Computerworld reported this week that Dell Inc. will charge customers up to $50 for factory-installed Windows XP on some PCs after Wednesday, June 18.

For those out there who aren't crazy about Vista, you're going to have to pay up if you want to install the older XP on your new computer.

Computerworld says, "Buyers of the low-priced Vostro line of desktops and notebooks will pay $20 to $50 more for Windows XP Professional installed as a 'downgrade' from Windows Vista Business or Vista Ultimate than they would for Vista only."

Check out the story for more details.

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 3:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Don't wait until it's too late to take precautions to safeguard your computers and other electronic items from storm damage.

After the tornado watch and other foul weather yesterday, Tech Whiz Mike Himowitz has a very timely story today about protecting against power surges and other potential power mishaps.

According to him, you don't need to spend much to insure your hardware --- and the precious data stored within --- stays functioning through many a surge caused by weather or even the cycling of appliances within your home.

Surge protectors start at $8 and go way up from there, but just make sure you look for a few basic characteristics before you invest: 

Continue reading "Storm-proof your electronics" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 3:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

A New York judge ruled yesterday that computer retailer Dell engaged in repeated false and deceptive advertising of its promotional credit financing and warranties.

According to the AP by way of CrainsNewYork.com, the judge ordered Dell to disclose more clearly that most customers do not qualify for free financing or get “next day” repair service.

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo sued Dell last year.

The story quoted Cuomo saying, “For too long at Dell the promise of customer service was a bait and switch that left thousands of people paying for essentially no service at all." The AG's office had 700 complaints against Dell when the lawsuit was filed in May 2007 and received more than 1,000 since, a spokesman said.

Continue reading "Dude, Dell is guilty of consumer fraud" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 1:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

On Sunday, I wrote about BlueHippo and the unending complaints that are still coming in about the Woodlawn-based retailer that sells computers and other electronics to people with poor credit.

Maria Allwine of Baltimore wrote in to say:

How about a story on who owns Blue Hippo and its history. I think publishing the names of the owner(s) and the history, finances, etc. of this company might be helpful.

The bad news is that I didn't include that information because I only have 25 inches of space to work with for my Sunday column. The good news is that The Sun and fellow blogger (a.k.a. Financial Guru) Eileen wrote a terrific story on this very question back in 2006.

But, being the generous, thoughtful soul that I am, I'm going to copy and paste the lengthy article after the jump instead of making you search and pay for it in our archives like my bosses would like for you to do. Why? Because it's all about you readers, that's why.

Continue reading "BlueHippo Blues" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 3:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

So for the last few weeks, I've been getting a weird e-mail every week from some guy I don't think I know, saying, "Hi, I looked for you on Reunion.com, the largest people search service -- but you weren't there."

The e-mail then directed me to click on a link to see who had been searching for me.

First of all, I didn't really remember anyone by this guy's particular name. Second, I'm incredibly suspicious of weird e-mails asking me to click on links.

So, of course, I just routinely delete weird e-mails for fear of bugs, scams and other possible nefarious schemes. Turns out I was smart to do so. According to our sister paper, The LATimes, the e-mail is part of Reunion.com's misguided and super-annoying attempt to sign up more members.

Continue reading "Annoying reunion e-mails" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Thanks to those smart guys at Baltimore-based ISE for finding a critical vulnerability in Mac's Safari browser. Apple Inc. patched four flaws in its Safari browser this week, including the one discovered by ISE's Charlie Miller, according to this ComputerWorld story.

The finding won Miller a $10,000 check for the "Pwn 2 Own" contest on the second day of the hacker challenge held at the CanSecWest security conference in Canada.

According to the story, Miller and two fellow researchers turned over the vulnerability that they discovered three weeks ago and signed a nondisclosure agreement that prevented them from discussing their findings until the bug was patched in exchange for the $10,000 prize.

Bravo, guys!

If you don't know about ISE, this little homegrown company has made quite a name for itself by analyzing controversial Diebold Electronic Voting machine source code and broke the encryption on Texas Instruments' wireless gas payment cards and car keys - a potential threat to millions of consumers.

Continue reading "A shout-out to hometown smart guys, Independent Security Evaluators" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

And no, we're not talking about about the kind of profit touted by the Underpants Gnomes.

