If you are into instant messaging, check out a messaging client called Pidgin. It is cross platform and like other messaging clients it makes chatting with friends on multiple chat networks(AIM, Yahoo, Google, and many others) hassle-free by conveniently organizing them in one buddy list. Additionally, there are plugins that allow you to chat with Facebook friends and recieve/send twitter updates.
Like Staind, It’s Been a While. 11 months out and this past weekend I put another country on the list by visiting Auckland, New Zealand. Monday I met with an Immigration Officer to review my documentation and verify that I had all of the required items to lodge an application. The meeting was very positive and the Immigration Officer told me that I might have a decision letter within a couple of weeks. After that, I would send my passport to New Zealand to have a permanent resident visa placed inside. 2That was good news. Unfortunately, when I got back to Australia I received an e-mail from the Immigration Officer saying that a decision would probably now take 6-8 weeks because I do not have a job lined up in New Zealand. No worries. Things will work out. It just might not be the prettiest transition because my current Australian Visa expires on August 14, 2009. If need be, I will try to get a Working Holiday Visa in New Zealand as a tie-over.
Andrew and Tracy left a couple of weeks ago and now a friend from college, Mark, is now here. Parents coming in on Monday at 7 AM. Things are going to get a little crazy.
Recently, I have been taking the train to work. While I am a huge fan of public transport, I now have a desk job and don’t get as much activity in during the day. Lately, this has been doing my head in. This week I am planning on transitioning to riding to work. I am looking forward to having the mental state that getting a good ride in before work gives.
Things at work are going well. This past week I have been providing some support to clients, writing up and reviewing reports for clients, and setting up a virtual lab of the major products.
Thanks to the wonderful people at NetQoS (who look out for me even though I jumped ship), I now have a job playing with NetQoS products in Australia. I started with Global Asset Systems on the 20th of May. Since then, I have helped provide support both virtually and in person, write up data reviews, provide input on product configurations to troubleshoot performance issues, and prepare product presentations for clients. It has been a substantial change from the lifestyle of the last 10 months. The contrast between both lifestyles has provided a great perspective of what both have to offer. I am also in a different role than what I was previously in. I enjoy the increased client interaction in the new role and the challenges that come when working in an environment in which the product is out in the wild and not in a lab. I also like the excitement that comes with being involved in the sales process.
New Zealand residence is coming closer. I have now collected all the documents to send in a complete application. I was given a pleasant surprise by New Zealand immigration yesterday. I was invited to come to New Zealand and meet with an Immigration Officer to have my application fast tracked. I’ll be flying to Auckland next weekend and meeting with the Officer on Monday the 8th of June. It will be my first time to set foot in New Zealand. Beautiful.
On another note, I have updated the Travel Log. It crashed again and I transferred the recovered data to Google Docs. It is easier me for update the Travel Log in Google Docs and the page loads faster now. The spacing has gone crazy, but it makes the log easier to read.
It all began with the desire to experience the Nokia 5800. After months of reading about the 5800 online, I decided I should save some time and purchase one. I looked at Brick and Mortar shops, Australian online stores, Amazon.com and eBay. After about a week of contemplating over the appropriate channel to purchase the phone, the decision to purchase the Nokia 5800 on eBay was the result. I reviewed the sellers and decided upon 7272wil. Image purchase below
Bank Deposit from my bank to 7272wil:
Despite selling Hong Kong phones and the difficulties with warranties surrounding HK phones, I felt comfortable ordering from 7272wil because his ad stated the following twice:
Should your product experience problems, you no longer have to send it long way back to overseas with high postage cost and reduce risks item lost during transit but to our local office (not service agent) in Australia.”
Can be seen here:
and here:
The ad also states that the phone would come with a screen protector from Japan and it did not.
After three very exciting and enjoyable weeks of use, I bricked the 5800 while plugging it into a USB port. Prior to this, the phone was getting flaky with recognizing files in Explorer/Nautilus on the SD card when plugged in via USB. COMPLETELY BRICKED. Nothing will make this phone respond. It won’t even power on.
I decided I would e-mail 7272wil to RMA the phone.
NO response. OK. Maybe he didn’t get the first message for some reason. A few days later, I messaged him again:
A couple days went by and my friend suggested that I open up an eBay dispute. So I did. What do you know? Suprise! 7272wil had been ignoring my messages.
7272wil responds to tell me to send my phone to Nokia. This is COMPLETELY different and in conflict with what and how his ad stated returns would be handled. I have tried to contact him twice since his initial response and he has remained quiet.
7272wil: I have a $500 phone purchased from you. You stated in your ad that you would locally assist with the warranty. The ball is in your court.
-darranx18ew
