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If you've never had buyer's remorse, lucky you. Really though, if you don't understand the concept, it's when you spend money on something and then regret spending said money. You'd rather have the money that whatever piece of shit you bought and then were disappointed by.
In the past week alone I've experienced this twice. I am, unfortunately, prone to impulsively buying something I think is cool without really thinking it through. I'm even more prone to this at late hours of the night when I'm not so likely to think before I buy something.
The first of the two items I experienced buyer's remorse with is my Leopold Tenkeyless Tactile Touch Otaku. If you don't know what this is, it's a mechanical keyboard without the numpad and associated keys. On top of that, it has Cherry MX Brown mechanical switches. If that wasn't enough, none of the keys are printed. The keys are entirely blank.
I bought this not because I needed a new one, or because I wanted a mechanical keyboard, but mostly because I could and I had a credit card. I had thought plenty of times that a tenkeyless would be nice, and since my current keyboard has Cherry MX Blue switches, I thought trying Brown switches would be a nice experience, too.
Unfortunately, I don't like the tenkeyless as much as I thought I would. I'm missing the numpad that's so crucial for using alt codes to send hearts to friends, and, ironically, entering my credit card number to various websites so I can impulsively buy things I neither want nor need at ridiculous times of the night.
I looked at the return policy, and I can't return it because they only accept returns for an exchange if the item you receive does not work. Mine works just fine. And I don't want another one.
The second item is my Samsung Chromebook. If you don't know what a Chromebook is, think of a laptop that can only run Google Chrome and is dedicated entirely to that one program. That's what it is. It's a big Android. It's not that there's something wrong with it. It does exactly what it's supposed to do. As promised, it boots and wakes from sleep in under 10 seconds. It syncs with my Chrome settings so that my interface is exactly as I remember. Seeing as I use Google for everything anyways, a Chromebook seems like a fantastic choice, right? Right. I think. I'm just now excited as I thought I would be.
My Leopold is now back in its box in the corner of my room along with the nice carrying case I bought for it. I have no idea what I'll do with it. All I know is that I'm not as much of a fan of Brown switches as I am of Blue switches, so I know now to stick with Blue ones.
Ironically, I'm now on my Chromebook looking at netbooks on Amazon that cost less than what I spent on this Chromebook. The biggest thing that irks me is that since you can't install programs on a Chromebook, I can't install things like Oovoo and Skype the way I could on a netbook or laptop.
For the record, I'm not saying either of these two products in bad. In actuality, both products are really nice from an objective point of view. I'm just saying that both of these purchases were not made for the best of reasons, and as a result, I'm not as excited about them as I wish I would've been.
Be careful with your money, especially when making larger purchases. Do your research and don't rush into things.
 
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The geekhack.org forum has a subforum where you can post keyboard stuff you want to sell. If you explain that your keyboard is basically new and not used except for one day of your disgusting skin touching it and infecting it with bacteria, you will probably get a good price for it.
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hmm is it possible to install Windows or Linux on a Chromebook? (via USB)
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Have you tried working on this? Seems like you'll regret a lot of decisions in the future if you keep doing this, not to mention getting into debt.
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On June 29 2011 17:03 Ropid wrote:
The geekhack.org forum has a subforum where you can post keyboard stuff you want to sell. If you explain that your keyboard is basically new and not used except for one day of your disgusting skin touching it and infecting it with bacteria, you will probably get a good price for it.
Thanks for the tip!
On June 29 2011 17:12 blabber wrote:
hmm is it possible to install Windows or Linux on a Chromebook? (via USB)
I'm not sure, although if I can that would be awesome since the only limiting factor of a Chromebook (which I knew before I bought it, to be honest) is that it's not supposed to run other programs.
On June 29 2011 17:24 ieatkids5 wrote:
Have you tried working on this? Seems like you'll regret a lot of decisions in the future if you keep doing this, not to mention getting into debt.
Ah, I forgot to mention that this is actually rather atypical of me. I usually take an abnormally long time to research things before I buy to the point where I'm made fun of by certain friends.
Part of why I posted this blog is because I felt the need to vent because I'm mildly frustrated with myself. Normally if I'm going to spend more than $100 on something, I read reviews, I watch review videos on YouTube, I ask people I know who might have experience with the product, and so on.
