Hypercubed Blog

I’m in the market for a new PC.  One of the machines I’m considering is the Dell XPS 420.  Dollar for dollar the XPS 630 looks like the better deal but the 420 is still in the running (as is building my own).  While looking at what Best Buy has to offer online I noticed for the first time that they sell Dell machines including a couple of XPSs.  I had no idea that best sold Dells.

The best buy site is offering a XPS 420 for $899.99 (image here in case it gets changed), only 99 cents more than the base model at dell.com.  But wait… that’s not the base model.  The one at bestbuy.com is 2.66 GHz quad core, a $200 upgrade to the base model’s 2.40 quad core.  It has a 500 GB hard drive, a $50 upgrade to the base model’s 320 GB.  It has the ATI RADEON HD 2600 XT upgrade, another $100 addition to the base model.  It also is listed as having a media card reader ($20) and a 56K modem ($20).  All told I priced the equivalent machine on Dell.com for $1,309 (image here).

Sounds like a great deal and with a best buy only a block away I decided to take my son for a walk and see this monster in person.  It looked like a nice machine.  I was impressed with it’s size (big like I like my PCs).  First thing odd I noticed was that there was no media reader.  Ok, then I opened the system properties dialog and noticed the machine was listed at 2.40 GHz… what?  I didn’t look at the other items because I frankly had forgotten.

I then asked a blue shirt for the specs on this machine.  He returned a minute later with a print out from the website.  I told him that the machine is listed as at 2.66 GHz but the display model was only 2.4. GHz.  He brushed it off as a misprint.  I then pointed out the missing media reader.  He then proceeded to look everywhere for the media reader (including inside).  In then end we agreed the website was wrong and that buying it in-store or online will result in the same base setup.

Returning home I see now that two people reviewed this machine online mentioned that they got a 2.4 GHz model.  No mention of the other features.  Surprisingly they all still give good ratings.  I would have been pissed off if I had purchased this machine online and received the base model. 

In condemnation celebration of tax day here in the US of A, I will now fully disclose Hypercubed’s 2007 financial statement.  In 2007 Hypercubed received $72 in 6 semi-anonymous donations via PayPal.  The largest donation was $25 received from [name withheld] in support of Xinha Here development.  These donations were burdened with $4.15 in transaction fees resulting in a net donation income of $67.85 (thank you all).  In addition, Hypercubed blog received $200 from affiliate marketing.  This one-time windfall cash influx is attributed to a single purchase of services from superb hosting by a Hypercubed blog reader that may have accidentally clicked the Superb Hosting affiliate banner then subsequently decided to purchase $1000 worth of services from Superb.  Revenue from all other affiliate marking efforts were either non-existent or below the threshold necessary to received payments.  In total Hypercubed’s total net revenue for 2007 was $267.85.

Hypercubed paid $239.40 in hosting fees to DreamHost, Inc.  These hosting fees were paid in 2007 for services to be rendered through 2009.  Hypercubed paid an additional $39.80 in domain name registration fees.  In total Hypercubed’s expenses in 2007 were $279.20.

So all told my little hobby here has cost me $11.35 in 2007.  Not bad considering how expensive alternative hobbies can be ($2500 for a camera, my god!).  I could probably squeeze a little more out of this by strategic placement of ads and posting more often but, like I’ve said before, this is a hobby not a living.

I was searching around the web looking for a USB cable lanyard (like this) when I discovered this "Neckstrap/Lanyard for USB Flash Drive" at TheNerds.net.  I don’t know.. it seams a little bulky for a lanyard to me… what do you think?

In order to prepare to the impending collapse of the world economy I purchased a couple of these inductive flashlights (click for larger view).

In case you can’t read the image:

THE NEW PRODUCT COME INTO THE MARKET

Environment-protective Torch for 21st century

Features:

1. Only shake it forward and backward while use. So as to make it generating to light up.

2. Its switch system is based on advanced magnetic induction technologies. So it’s long in service life and reliable in performance.

Advantages:

1. A torch is used for emergency lighting purpose. However, the traditional battery-supplied torch may cause you a big trouble because the batteries will become ineffective and produce pollution if the torch is left idle for a long time. The chargeable torch also has the problem of power leakage; or it will help you remember to charge only at the time you need. This innovative torch is the breakthrough in solution to waste and inconvenience.

2. Being self-supplying, it will serve you long and well.

Caution:

1. Never keep it close to household appliances or other articles which need to be shielded from magnetism.

2. We will not take the responsibility for any loss caused by improper use.

I usually don’t post any of the viral videos I find online.  I figure by the time you read my blog you’ve probably already seen it on Digg, reddit, and another two dozen times in your feed reader.  But this one is just too good.  And I haven’t seen anyone track down all the related links.

It all started when I saw the following video on Attack of the Show:

I can’t believable!  So awesome!  The video was supposedly created by kesblo from an actual dell sales call.  The original full length call is here.  I recommend you to listen to the whole thing, because the future is gonna to cost more money.

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/audio/play/10314/

Now checkout Dan’s re-mix.  Go ahead, little girl, little baby girl, little hooker girl.

It is almost danceable.