Archive for May 23rd, 2006

Macy’s installs iPod vending machines for those who carry around $300 in change

Macy’s plans to install 180 iPod vending machines — made by a San Francisco company — nationwide by fall, its chief executive said Friday.

This has to be one of the most stupid ideas I’ve ever heard of…I can just see it now:

“Mommy, mommy can I have $300 for the vending machine? I want an iPod”

First of all, who in their right mind is going to buy a $300 MP3 player from a vending machine. What’s next, cell phones and digital cameras?

read more

Microsoft, Lenovo Launch “Pay As You Go” Computer

Microsoft Corp. and Chinese-based computer maker Lenovo said Monday they will launch market trials for pay-as-you-go purchases of computers in China and India. Consumers will be able to purchase a Lenovo PC for about half its retail price and pay off the balance over time by purchasing pre-paid cards from Lenovo.

Sounds like a good idea at first but they haven’t clearly stipulated what happens when your “balance” runs out? What if you run out of your balance in the middle of something important and you have no way to get a new pre-paid card at that time…will the PC allow you to save everything you’re working on? What happens if something is due? Worst case what if you only need 5 more mins to complete something and your balance runs out.

Should lead to some interesting situations for sure

read more

Trade up your Treo 650 for Treo 700p and get $150 cash back

I don’t even have a Treo 650 nor am I going to get a Treo 700p but I have to admit that this on the surface at least seems like a very good deal.

Given that if you already have Treo 650 and want the new Treo 700p, you will most likely only need one – getting $150 for your old busted phone for the new hot stuff sounds too good to be true.

read more