Christmas Gift Follies - Page 2

melidasaur · 12-27-2006, 11:47 AM

[quote=glatt]

I'm afraid to load the software to run the thing. The internet doesn't have much to say about this camera, but what it does say is all negative, including crippling computers that load the included software. There's a slip of paper with the documentation that says in big bold letters that if we have trouble with the camera, "Do not return it to the store where it was purchased." Instead, we should call a non-toll free number for technical assistance. [quote=glatt]

Take it back to the store where it was purchased - I think that those messages are a big scam.

I didn't get much this year, which is fine. My mom did me buy a pair of pajamas and apparently my mom believes that I weigh 600lbs because the pants were huge.

glatt · 12-27-2006, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigV

what do your docs say?

They say you need to load the software to get it to work, but I don't plan to load any software on my PC unless I have assurances that software won't break my PC.

When I connect it via USB to PC without loading anything, the PC doesn't see it, but the camera will get charged. To be honest, I haven't read the documentation that closely. The camera has three controls: A shutter button, a mode button, and a switch on the side that switches from "camera" to "charger". Switching it to "charger" also drops the LCD counter back down to zero, so it appears to delete pictures when you do that. Pictures are also deleted when the batteries die. The batteries are non-removable, as is the memory.

Question: are drivers generally safe? If I can load just a driver, and no other bloated crappy software, what's the likelihood that a driver will screw up things on my PC?

glatt · 12-27-2006, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melidasaur

Take it back to the store where it was purchased - I think that those messages are a big scam.

I agree. I think the business plan of this company is to sell a large number of cheap products. If they are cheap enough, people won't bother to return them when they don't work.

Sundae · 12-27-2006, 01:08 PM

I got a £10 supermarket voucher from my sister (approx $20) which is only valid at one supermarket in town, about a mile walk from my flat.

Not going to bitch & moan too much, but am a little hurt at the lack of care and attention spent on me. She is the only member of the family I don't have a "no present" pact with, because I buy for her two children every year. Now I buy for them for my own pleasure I admit. And I pick things up in the months coming up to Christmas, so I often end up spending far more than I intended, simply because cool things appear when I have money in my purse. This year I think I bought about £80 worth between the two of them, and about 15 little gifts in total.

I dunno, it just hurts that she thinks so little of me that she will spend no time and very little money to get me a gift, when I spend so much (time and effort at least) trying to make sure her children love what I get them.

Perhaps next year I will tell her I don't want anything - just so I can imagine she would have bought me my heart's desire if only I'd let her.

BigV · 12-27-2006, 01:19 PM

No, you can't say "generally drivers are safe". A given driver may be safe, and the odds that a bad driver can be removed are pretty good. But I'm in the business of making sure I have a belt *and* suspenders to prevent unwelcome drafts. You'd benefit too from a backup before you took the plunge.

From your description, I imagine our cameras are sufficiently different that my instructions and software and experiences won't map precisely to your situation. Oh well.

If you're really tweaked about it, just give it away and get a "real" camera. I tried the toy camera with this one for starters for our youngest, and it's really just a toy. I think a genuine camera can be had for .. what... $60 maybe? They're embarassingly cheap these days.

glatt · 12-27-2006, 01:41 PM

Thanks, BigV. I don't really care about the camera. I'm not going to load any software from the CD. I'm fine that it's a now just a paperweight. But I was amused by the comments that turned up when I found a thread for trouble shooting this particular camera. Various descriptions of the camera include: "one of these el-cheepo's,"
"it leaves a lot to be desired,"
"stupid camera,"
"THIS IS REAL BULLSHIT,"
"I HATE THIS!!!!,"
"that piece of shiznit,"
"THE STUPID THING,"
"its frustrating to use,"
"hard to use,"
"an OBVIOUS beta product,"
"this PIECE OF CHEAP MIERDA sucks,"
"What a waste of $20,"
"stupid program,"
"drivers dont work,"

Flint · 12-27-2006, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

I'm fine that it's a now just a paperweight.

Just toss it into the box of dismantled VCR components!

yesman065 · 12-27-2006, 01:48 PM

Sorry to hear that SG - I have 2 brothers one who I talk to all the time (weekly) and the other who doesn't even call me on my birthday even though I do his. I know the feeling very well. Go with the no present pact and still buy for the girls. You just know those kids will remember you and all that you've done for them out of love not need - thats the difference that your sis is missing.

Clodfobble · 12-27-2006, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

We spirited away some of the things, but he doesn't miss a trick and an hour later it was "Where is...?"

That's when I say, "I don't know honey--it's your toy, you have to learn to keep track of it..."

I know, I'm a bad person. But in my defense, I only get rid of the really awful things, and the majority of the time they don't notice they've gone missing.

yesman065 · 12-27-2006, 09:14 PM

My kids had so many toys when they were young that I used to hide 1/2 of them so I didn't have to clean ALL of them up. 3-4 months later I'd swap a few and the got so excited it was like they were new again. I didn't have a lot of money so it worked out really well till they got a little older & figured it out.

Sundae · 12-28-2006, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yesman065

You just know those kids will remember you and all that you've done for them out of love not need - thats the difference that your sis is missing.

Thank you. I'm trying to work through my difficult relationship with my sister - I think in the end it will come down to trying not to care that she doesn't love me.

