Google struggling to support angry Nexus One buyers - Page 5

Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum

I agree, when considered by itself!



That is the key! Customer service, done right, contributes to the bottom line!


We founded our computer stores based on 3 simple principals:

1) return a fair profit to our investors
2) provide the best possible products and services to our customers
3) have fun

We were in the retail computer business (retail stores), in Silicon Valley, between 1978-1989 (some of the most competitive years in the industry).

We charged retail (or very close) and had satisfied (return) customers from Sindelfingen to Guam.

What made it all possible was that we sold quality products, and supported them at a reasonable profit.

Everybody understood this (our management, our employees, our suppliers, our customers). They all chose to play by these rules, and everybody won!

...and [most of the time] we all had fun!

*

Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum

Whew!

After wading through a lot of trolling and some very excellent comments, I'd like to offer my opinion!

First, I am an Apple fan... but, I don't consider myself a fanboi-- if Apple sucks at something* (yes, Virginia, they do) they deserve criticism!

I, mostly, like Google services (Search, Maps, Earth and to a lesser extent Gmail).

I do not like the underlying tone of the original article! It appears to be looking for problems, finding some, then relishing in the fact that they exist. It appears to be schadenfreude on the part of the author.

Certainly, some problems are expected with the rollout of a new technology! Especially if the offering is made by a company with little experience in a segment of the market.

I do not have any idea how pervasive the problems are-- I tend to think they are exaggerated by a vocal minority.

Google has shown to be a nimble company, and I suspect that they will resolve the support issue.

I hope they do!

Then we'll need to evaluate the Nexus on its merits (or find something else to bitch about).

Dick

* MobileMe rollout; original (2007) iPhone Activation problems (remember those 3+ day delays?); a special press event for the iPod Hi-Fi and a leather iPod case... and a whole lot more!

*

Originally Posted by melgross

There's an interesting article that gives an opinion about Android that I find sums up Google's problems with it. Of course, Android supporters came out in droves to flame him (it's by no means just Apple supporters who do that).

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2010/...onal-thoughts/

Originally Posted by Esoom

That was an excellent piece, the reviewer gave credit where it's due and gave his opinion about what counts.

I'm of the same mind, Android is half baked, and will be so for some time, it's like using the computer at work VS using your own, it's boring, sure it works, but it's nothing special, it's that damn policy written up by a committee, politically correct, but as awkward as a gorilla in a black mini skirt and a thong...

I'm using a G1, and frankly pissed at the way the phone is being marketed, loyal TMobile customer for a decade, eligible for an upgrade of all 3 lines of my family plan, but can't get the Nexus One without paying full price or punting my family plan and jumping through hoops to keep my current phone numbers.

I guess stuff like that mess Google Wave should have prepared me for this, but I was honestly caught flat footed by how poorly Google has managed to market this phone. It's like someone at Google lost a bet and HAD to market a phone, and this is their half assed effort.

Originally Posted by melgross

Most new products don't have major problems. It may seem that way because of the publicity they get, but it isn't true.

And we have two definitions of early adopter, or as some are calling it, first adopter.

Even first models are usually going to be good once some manufacturing teething problems are fixed. That usually takes a few weeks. After that, buying the first model usually carries little risk.

So those eager to get that first model usually need only to wait a short while to see if there are any show stoppers. Apple and Palm have fixed their early problems.

But those who wait for the second model are playing a fools game, because the second model can have the same defects as the first. It can have new defects, and you still need to wait a few weeks.

It solves nothing to wait for a second model unless the first lacks features you want, and feel that the second will have. But if it doesn't, and you get the next model anyway, you wasted a year. I took that chance with the iPhone, and I was lucky.

Originally Posted by melgross


With all the complaints about AT&T's coverage, how do you deal with that?