Evan Siple, who offered a soliloquy on online shopping here, shares his system to save money on every purchase. He's already buying all his electronics and plenty of groceries over the Intertubes --- being careful to avoid the early adopter trap. He also takes advantage of Craigslist.
 
But why online, especially for electronics?

"As far as ordering electronics online, you can ALWAYS find a better deal online than at the major brick-and-mortar establishments, almost without exception. Even in the case of buying something large like a television, which can be white-glove delivered to your house for a fee, the cost of shipping and delivery is usually offset by substantial rebates, no sales tax, and the simple fact that you're not paying an inflated price to satisfy a salesperson's commission."

But Evan's not talking about searching for coupon codes online, or even hunting Amazon for "filler items" to bump the total in his shopping cart over $25 to get free shipping (via Consumerist).  

Here's his secret to saving money and time, which requires one simple step:

Continue reading "Online shopping for fun and profit" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Maryland-based BlueHippo has been raising the ire of consumers across the country for years.

Yesterday, the Federal Trade Commission announced it reached a settlement with the company over allegations that it took consumers money without providing the electronics purchased. BlueHippo didn’t admit to doing anything wrong, but agreed to pay $3.5 million to possibly $5 million to burned consumers.

If you missed it, read consumer reporter Liz Kay’s story on the settlement — as well as who is eligible for restitution.

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 3:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Every day here at Consuming Interests, I take calls from frustrated consumers who have been abused, misused, fooled, or disappointed in some way by some business out there. Oftentimes, a simple phone call to the business can clear up the matter. Sometimes, it takes weeks of back and forth phone calls. There there are problems where consumers just want to vent and the only words of comfort I can provide are: It happens to all of us.

If you don't believe me, my wonderful colleague and airline industry reporter Laura McCandlish wants you to know she was victimized just recently:

Continue reading "No Passport to Fun" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 2:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)
                    

Now, I don't consider myself old, but I also do not consider myself young. I don't think I'm hip enough to roll with Sam Sessa, which is why I only read his Midnight Sun blog instead of actually participating in his late-night carousing. But I also feel like I know a thing or two about what the cool kids are into these days... the Wii, i-anything and vintage Vans, right? (hey, I have young nieces and nephews, you know)!

But this, I just don't get this at all.

I understand this part: As the Web site says, "Second Life is a 3-D virtual world entirely created by its Residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by millions of Residents from around the globe."

This part, I don't get: "You'll also be surrounded by the Creations of your fellow Residents. Because Residents retain the rights to their digital creations, they can buy, sell and trade with other Residents. The Marketplace currently supports millions of US dollars in monthly transactions. This commerce is handled with the in-world unit-of-trade, the Linden dollar, which can be converted to US dollars at several thriving online Linden Dollar exchanges."

So you use real money to get fake money to use in the virtual world to buy islands, land, homes and other property? Isn't life complicated enough?!

Apparently not, according to this LA Times story.

Continue reading "Second Life Shenanigans" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 4:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

When I bought my laptop at the end of last year, I was amazed at how easy it was to connect to the Internet through various free wireless hotspots. Whether it was a signal from a hotel across the street, a local coffee shop or some other outlet, it felt like the whole world was open to me and my laptop.

Apparently, I had it wrong. Using those WiFi hotspots actually opened up me and my computer to the whole world, according to this WSJ story about people who prey on WiFi hotspot users.

Just the first three graphs in the story were enough to convince me that it might be a bad idea:

Next time you are sitting in a hotel lobby checking email on your laptop, be careful: The "businessman" in the next lounge chair may be tracking your every move.

Many Wi-Fi users don't know that hackers posted at hot spots can steal personal information out of the air relatively easily. And savvy criminal hackers aren't settling for just access to credit cards, bank accounts and other personal financial information; they love to sneak into your company's network, too.

Whether you're using a Wi-Fi hot spot at a hotel, airport or cafe, "you've got to assume that anything you are doing is being monitored," says Shawn Henry, deputy assistant director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's cybercrimes division.

I should have gone with my paranoid and pessimistic instincts about free WiFi. Nothing in life is ever free. There's always a price you have to pay whether it's actual money or peace of mind. I'd rather fork over a little more money for more security.

This is not to say you shouldn't use those WiFi hotspots at all. Just don't do anything really anything really important -- like banking -- while using a hotspot or you could find yourself in the hot seat.  

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 8:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)