The power of my electronic computing and communication equipment is more dictated by my service provider than by the technology itself. Imagine traveling in the future and entering a new country:Please have your papers ready. Passport, visa, customs form, medical coverage, service provider roaming agreement.
Don Norman – I Have Seen the Future and I Am Opposed, 14 Feb 2011.
First published on Feb 14, 2011. Last updated on: Feb 21, 2011.
... so we only did a 3 hr ride (Hurricane Rim) and an 8 mile hike up a very high mountain (Zion National Park, Observation Point).
First published on Sep 23, 2010. Last updated on: Sep 23, 2010.
First published on Sep 22, 2010. Last updated on: Sep 22, 2010.
Not much energy to write much. I‘ll let the pictures do the talking.
First published on Sep 21, 2010. Last updated on: Sep 22, 2010.
Today is my last day at Move Networks. I hadn‘t expected to be leaving so soon. I honestly thought that Move was a company that I could put a few years into, grow into and have a significant impact. That all changed recently when the funding ran out, the workforce in the US was decimated and the whole future of the company was suddenly much less certain. After it became apparent to me that the future was becoming no less uncertain as the weeks passed, I decided to entertain an opportunity that had been put my way.
So I decided to move on. I‘ll be leaving one of the most pleasant and progressive work environments I‘ve worked in and a very friendly group of people. It is a somewhat sad day for me.
What is certainly less sad is that, tomorrow, I start my holiday to Utah (coincidentally the home state of Move‘s US operation) for what I hope will be an awesome mountain bike trip with Sacred Rides. I joined Sacred Rides for a similar trip in British Columbia last year. It was a fun, chilled out trip taking in some awesome, world–class trails, guided by expert and knowledgable guides. A really great experience. All indications are that this trip will be at least as good.
When I get back from Utah I start what feels like will be a great new job as a Senior Java Developer at NetDev, in Cwmbran. As exciting as this new job is (and I am very much looking forward to meeting everyone and getting stuck in), I‘m not thinking about that at the moment… Roll on Utah!
First published on Sep 17, 2010. Last updated on: Sep 17, 2010.
First published on Aug 31, 2010. Last updated on: Aug 31, 2010.
The view of Llanberis and Snowdon from Fachwen. March 2010.
First published on Mar 8, 2010. Last updated on: Mar 8, 2010.
“You buy your parts on–line from Wiggle! You should support your local bike shop. Who‘s going to fit it for you eh!? Wiggle can‘t fit it for you can they!? Hmm?”
This was the obnoxious lecture I received from the proprietor of a LBS this morning when I took my mountain bike in to have a new component installed on it. This was after asking me where I bought the component in question and making a disapproving face at me in response to the answer, before then launching into his lecture.
I left the shop happy that the excellent mechanic they have there is going to do a great job, but thoroughly undervalued as a customer.
Organisations that occupy pre–intarwebz niches are struggling and dropping like flies all over the world. Dozens of newspapers across the developed world now no longer exist because people are getting their news from the Web. Even a long–established UK TV channel is now fighting to survive because people are getting their TV programs and films from the Web. Invariably those that do survive will be the ones that embrace the Web or those that change their business to provide products and services that can‘t be delivered via the Web.
The ones that lecture potential customers about how they shouldn‘t get their news, TV programs or films from the Web probably won‘t survive.
The situation is no different for high–street shops such as your average LBS. The LBS in question needs to accept the fact that they can‘t compete with the Web on price. They need to accept that they probably can‘t beat the Web for after–sales service. Probably not enough to make up for the difference in price anyway. They can however provide a service that can‘t be found on the Web. They have something I need. They have expertise and the tools to provide a service that I want to pay for.
They need to embrace the fact that people like me who buy parts on the Web need their expertise and are willing to pay for it. Far from being a missed opportunity, I‘m a customer!
Charge me an extra £5 and hold back on the lecture. I don‘t need to know how much you hate the fact you can‘t compete with the Internet on the price of components. I want something you have and I‘m willing to pay for it.
I'm a customer, you idiot!
First published on Aug 6, 2009. Last updated on: Dec 29, 2009.
I just tried to go “ex–directory” for the new mobile phone number directory service.
They say that they wont give my mobile number to any Tom, Dick or Harry that pays them a £1. And, despite not wanting to perpetuate the intarwebz hysteria about this service, I reckon there‘s probably no smoke without fire.
Is it coincidental that when there is some hysteria about this service that they take down the removal service for “essential maintenance”?
First published on Jul 9, 2009. Last updated on: Jul 9, 2009.
First published on Jun 12, 2009. Last updated on: Jun 12, 2009.
I'm Elwyn Malethan and this is my blog. I am an aspiring software craftsman
with over 10 years of commercial experience. When I'm not doing my day job
as a Java developer I might be hacking SeemoreJ or some Scala, trying
to encourage my chillies to grow or – if the weather is good – mountain biking.