But I do love the children, and I will continue to focus on that.

xoxoxoBruce · 12-28-2006, 11:19 AM

I wouldn't use Christmas gifts to judge whether she loves you or not.

You admit you go overboard on her kids and will certainly have their gratitude. But your sister is the one that is tripping over all that treasure and may feel you're spoiling them. She may also be distracted with the hectic Christmas season, as many parents are.
It would probably be better to base your appraisal of your relationship with your sister on the other eleven months.

Sundae · 12-28-2006, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

It would probably be better to base your appraisal of your relationship with your sister on the other eleven months.

Yup. She hates me.

xoxoxoBruce · 12-28-2006, 06:40 PM

OK, then you're trying to get her kids to like you better than they like her by bribing them with half your disposable income.

jinx · 12-28-2006, 06:59 PM

Santa brought my kids DDR (Dance Dance Revolution). I can kick my daughter's ass at it, but the boy is serious competition. I gotta practice again tonight when he's asleep....

12-27-2006, 11:47 AM	#16
melidasaur Traded your soul for pogs. Join Date: May 2004 Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 646	[quote=glatt] I'm afraid to load the software to run the thing. The internet doesn't have much to say about this camera, but what it does say is all negative, including crippling computers that load the included software. There's a slip of paper with the documentation that says in big bold letters that if we have trouble with the camera, "Do not return it to the store where it was purchased." Instead, we should call a non-toll free number for technical assistance. [quote=glatt] Take it back to the store where it was purchased - I think that those messages are a big scam. I didn't get much this year, which is fine. My mom did me buy a pair of pajamas and apparently my mom believes that I weigh 600lbs because the pants were huge. __________________ I love England, what can I say?

12-27-2006, 01:08 PM	#19
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I got a £10 supermarket voucher from my sister (approx $20) which is only valid at one supermarket in town, about a mile walk from my flat. Not going to bitch & moan too much, but am a little hurt at the lack of care and attention spent on me. She is the only member of the family I don't have a "no present" pact with, because I buy for her two children every year. Now I buy for them for my own pleasure I admit. And I pick things up in the months coming up to Christmas, so I often end up spending far more than I intended, simply because cool things appear when I have money in my purse. This year I think I bought about £80 worth between the two of them, and about 15 little gifts in total. I dunno, it just hurts that she thinks so little of me that she will spend no time and very little money to get me a gift, when I spend so much (time and effort at least) trying to make sure her children love what I get them. Perhaps next year I will tell her I don't want anything - just so I can imagine she would have bought me my heart's desire if only I'd let her. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

12-27-2006, 01:19 PM	#20
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	No, you can't say "generally drivers are safe". A given driver may be safe, and the odds that a bad driver can be removed are pretty good. But I'm in the business of making sure I have a belt and suspenders to prevent unwelcome drafts. You'd benefit too from a backup before you took the plunge. From your description, I imagine our cameras are sufficiently different that my instructions and software and experiences won't map precisely to your situation. Oh well. If you're really tweaked about it, just give it away and get a "real" camera. I tried the toy camera with this one for starters for our youngest, and it's really just a toy. I think a genuine camera can be had for .. what... $60 maybe? They're embarassingly cheap these days. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

12-28-2006, 11:19 AM	#27
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	I wouldn't use Christmas gifts to judge whether she loves you or not. You admit you go overboard on her kids and will certainly have their gratitude. But your sister is the one that is tripping over all that treasure and may feel you're spoiling them. She may also be distracted with the hectic Christmas season, as many parents are. It would probably be better to base your appraisal of your relationship with your sister on the other eleven months. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

12-28-2006, 06:40 PM	#29
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	OK, then you're trying to get her kids to like you better than they like her by bribing them with half your disposable income. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

12-27-2006, 01:41 PM	#21
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Thanks, BigV. I don't really care about the camera. I'm not going to load any software from the CD. I'm fine that it's a now just a paperweight. But I was amused by the comments that turned up when I found a thread for trouble shooting this particular camera. Various descriptions of the camera include: "one of these el-cheepo's," "it leaves a lot to be desired," "stupid camera," "THIS IS REAL BULLSHIT," "I HATE THIS!!!!," "that piece of shiznit," "THE STUPID THING," "its frustrating to use," "hard to use," "an OBVIOUS beta product," "this PIECE OF CHEAP MIERDA sucks," "What a waste of $20," "stupid program," "drivers dont work,"

12-27-2006, 01:48 PM	#23
yesman065 Banned - Self Imposed Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,847	Sorry to hear that SG - I have 2 brothers one who I talk to all the time (weekly) and the other who doesn't even call me on my birthday even though I do his. I know the feeling very well. Go with the no present pact and still buy for the girls. You just know those kids will remember you and all that you've done for them out of love not need - thats the difference that your sis is missing.

12-27-2006, 09:14 PM	#25
yesman065 Banned - Self Imposed Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,847	My kids had so many toys when they were young that I used to hide 1/2 of them so I didn't have to clean ALL of them up. 3-4 months later I'd swap a few and the got so excited it was like they were new again. I didn't have a lot of money so it worked out really well till they got a little older & figured it out.

12-28-2006, 06:59 PM	#30
jinx Come on, cat. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: general vicinity of Philadelphia area Posts: 7,013	Santa brought my kids DDR (Dance Dance Revolution). I can kick my daughter's ass at it, but the boy is serious competition. I gotta practice again tonight when he's asleep.... __________________ Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good.

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