A sourcewho requested we not reveal his identitytold Ars that the problem isn't the cell radio hardware, nor the network infrustructure, but an issue with the way that the iPhone OS conserves power. All iPhone apps, including Phone.app, cause the radio to switch from "active" to "idle" mode when accessing the network far more often than traditional phones do. This causes the signaling channel, responsible for such functions as SMS messaging, initiating, maintaining, or ending a phone call, voicemail notifications, and DHCP requests, to become overloaded.

"This can lead to odd effects," the source told Ars. "For example, you could be in an area with perfect 5-bar reception, but because the signalling channel is overloaded your phone won't ring and calls go into voicemail." Our source also said that the iPhone was the first phone to cause this particular problem, but that Android and webOS phones have had a similar effect.

Originally Posted by anantksundaram

Superb observations. Google should pay attention to this.

Originally Posted by melgross

Thanks.

Originally Posted by extremeskater

There wasn't anything bad said about Apple. Being an early adopter had to do with the consumer. Also if you read my posts I stated several times my opinion was based on any technology including early adopters of the Nexus One.

Its kind of interesting how so many here have selective reading skills.

Originally Posted by Esoom

I'm aware of TMobile's serious shortcomings, I use them because they're the lowest cost carrier I've come across yet, as soon as I get a decent smartphone that works with a lower cost carrier I'm there...

Ran across this jewel a while ago, surprised it didn't get legs, but look at the update:

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/20...-is-bunkum.ars

Originally Posted by brucep

come to 47 street and visit
starbucks on me

Originally Posted by melgross

There's an interesting article that gives an opinion about Android that I find sums up Google's problems with it. Of course, Android supporters came out in droves to flame him (it's by no means just Apple supporters who do that).

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2010/...onal-thoughts/

Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum

Thousands of flames!

Originally Posted by Quadra 610

Of course. Envy and frustration can be a hard road. It was a pretty fair review, though.

Originally Posted by addabox

The quality of the vitriol is starting to paint a very unflattering portrait of the Android fanboy: an adolescent boy of whatever age.

Who are adolescent boys afraid of? Women, gays, being perceived as gay, and people with any kind of wit and style who they regard as "posers" and gay.

What do the Nexus One defenders resort to? Declaring that iPhone users are gay, women, posers, gay, pretentious, insufficiently tech savvy, and gay.

Originally Posted by Quadra 610

Google *has* been encouraging the whole "gay" slant, haven't they?

It's an interesting tactic. Which will ultimately achieve nothing.

Originally Posted by addabox

I don't know if it's Google encouraging it, or if it's just an inevitable outgrowth of their sort of Asperger-y, engineering-centric take on the world. Like "What is this "style" you speak of? Are you a homosexual of some sort?"

Originally Posted by addabox

I don't know if it's Google encouraging it, or if it's just an inevitable outgrowth of their sort of Asperger-y, engineering-centric take on the world. Like "What is this "style" you speak of? Are you a homosexual of some sort?"

Originally Posted by addabox

The quality of the vitriol is starting to paint a very unflattering portrait of the Android fanboy: an adolescent boy of whatever age.

Who are adolescent boys afraid of? Women, gays, being perceived as gay, and people with any kind of wit and style who they regard as "posers" and gay.

What do the Nexus One defenders resort to? Declaring that iPhone users are gay, women, posers, gay, pretentious, insufficiently tech savvy, and gay.

Originally Posted by chano

@extremeskater
I've read your posts over some weeks now and I'm worried about you kid. You really mustn't skip taking the tablets.
Clearly your mum was an early adopter too and clearly she has paid the price for that but (hey!) she stuck with you nevertheless even though there was no compensatory rebate. Kudos to her.
Fool of a fool.
But wait. I am the embodiment of kindness, after all, so here is a beginner's lesson....just for little old you. Learn it well my bozo.
Now repeat slowly after me........

Early adopters are the ones who take the risks and breathe life into innovation.
Without innovation, there is no progress.
Therefore early adopters are the champions, the sponsors, of all progress.
In brief therefore: No early adopters= No, or very slow, progress.