With both the Chromebook and the keyboard, I just bought them.
But yes, it's something I'm normally pretty good about. If anything I think of myself as picky when it comes to spending significant amounts of money, but every once in a while (or apparently twice this past week) I'll buy something without doing research.
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haha if i had nickel for everytime i had buyers remorse, i would be, well still poor. but seriously, funny read, well not to be an ass, but you know what i mean. As for that keyboard, it sounds badass actually, non printed keys with browns, sounds preety cool. lol as for the chrome book, well, i dont see the point, sorry you have that credit card, maybe stick to the tenkeyless, so you don't spend as much money lol. gl sir
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South Africa4316 Posts
Just to point out, Chromebook isn't a giant Android. Android is google's other, unrelated OS.
Regarding the Skype/apps thing, I know the chrome webapps store isn't that good yet, but can't you use something like this for what you want. Also, doesn't Skype have a webpage through which you can use it. I know you can run things like MSN and Gtalk through a specific webpage.
With that said, I've always assumed chromebooks are more intended for enterprise users. The primary saving is that tech support is never needed (which, if you work for a company, you know is a major thing). However, if you are knowledgeable enough to know what a chromebook is, you are also probably knowledgeable enough to do 99% of tech support on your own :p
EDIT: Just to add, the Chrome Webapp store has a desktop version of Angry Birds! That should make all buyer's remorse disappear!
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I don't really know if this is inappropiate, but I'm still looking for both a netbook/chromebook AND a cherry brown mech keyboard  If you feel like you'd want to sell them onto a fellow TLer, PM me plox.
I never regret buying stuff, I sometimes hate myself for NOT buying stuff. (Being hungry and refusing to spend 13 euro's on a sandwich in Rome, and not enjoying the remainer of the day for it)
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I hated when this happened to me back in middle school, I would buy the stupidest games because they "looked cool," play them for an hour, and never play them again. Now I heavily look into anything that I'm going to purchase, be it a mouse or an apartment.
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To make you feel better, I just ordered a Viewsonic gTablet. YEAHHHHHHHHH.
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Not having any money is the ultimate cure to buyer's remorse.
When I was a child with a couple of bucks to spend I had that feeling after any "major" purchase.
Like when I got item X from Lego, I felt instant remorse.
Now I barely buy anything I don't need, do I haven't had the feeling in a while.
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man, i bought all kinds of stupid shit last year! in august 2009, i bought a stupid EEE netbook that i never ended up using. fail. i don't even know why i bought it, considering my main computer is already a super tiny lenovo X61 laptop (i don't own a desktop). let's trade ! it wouldve been so much smarter for me to use that money to buy a desktop that could actually RUN games such as SC2 (which i've owned since like august 2010 and is just sitting untouched in its box since my laptop can't run it). im such a failureee~
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On June 29 2011 18:21 Daigomi wrote:Just to point out, Chromebook isn't a giant Android. Android is google's other, unrelated OS. Regarding the Skype/apps thing, I know the chrome webapps store isn't that good yet, but can't you use something like this for what you want. Also, doesn't Skype have a webpage through which you can use it. I know you can run things like MSN and Gtalk through a specific webpage. With that said, I've always assumed chromebooks are more intended for enterprise users. The primary saving is that tech support is never needed (which, if you work for a company, you know is a major thing). However, if you are knowledgeable enough to know what a chromebook is, you are also probably knowledgeable enough to do 99% of tech support on your own :p EDIT: Just to add, the Chrome Webapp store has a desktop version of Angry Birds! That should make all buyer's remorse disappear!
300 dollars for Angry Birds is not exactly cheap.
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South Africa4316 Posts
On June 29 2011 19:16 Sufficiency wrote:Show nested quote +On June 29 2011 18:21 Daigomi wrote:Just to point out, Chromebook isn't a giant Android. Android is google's other, unrelated OS. Regarding the Skype/apps thing, I know the chrome webapps store isn't that good yet, but can't you use something like this for what you want. Also, doesn't Skype have a webpage through which you can use it. I know you can run things like MSN and Gtalk through a specific webpage. With that said, I've always assumed chromebooks are more intended for enterprise users. The primary saving is that tech support is never needed (which, if you work for a company, you know is a major thing). However, if you are knowledgeable enough to know what a chromebook is, you are also probably knowledgeable enough to do 99% of tech support on your own :p EDIT: Just to add, the Chrome Webapp store has a desktop version of Angry Birds! That should make all buyer's remorse disappear! 300 dollars for Angry Birds is not exactly cheap.
