looking for ski poles. They also have great deals on other ski equipment and I always make sure to compare their prices with other sites. They do everything they can to make sure you have a great purchasing experience.
There are a number of other online ski shops like skis.com. Unfortunately I have not purchased anything from them and can't make a recommendation one way or another. I do compare their prices though and would not mind trying them out. They just haven't had anything that interested me in the past.
If you can't tell, I am anxiously awaiting the start of ski season and hope to have a good one this year. If you are in the market for new stuff, hopefully this list helps you out.
Backcountry.com - This site used to be my favorite as they always seemed to have the best deals around. Recently their prices have not been as good as in the past. I have purchased quite a few pairs of skis as well as a lot of rock climbing equipment from them. They also have Steep and Cheap, a site that showcases one item at a time for huge discounts. You have to be quick though as each item is only available for about 10 minutes. If it doesn't sell out, they switch to a new product. Should that happen you can always check the Department of Goods to see if they still have what you are looking for. They have a retail location in Salt Lake and so if I don't want to pay for shipping, I can always pick it up at the store. It also works great for returns.
Evo.com - Purchasing boots online is very difficult. You don't know if the boot will fit correctly and you run the risk of having to ship stuff back. Evo has a very liberal return policy that allows you to purchase several pairs of boots at once and then ship back the ones that don't fit. This came in very handy as I purchased new ski boots for my daughter last Christmas. I did have to pay to ship things back, but it is a small price to pay to get the right size. If you do need boot work after you purchase them, you will have to find a local boot fitter to take care of that for you and that may eliminate any discount from buying online.
Level 9 Sports - This is another online store with a Salt Lake retail location. I first received a recommendation to their site when looking for ski poles. They also have great deals on other ski equipment and I always make sure to compare their prices with other sites. They do everything they can to make sure you have a great purchasing experience.
There are a number of other online ski shops like skis.com. Unfortunately I have not purchased anything from them and can't make a recommendation one way or another. I do compare their prices though and would not mind trying them out. They just haven't had anything that interested me in the past.
If you can't tell, I am anxiously awaiting the start of ski season and hope to have a good one this year. If you are in the market for new stuff, hopefully this list helps you out.
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Online Customer Service
Ski season is quickly approaching and so I have been looking to replace some of my old equipment. Generally you can find good deals on the Internet. You do have to be careful though as you may run the risk of getting ripped off. Fortunately there are services like "Google Trusted Stores" to help ensure you do not get taken advantage of.
Saturday afternoon I found a great pair of ski bindings for my son's new skis. I found them on a site I trust with a retail presence in Utah. I purchased them and paid the $7 to have them shipped to the house. Sure I could have gone into the retail store, picked them up, and saved myself some money. However the convenience of not having to go anywhere was well worth the small price. A few days later I got a call from my son asking if he could open the package. I told him he could whereupon he hung up so he could use both hands to rip open the packaging. A few minutes later I got a call back and he explained that only one part of the bindings arrived.
I happened to be at a department offsite and so I couldn't follow up with the seller. When I got back to my office I could not get a hold of them on the phone. They did have a chat app on their website and so I opened the window and asked if a second package might be coming any time soon. Nope, the warehouse had made a mistake and shipped one of two boxes. I needed to take a picture of the parts that arrived along with the packaging. I had a slight problem: everything was in Utah and I was in California. I tried to get my son on the phone but he had taken off for an evening activity. Fortunately my daughter helped me out and sent me the requested photo. I forwarded that to the website and the customer service guy created a new shipment. He even went so far as to personally go to the warehouse, get the second box from the shelves, and send me back a picture of the bindings along with the shipping label. To make things right, he even threw in a few extra low-cost items.
People make mistakes. When you purchase something from a physical store, you have a much lower chance of mistakes being made. I appreciated the customer service representative trying to make amends. Fortunately it is only September and my son doesn't need the skis for a couple of months. I would hate to think how upset we both would have been if snow had already started to fall and we wanted to go skiing the next day. So if you plan to buy stuff online, make sure you don't need it immediately. Otherwise you could be very disappointed.
Saturday afternoon I found a great pair of ski bindings for my son's new skis. I found them on a site I trust with a retail presence in Utah. I purchased them and paid the $7 to have them shipped to the house. Sure I could have gone into the retail store, picked them up, and saved myself some money. However the convenience of not having to go anywhere was well worth the small price. A few days later I got a call from my son asking if he could open the package. I told him he could whereupon he hung up so he could use both hands to rip open the packaging. A few minutes later I got a call back and he explained that only one part of the bindings arrived.
I happened to be at a department offsite and so I couldn't follow up with the seller. When I got back to my office I could not get a hold of them on the phone. They did have a chat app on their website and so I opened the window and asked if a second package might be coming any time soon. Nope, the warehouse had made a mistake and shipped one of two boxes. I needed to take a picture of the parts that arrived along with the packaging. I had a slight problem: everything was in Utah and I was in California. I tried to get my son on the phone but he had taken off for an evening activity. Fortunately my daughter helped me out and sent me the requested photo. I forwarded that to the website and the customer service guy created a new shipment. He even went so far as to personally go to the warehouse, get the second box from the shelves, and send me back a picture of the bindings along with the shipping label. To make things right, he even threw in a few extra low-cost items.
People make mistakes. When you purchase something from a physical store, you have a much lower chance of mistakes being made. I appreciated the customer service representative trying to make amends. Fortunately it is only September and my son doesn't need the skis for a couple of months. I would hate to think how upset we both would have been if snow had already started to fall and we wanted to go skiing the next day. So if you plan to buy stuff online, make sure you don't need it immediately. Otherwise you could be very disappointed.
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