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iPhone 4 upgrade experience

Since I was awake at 1:30 AM June 15th, I decided to checkout the Apple Store website. At first I was not thinking about pre-ordering an iPhone 4, I was actually checking if there were any iPod classics available on the refurbished site. Well, the Apple Store was down for maintenance.

After that I thought I would check with AT&T wireless website about upgrading information for the iPhone 4. The iPhone specific page loads with a big iPhone 4 ad with an pre-order select button. Pressing the button takes to a log-on screen for your account for upgrading. I entered required information. The response tells me that I am eligible NOW to upgrade my iPhone 3G (No S). Until recently I was due to be eligible on 21 June. Next page fails. There was a warning that AT&T is unable to process my inquiry. So that was that off to bed.

Next try, 7:30 AM. Same thing with both Apple and AT&T. Off to work.

3rd try, 7:00 PM. AT&T same response still. Lucky for me the Apple Store is up and running. I selected iPhone 4 32G pre-order and checked the appropriate upgrade path. Next Apple checked my AT&T eligibility. Information came back showing my current AT&T phone, messaging and data plans with an option to keep current ones or change. I kept old plan for now.
Next step was a choice on iPhone 4 delivery method. Either ship to or in-store pick-up. The in-store pick-up option stated that there were no reservations available but I could go to my local store and get an iPhone 4 on a first come basis on June 24th. I had not chosen an actual local store at this point. That option was too iffy, especially since I would be at work until 6 PM. Who knows what in-store availability will be like the first weekend, probably not good.
I chose the ship to method. The page stated that the iPhone 4 will ship by July 2nd. Yes July 2nd. My confirmation reaffirms this and adds delivers by July 6th – 8th by standard shipping.

Hopefully these dates won’t be extended. This will give two weeks to read and here all the comments from those who got the iPhone 4 on the first day.

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2,000,000 credits using BOINC

As the title states, I reached over 2,000,000 credits using BOINC. I am currently only participating in 9 projects. 2 have been inactive since the end of 2009 and another only gets very few sporadic jobs.

More details under my About tab.

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Night of the Living Book Club update

I no longer work for Books Inc. in Mountain View, so the continuation of the Night of the Living Book Club at that physical location will probably end in June. Since the May and June books have already been selected and posted I will still facilitate the book club on the first Monday of the next two months at the Books Inc. in Mountain View at 7:30 p.m. During the next two meetings I will be open to discuss the direction or continuation of the Night of the Living Book Club in some format.

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First Apple Genius appointment

I had my first real talk with an Apple Genius today about my failing 20” iMac. It went very well compared to my last drop-in visit. I described my problem and got the answers I expected. I was told that Apple will only replace the internal hard drive with the same size it already has. Strange since I was told last time that they would replace it with any size which would vary the price. Anyway, for a 320GB drive replacement I am looking at $500+.

It was suggested that I could take the iMac into a different authorized service provider in order to get an upgraded hard drive replacement. I did email and call the two local non-Apple authorized service providers but got no response after multiple tries over a week.

Essentially, that is just too much for me especially with only a 320 GB drive. My flakey internal optical drive appears to my a dirty or bad lens so to replace the internal optical drive would cost $300+. $800 to repair an over 3 year old computer is too high, so I opted for complete replacement – 27” iMac i7. Once I get my new computer up and running then I will buy a 1 TB drive from OWC for the 20” iMac and replace it myself.

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Bought a 27″ iMac i7

Well, I finally got around to replacing my old 20” iMac 2.4 GHz (mid 2007). I have been living on borrowed time since the internal 320 GB hard drive in my 20” iMac is failing SMART. It could totally fail anytime. I do have multiple backups, so I am not worried when the time comes.

I briefly asked an Apple Genius a few weeks ago what the cost would be to replace the internal hard drive to a 500 GB model. After some confusion on their part not understanding what model I was describing and that I have NO warranty, I was told over $500. I made an official Genius appointment for tomorrow in order to ask about this in detail. Additionally, the internal optical drive is flakey. The drive does not always recognize disks, usually DVD movies I get from Netflix.

Next week after I receive my 27” iMac i7, I will replace the hard drive in my 20” iMac myself. There is plenty of videos and HD pictures available. OWC has 1TB drives for under $100 plus a tool kit. Since I was a tech in the military, taking apart the iMac is not too much of a hassle after watching some video procedures.

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Night of the Living Book Club

A few months ago I initiated a drop-in horror themed book club at my work. Everyone is welcome to stop by and check it out. Thanks to a co-worker for the name suggestion.