Write it down. Put the paper in your mouth. Chew slowly. Swallow. Digest it well.
Now go stand facing the corner and do ten reps of this axiom by yourself.
Repeat daily for a month.

Anyone with a brain knows that if you want valuable, innovative products, you go where you can find that and you buy, buy, buy. NO hesitation baby! There is risk in everything, just as in your case my little bozo, and early adopters know that. That's why you survived the slops bucket to vent your bitter loser spleen so often here. The point is, unlike you, most thinking people take the risk knowing that, with the right company, they will never be intentionally short-changed. If their purchase is slightly flawed in its first iteration, they will be listened to and a correction will be made. Any company is free to revise its specs or prices without prior notice. I guess that bothers you because you can't stand that. It makes you feel so powerless and weak, boo hoo, mommeee. But guess what? It's true in your case. You ARE powerless and impotently weak. That is the only thing that comes through so strong and clear in your posts. The ONLY thing mind you. I guess you never realised that. The problem isn't WHAT you say my little bozo, but WHY you say what you do.
But it doesn't have to be that way you know. You see, Steve Jobs knows a bozo when he sees one and he is a good man and so the folks at Apple love you too and made sure there's an app for your condition. Errr WTF is it called now? Hmmm. Oh yeah, it's called 'Get a life sucker.' I think it's free for people like you, with TIBS..... That's Terminal Impotence Bitterness Syndrome but hey, why am I telling you that? You knew that already. Eeesh!
I can think of no other company which, having decided to lower its prices so significantly, so soon after a new product release, also gives enough of a damn to lessen any feeling of buyer's remorse among its customers by swiftly offering a gift in recompense. No one asked for or even expected that, my little bozo. There was no commercial reason to do it either. What would have been better IYO my little bozo? Perhaps you would have liked them to go on charging the old, higher, price for as long as they thought they could get away with it? I mean, who (outside Apple) knew it was over-priced? No one. So you got the wrong company dummy. That is why you are my little bozo. You're good at getting things bass-ackwards. You see, your loser friends at MS and GOOG would have cheerfully done that to you and just laughed at their shit on your face and moved on without a thought for your feelings. Hilarious really and you would deserve that. Hilarious really and you would enjoy that too. Hilarious. Just like your TIBS values and principles.
Now do what you do best. Go away and play with yourself whydontcha? You know it's the only thing that makes you feel better nowadays.
Fool of a fool. Really.
It's a kindness I am doing to you, telling you that. I'm giving you pearls here kid. Because there is a cure at the App Store. But you have to take that first step es. On your ownsome es. No one can do that but you my little bozo. I know you find it scary but you gotta try to fix that screwed up UI of yours.
You'll feel better. Promise.
You can dump the tablets afterwards. Promise.
You'll even smile sometimes. Promise.
So do it. You never know. You could even grow some of your own and become........a contender.
Oh boy. Imagine that.

As you can see, I have spent some time trying to help you. But only you can go to the App Store and start to feel better.

ChandraC

Originally Posted by extremeskater

I'm sorry its just really hard to take you seriously with comments like this.

"which in this case is my beloved Apple"


My beloved Apple? And I thought Quadra was bad.

Originally Posted by extremeskater

I'm not trolling at all. The Nexus One situation is another perfect example how early adopters lose. When you feel the need to be the first on your block to have the new technology be prepared to take it hard and deep.

Originally Posted by IHateRegistering

Will this also be true to some extent with the Apple Tablet? Of course it will, but there are still thousands of users on this board willing to shell out for Version 1.0.

Originally Posted by melgross

We kind of have that with the Droid Ads. It's trying to paint the iPhone as a "women's" phone. I mean, the Droid is all so masculine, isn't it? so square, so black, so chunky. Spaceships, meteoroids and all, slamming into the ground streaming fire...