Sprint
Yep, that Sprint. No question, I really do like them a lot, but I’m a little sad at the same time. About a month ago, they sent this to my published email address:
Hi Andy,
The Sprint Ambassador Team recently visited Andylaub.com and wants to invite you to participate in our Ambassador Program.
The Sprint Ambassador Program is all about exploring our latest products and services and allows you to give direct feedback to Sprint. We recently launched the Sprint Power Vision (SM) Network and want to provide you with the full experience, at no charge. Sprint Power Vision Network enables customers to download data at faster speeds and experience new data products.
So what’s the deal?
As a qualified participant, we will send you one Sprint Power Vision phone and provide you with six months of all-access service (at no charge). You’ll have access to the Sprint Music Store(SM) live TV broadcasts, gaming and more. Yes, you will also have unlimited free calling and data service. It’s a pretty good deal and all we ask for in return is your candid feedback (you decide how much and how often).
[ Registration information deleted ]
If you have questions regarding the registration process or the program, please email us at [ Email ]
We look forward to receiving your registration!
The Sprint Ambassador Team
I was really excited about this because it was totally out of the blue. Unfortunately, I didn’t qualify because I’m not in a metro area right now. Admittedly, it makes sense that they want people who actually have access to the service to test the service, though as a footnote, I was at Best Buy yesterday and was told that Wausau does indeed have the Power Vision service. Interesting, because according to the service map, they don’t.
I see no orange in Wausau. Image from Sprint.
I’ve been trying to figure out whether Power Vision phones are backwards compatible with regular PCS Vision, and I wonder if this is the case of the salespeople just being confused. They said they used their demo A900 (dreamboat!) to browse the web all the time, but what if that just means it can get on the regular Vision network and isn’t necessarily on Power Vision? Maybe I need to stop overanalyzing?
H & R Block
Just get your shit together and let me e-file my state returns. I’ve been waiting for 2 months now.
TiVo
Much to the chagrin of many, many TiVo enthusiasts, TiVo is raising their monthly fees (to include free boxes) and dropping their beloved lifetime subscription. I am a firm believer that a lifetime subscription (meaning you receive unlimited TiVo service for the life of your TiVo unit) is the only way to go. I know several people who’ve saved hundreds of dollars already by buying it outright.
If you are considering a TiVo, now is the time. Lifetime subscriptions are still available for all boxes purchased through tomorrow (according to TiVo’s sales department) so I recommend biting the bullet and just getting one. Otherwise there is eBay, which is a viable alternative because the subscription is attached to the box and not the user. However, we all know how eBay gets when it comes down to supply and demand, and I have a feeling that demand is going to be up there in this case.
Abe and I have been back and forth on the TiVo thing for nearly a year, so I guess instead of calling TiVo a bunch of jerks (which they are), we should thank them for finally giving us the kick in the ass we needed to just go and buy one. We picked up an 80-hour model yesterday at Best Buy. Total cost: $220 box + $300 service + $50 wireless adapter = $570.
cottager said:
I just saw in the best-buy flyer today…$150 rebate on the tivo 80 hour box, mail-in I think. did you get the rebate?
22:26 on 12 Mar 2006
PDF said:
Sadly, it seems cellphone carriers are just destined to be complained about [12/31, 12/15, 12/12] or disappointed with or however you would like to put it. Maybe they just have too many variables to deal with to make any one person perfectly happy.
I too like Sprint a lot (as you also mentioned you do) but at the same time am repeatedly saddened by them. At least my phone makes and receives phone calls and The Man gets me a discount.
23:03 on 12 Mar 2006
Andy said:
PDF: You’re right. I should clarify that I still like Sprint alot; this was just one of those variables you mentioned, and network updates can be pretty confusing, especially when you’re not in a metro area. Also, I’m bummed when I can’t get new stuff for free.
cottager: The $150 rebate only applies when you buy the box and a 1-year subscription which, on their old pricing scale, was $155. So it effectively cancels out the first year’s payments if you’re going month-by-month. It didn’t apply to the lifetime sub, so we had to pay the full price, though it will pay for itself in the end.
08:13 on 13 Mar 2006