I’ve been suffering a bit here with my new iMac. Everything is perfect, except I’m lacking an adequate feed reader / aggregator. I’m currently using an aggregator called Vienna, a RSS reader for Mac OS X, but it does not compare to FeedReader (the PC reader I’ve been using).

Vienna lacks the ability to easily recognize new feeds if you enter a website’s URL (not the feed’s). Every other good aggregator I’ve used has this functionality. There are a few other annoyances (inability to easily remove read articles quickly), but I haven’t found a suitable replacement.

BTW – I know everyone is raving about the web based reader from Google, but I prefer a stand-alone application on my desktop.

Anyone know of a good reader?

We’ve all heard about my lemon from Apple Computer. The very day I got my replacement computer I set my iPod down on top of my digital camera while sync-ing with my new machine, and destroyed it!

You heard me correctly!

The iPod (30GB Video) was fried by a digital camera. Actually, the camera was in a small leather case with a tiny magnet used to close the case. I guess this TINY magnet crushed the crap hard drive located within my shiny iPod.

While I’ve loved my iPod since I got it for my birthday this year, I have to say that if a POS magnet can fry the thing, then it is a real POS itself!

Back to the Apple Store . . .

Once again, I found myself at the Apple store — I think they know my name now — and they replaced my iPod on the spot! I do have to say that the customer service at Apple is tops!

Now that I can’t live without the crack-like devices from this company, maybe it is time to start looking at some shares of the stock . . . hmmm?

The iMac saga was resolved without a problem. I guess I know why everyone raves about Apple. I brought my brand new broken iMac to the local Apple store yesterday and was amazed at the service I got.

After the tech guy tried to turn on my machine and saw the problem, he told me he’d go get me a new one! He even asked if I wanted the model with the wireless mouse and keyboard for free for my trouble as a new Mac user. ARE YOU KIDDING???

He was going to give me $60 in hardware for my trouble! I choose not to get the wireless (I hate changing batteries), but within 25 minutes I was walking out the door with a brand new computer.

I guess someone just accidentally handed me a lemon instead of the apple I had paid for!

After one day with a Mac, I have to say I don’t why I ever used a PC!

For years I’ve been contemplating switching over to a Mac. I know that they are more secure and have less vulnerabilities to bugs and viruses, but it is hard if you’re a hard-core PC user. I finally took the plunge this week and bought a shiny new 20″ 2.16GHz Intel Core 2 Duo iMac!

What a surprise it was when I turned it on for the first time. It was beautiful . . . but, 5 minutes later the machine CRASHED! I was running the software updates and the thing just shut down. I was pretty annoyed, but decided to give the thing another try. I tried to turn the machine on, but nothing. To get my iMac running, I had to unplug it, wait 30 seconds, and then restart it. GLORY! It worked!

I was back on the road to happiness. I started to install some programs and personalize my computer. Everything was great . . . until I woke up this morning! I brought my Mac home last night, and this morning it is a pretty paper weight! The computer will not turn on. I tried everything. I’ve read forums and Apple’s support site. There was no help for someone with a 20″ iMac running OSX whose computer won’t start.

I got on the phone and called Apple Support, and we attempted to resolve the problem. There was no (as Borat says) SUCCESS! I was given a case number and told to bring it back to the store, or wait for a new machine to come in the mail. I went with the first option and got on the phone with the store I bought it from. I had to make an appointment to meet their tech guys this afternoon, where they would tell me if my computer can be replaced.

I JUST SWITCHED FROM PC TO MAC AND THIS IS WHAT I GET?????

I have to say I’m pretty pissed off! I did not get what the commercials promise – easy to set up and problem free computing. I’ve owned many PCs over the years, and I’ve also set up close to 100 PCs in my various jobs, but have never had a computer fail immediately after purchase.

I’m still looking forward to my (hopefully) new iMac, but I have to say that this experience has not been a good one. I’ll let you know what happens when I bring this puppy in to get replaced.