How to be a Programmer…I’ve not read the article but it sounds interesting.
My Xbox died a couple of weeks ago on my trip to Whistler. Melanie is working this weekend and I have to say I am missing the game play. So I finally called the Xbox support number to find out my opinions. The console I have needs repair work which costs $100, shipping included. A new Xbox will cost $200. The difference is I can pick up a new Xbox today but it will be a few weeks before my get back my repaired Xbox.
A part of me wants to repair the box I have mainly because I am close to finishing Transworld Snowboarding. It’s the only game I have that does not let me copy my saved games to a memory card. So if I want to continue the game, I have to repair the box. But I am jonzen to play. And starting over is not really a big deal either.
So what should I do? Should I repair or replace my Xbox? What would you do?
Killington Snow Report: Bear Mountain, also known as Beer Mountain, is closed today due to ice. Fear not. Forecasters are calling for more snow this afternoon and tomorrow, and a chance for another snow storm later in the week!
Earlier today I called the Xbox support number and talked with a woman about my options for repair of my Xbox. The cost was $99, which included shipping. As a matter of fact, she told me they would send me a box to ship my Xbox back to the service center. Not sure if I wanted to repair or replace, she said I could call back and give my ticket number to complete the repair request.
So I thought about it a bit and even talked to Melanie to get her opinion. I decided that spending $100 dollars was better than $200, so I call the support number back. This time though I was told a different story. First, it is going to cost $99 plus tax plus shipping bringing my total to $145. Then to top that, the guy said for another $50 I could buy an extended warranty for my already defective Xbox. And I have to wait to get my Xbox back should I go with a repair.
EBGames sells factory reconditioned Xbox for $150. So now the question is do I pay $145 to have my Xbox repaired or $150 to get a reconditioned one, which mine will be after the repair. If I buy the reconditioned one, I can have it by Tuesday. If I repair my Xbox, I have to wait at least two weeks. And let’s not forget I can pay $200 to repair my console and get an extended warranty, or I can pay $200 for a new Xbox with two Sega games.
I’m starting to think repairing my Xbox is a scam, especially now that I am being told that I have to pay for shipping. Guess if I had told the first person that I wanted to repair the unit I would not have to pay for shipping, but since I waited 2 hours, now I have to pay. I don’t get it. Maybe I will go back to playing my Playstation/2.
12:27 am Sunday morning waiting for the number 6 downtown. The uptown 4 speeds by on the express line and I realize I am living a surreal moment in New York. The greatest city in the world, Saturday night, and my evening includes tea and a poetry reading on Bowery, Xbox and Budweiser, caso dip and conversations about how hard it is dating in New York. This is my night. Uptown number 6 stops and people get off. Couples holding hands. Guys with their umbrellas. It must still be raining outside.
Finally the downtown number 6 arrives. I board the train and find a seat. She’s cute but not my Melanie. A legless man is making his way down the car on his fist with a coffee can of coins. Hand outs please. I wonder how he got down into the subway, and I wonder how he will leave.
My stop…Lafayette and Bleecker St. It’s raining. Crack! Thunder and lightening in February…how weird. Great the rain is coming down harder. Just my luck. “There goes my hair,” says a bridge and tunnel ho. Many more looking for shelter from the rain. What losers! Just walk in it; you won’t melt. And if you do, who cares.
A surreal night in New York City. The words sounded better in my head 30 minutes ago. Unfortunately for you, this is what you get.
I did a much needed update to the site software today, and the gallery is back online with pictures from the blizzard that hit New York earlier in the week. Enjoy.
As I am sitting on the plane heading to Dallas, I thought it would be fun to share my day with others. Consider it as a day in the life of a consultant.
4:15 am: Wake up, shower, and pack a change of clothes and my laptop.
5:15 am: Kiss Melanie goodbye, head out the door and hail a cab.
5:45 am: Pickup the car from Avis.
6:00 am: Leaving the Holland Tunnel and looking for the New Jersey Turnpike.
8:00 am: Arrive in Malvern PA right outside of Philly.
8:15 am: Driving around looking for food. I’m straving.
8:20 am: Stop at a Circle K for breakfast…mmmm, powder doughnuts.
8:30 am: Arrive at Microsoft’s Philly office.
9:00 am: Meet with customer. Discuss fun, geeky stuff.
11:50 am: Call Melanie to say hi.
3:30 pm: Leave meeting. Was told it will take 1.5 hours to get to the airport.
3:40 pm: Call Melanie again.
4:30 pm: Return car to Avis.
4:45 pm: Arrive at the airport with time to spare.
5:50 pm: Call Melanie one last time. She is flying out to Paris tonight.
6:00 pm: Take off to Dallas.
10:00 pm: Arrive in Dallas and take taxi to the hotel.
10:25 pm: Call the hotel. The cabbie is lost.
10:40 pm: Check into the hotel.
10:50 pm: Order pizza and make a few phone calls.
11:00 pm: Check e-mail.
12:00 am: Finally, the pizza is here.
12:20 am: Tummy is full. Time for bed.
12:30 am: Fall asleep.
That was my day. And it all starts all over again at 6:00 am.
Melanie and I decided to enjoy the snow from today’s blizzard with a walk through Central Park. The park was full of people enjoying the weather; from snowboarders riding the short hills to cross country skiers out for a bit of exercise to kids riding sleds, we saw it all. Hopefully I will get some pictures posted very soon.
After two weeks of no new snow in Whistler, I return home just in time for a big dump in New York City. Looks like over a foot of snow so far and it’s still coming down. I love it but I wish this had happened in Whistler. And I wish I had a car because I would definitely be heading up to Catkills to snowboard.
Over the last two weeks, I have been replicating my blog posting to thecave.com and wastedboarding.com. WASTED II is now over so I will return to only posting to appropriate site, which will be primarily this site cocked full with my rumblings. And I will start the rumble with a comment about my iPod.
The iPod kicks! I love this puppy. All day travel yesterday was made much more enjoyable with my iPod in pocket. Random play on 10 gigs of music for over 10 hours and still plenty of battery life left. It’s the only way to travel.