NotLBC.jpg

The book club meets on the first Monday of the month at 7:30 pm, hosted at Books Inc in Mountain View, CA.

I started a Facebook page for the bookclub. See box in sidebar or this link – Night of the Living Book Club on Facebook.

For more information go to the official Books Inc page for The Night of the Living Book Club.

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Wicked – the musical

A couple of weeks ago I saw Wicked the musical at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco

wickedplaybill.jpg

I am not a big musical fan. In fact I can not remember the last time I saw one of the handful I have seen in my life. Possibly 20 years ago.
Wicked was fascinating, an excellent performance! with an engaging story.
The costumes, make-up, and set design were well done, not overly extreme but enough to grab and keep your attention through out the performance. There was not too much singing and only a few entire cast numbers. Wicked had a suitable blend of acting and singing to keep my full attention and enjoyment.

I went with my mother, who was able to get very good seats, row F.

wickedticket.jpg

If anyone is looking for an entertaining marvelous performance see Wicked, it has it all. The story, acting, singing, costumes, make-up, and set design are all first rate.

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Comcast cable TV problems

Recently, I was informed that I would need to get a cable box in order to view TV channels from Comcast that are now being transmitted digitally. So I picked 2 for that TVs in the house – one in the family room the other in a bedroom. The family room install was simple with no problems, everything works as it should.

The bedroom cable box has been trouble. First time install with other cable box, following given instructions, got no signal. Call #1, tech support. They resent programming data. No change. Call #2, reset power, resent programming data. Again no signal. Call #3, reset power, again no signal. It was determined that the cable box was bad. I went to the local Comcast office and got a new cable box. Connected new cable box initial no signal. The next day I was receiving a few stations, 2-13, 37 (TNT), 41 (TBS). Later that day lost all stations, no signal. Call #4, reset power, resent programming data. Tech support told me to call back later because that rep I had could not help me and he could not get additional help. A full day or two later Call #5, reset power, resent programming data. I could not fully understanding the tech due to language accent problem, but I believe it was determined that if the resent programming data did not take effect this time I have another bad cable box. I have not dealt with this any further yet.

During the entire process the family room TV is working with ALL stations. The bedroom TV works ok without the cable box but I only get SciFi (73) and Discovery (29) channels plus 2-13.

Comcast Customer Service rates a 2/5 only due the pleasant manner of the representatives, otherwise they have been completely unhelpful. They do not listen to the stated problem. They are unwilling to listen to any additional support information. For example, the fact that I have a currently working TV. The above problem seems to be beyond their understanding, so I have to wait even longer as they ask for assistance. The language accent issue can be frustrating.

Thank God for Hulu.

In a day or so I will check with my local Comcast office about getting a 3rd cable box and call customer service. The physical cable is new and there are no devices of any kind connected between the cable to cable box to TV. Except for a splitter that feeds the other TV and the bedroom one.

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Bought an iPhone

I finally bought an iPhone. I got the 8GB, since I already own a 32GB iPod Touch and numerous other iPods, I don’t need the larger 16GB iPhone with the higher price.

I have been reviewing the Apple iPhone and the ATT iPhone pages recently to refresh my knowledge on the purchase and activation procedures. On the ATT wireless website there is a pre-qualification procedure you can use to check your eligibility before you go to a store. I chose to do this. Afterwards I got a confirmation number to use when I go to an ATT store. The confirmation was good for 90 days.

I went to the closest ATT store an hour before they closed. There were four employees in the store and no customers. I was pleasantly greeted. I said I was interested in getting an 8GB iPhone. One of the employees immediately said she could help me. She verified I wanted the 8GB model and went in the back to get one. I gave her my confirmation, which she said she was pleased that I had done that part already. She asked me about what services I wanted and did I want a case. I chose the cheapest ATT plan at 450 minutes and no case yet. She then asked about text messaging, I told her none for me. Although the basic text messaging plan is only $5/month. I may consider it later.

After entering my personal data she gave me a choice of three phone numbers with the area code of my choice. I chose one. I greed to the 2-year contract. Then paid for the activated iPhone. That was it. I got my receipt, iPhone in pocket, and bag with iphone box, etc. The entire process was quick, easy, and pleasant. 10 minutes.

I had to use my new iPhone almost immediately after leaving the store. My car would not start. I took a couple of pictures while waiting.

After getting car started and returning home I plugged my iPhone into iTunes. I registered my iPhone and synced some of my apps, music, etc.

This was an extremely easy process. Now I need to find a case.