Windows Internet Explorer 8.0 Beta

Windows Internet Explorer 8.0 Beta

Two and a half hours of my life I will NEVER get back!

Computers are supposed to make us more productive right? Wrong! When IE 7.0beta came out, I tried it. It had some issues but the tabbed browsing was a great idea and I liked it. So, when I started my computer today and opened up IE, it went right to the Micorsoft page (I have no idea how or why it does that) and asked me if I wanted to try IE 8.0beta. I figured, sure, why not. That was the beginning of my 2 hours of hell! I should have figured that software quality coming from MS is getting WAY WORSE than better - just look at Vista! Yeah its fancy, but it is slow, takes up more memory, more disk space and really adds no value. I figured, how tough could it be to upgrade a silly browser.

First it told me for my version of XP I needed to update my SP2 with some other files. Okay, there is the first re-boot. Next I updated IE. It seemed to go okay until EVERY TIME I opened a window the information bar come on saying I was running with Add-ons 'disabled'. But when I went to the menue to figure out how to enable them, there was no specific button to do this. Then when I looked at all of the "ad-ons" they were all enabled. I looked from every angle for a way to turn it on and even used help - there was no way to do this. So, I figured I would live with it. Then every time I opened an IE window, or refreshed, I would get the sound and the "warning bar". It was unbelievably aggravating. The kicker was, I really wanted to watch the innaugration so I said I'll just live with it for now and get on cnn.com. I did this and the browser told me that I had to download Adobe Flash - which that add-on screen said I had and that it was enabled. When I got to the download screen it wouldn't let me download it and there was no error except for the "add-on" being disabled informaton bar, when it clearly wasn't dis-abled. So now, in order to watch cnn.com, I needed to go back to IE 7.0. This was another hour. I couldn't just overwirte 8.0 with 7.0 - Why MS wont let you do this is beyond me so I had to install Firefox (which I will be using from now on). Next, uninstall IE 8, then download IE 7.0 and then install. By the time the process was complete, I was so late getting on to CNN.com and there were so many others logged in, I didn't get a chance to experience that moment in history. So much for computers making our lives easire and better.

Bottom Line: DONT UPGRADE UNTIL WINDOWS 7.0 IS OUT - YOUR PAST VISTA AND YOU JUST HAVE TO GET IE 8.0 BECAUSE IT IS A PART OF SOME OS. Thanks for nothing, again, MS.

Bank of America - Private Banking

Private Banking - Obviouly NOT What it Used to Be

You really need to follow the link for the image to the left and see where Bank of America talks about it's commitment to service.

In a day and age when service is king! these guys really let me down. Okay, so I am a bit anal but all I really wanted to do was consolidate all of my banking for 2009. I have a bank that does my mortgage and my HELOC, I have a bank that I deal with to pay bills (who I like) and I have a bank I use as a private bank (which I love but they are out of state). I wanted to get my home loan, HELOC, boat loan and all my bill pay stuff under one roof and get some really good service such that then next time I go to buy anything where I need a loan, I'll get great service and good great rates. So, I started shopping around - I went to Boston Private Bank - these guys were GREAT but couldn't do my boat loan - which has been the issue with most all banks. If I couldn't consolidate then I wasn't going to move all my dough around. I checked a couple of other places and again, since they couldn't do the boat loan, I bagged it. Then I talke to a nice guy, (quite salesy though) named Brendan at Bank of America in Newton Center (I tell you this because if you go there, well, buyer be aware) - He told me that "without a doubt" they could help me and give me all the services I was looking for. He told me I would be a part of their "Private Banking" system which offers great personal service. I spent 30 min there giving him all of my information about my existing mortgage, my HELOC, the boat info and I told him that when I get a call back, please have the whole package ready. (I was trying to avoid him calling me and push a mortgage on me, that wasn't what I was looking for.) He promised me he would not do that and he told me he use to work on the Private Banking side of the house and he could "hand pick" anyone to help me and he was going to select the best of the best - a guy named - get this Adam West (for you Batman fans out there - how cool is that). Adam, whos card I am looking at now is aVP of Premier Client Management - Premier Banking and Investment. Brenden promised me he would at least call me by the end of the day. Well the end of the day came and no call. I figured, that is okay because I knew securing the boat was going to be the issue, so I was patient. Next day, no call. Third day, I call him, because I have Adam's card. He says "Oh, I was just getting ready to call you, now can you 're-tell' me what you told Brendan so I can get all of your information?" So I am a bit aggravated, but I say okay and spend another 30 min on the phone providing him my information. Then he tells me "I promise I will give you a call by the end of the day". Guess what, yup, no call. No call the next day or the next. I figure, they just don't care. 9 days later I get a call. Saying that he was sorry, it took a while to find out about the boat loan, which they can't do, but he wanted my business anyway.

Now I ask you - would you want to work with a private banker like that????

I use UBOC in CA - they pick up the phone every time I call and help me instantly. (I couldn't consolidat there as they can't to mortgages for homes out side of CA). My wife uses Boston Private for her business, they too are awesome, they go out of their way to help, pick up the phone on every call, even meet her at her office if she needs. That is private banking.

Bank of America may be big, but they sure don't care about the little guy.

HGTV - My First Place / Property Virgins

HGTV

My First Place

Property Virgins

Have we not learned ANYTHING with the fall of the economy here in 2008? Did the housing crisis not teach us anything? I mean come on! I can't tell you how many times I watched on the news as somone, who couldn't afford the house they were somehow allowed to buy 2 and 3 years ago, is not crying, upset that they are going to be kicked out of thier home, and begging for John Q. Taxpayer (and the US Government) to bail them out.

What happened to the days, like my daddy taught me, when you put 20% of your own money down on a home and only after that did you calculte the mortgage and see if it was something you could afford. And by afford, your payment should be about 20% of your monltly pay, this way you can still pay your taxes, have a car to get to and from your job and put food on the table for the family.

I am really really upset at HGTV promotes the fact that these mortgage companies STILL have these "products" that enable people to put next to nothing down and have large loan payments. What do they think this will accomplish? Another housing bust??? It is very unfortunate, that at a time when the only thing most people can afford to do is watch TV that they would continue to promote poor behavior. I mean, it's good for HGTV, they can sell you a crapy house, when you then have to have fixed up and spend more money at Home Depot; money you don't have so you put your purcase on a credit card, that you can only afford to pay the minimum payment (interest) because your mortage is too big. When does it end!