Yes, but playing Angry Birds can make you forget about the $300!
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Damn, I don't know you regret buying them. I would be very interested in taking that chromebook off your hands if we can work something out, freight to Australia might be too much though.
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Sounds sucky.. I very rarely experience this, especially on high-priced items. I tend to do a lot of research before I buy things, as I'm always seeking out what is the very best, and I'm also a cheap bastard.
edit: And as a side note, I totally don't really 'get' these newer-aged gadgets that cost as much as a laptop and do far less. Can someone help me grasp the appeal of things like Chromebooks, Ipads, E-PC's, and the like? Why would anyone want something as expensive as a laptop with a tenth of the functionality? Is it really simply a portability thing? I guess I just personally have no qualms about carrying a laptop around with me.
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South Africa4316 Posts
On June 29 2011 20:00 Mikilatov wrote:
Sounds sucky.. I very rarely experience this, especially on high-priced items. I tend to do a lot of research before I buy things, as I'm always seeking out what is the very best, and I'm also a cheap bastard.
edit: And as a side note, I totally don't really 'get' these newer-aged gadgets that cost as much as a laptop and do far less. Can someone help me grasp the appeal of things like Chromebooks, Ipads, E-PC's, and the like? Why would anyone want something as expensive as a laptop with a tenth of the functionality? Is it really simply a portability thing? I guess I just have no qualms about carrying a laptop around with me.
All these newer products make some sort of trade-off. For one, they all have exceptional battery life, and are all much more portable. Netbooks can have a battery life of 6-9 hours, while the iPad's life is around 9-12 hours of use. That's amazing if you travel a lot. I recently went on holiday to the Drakensberge here in SA, which is about a 6 hour car trip. I spent the six hours on the way there working on my dissertation using a netbook, and the six hours on the way back watching Psych. Netbooks also generally don't cost as much as a laptop. The netbook I was using (Eee PC 1008ha I think), costs about 250 USD . The laptops you get for that price don't do that much more than the netbooks, but they are much less portable and has a way worse battery life (2-3 hours, maybe).
My girlfriend uses a 12" netbook for her primary computer. It cost around 350 USD, fits inside her purse, has a 5-6 hour battery life, and can run Dragon Age on minimum settings. For her, who doesn't really play games, that's an awsome trade-off. It can do everything she wants it do (watch shows, do work, play games occasionally) and she carries it around the house permanently without worrying about the battery or cables. She had a full size laptop before the netbook, and she greatly prefers the netbook.
With regards to an iPad, I would love one for lying on bed watching shows or reading books. It's obviously not that great for productivity, but for an all-purpose holiday entertainment centre I think it's awesome. It's way too expensive though, especially in SA where it goes for like 700-1000 USD.
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E book readers is where trade-offs really comes to mind. It has an e-ink screen and low power consumption (30h+ of usage). Everything else it does worse than a general device. Still worth the price for me. ^^
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I've only experienced this once and thankfully for only a brief period of time, normally I research the hell out of everything I want to buy, computer-related or electronics in general.
But there was this moment, I was on a trip to France and I went into this huge gaming shop and I figured since I had some euros left and it was my last day, I might as well buy something for myself. I decided to search for a new gaming mouse since in my country at that time, gaming gear was ridiculously overpriced (still is a bit). And I end up buying a Razer Imperator on the simple and idiotic logic "it's Razer, it's expensive... must be good"... right? Weeeeeell... no. For months I've been plagued by the fact that it randomly freezes and I had to run to the back of the comp. to quickly unplug and plug it. Obviously I was pretty angry as most multiplayer games involved a lot of finger-crossing and praying that it doesn't stop responding in the middle of the game... But eventually I randomly found out on a forum that uninstalling the software for it solves this problem... So that fixed it and I'm now more than pleased with it... But I'll never again buy something on an impulse... it's a pretty bad feeling.
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yeah buyers remorse really sucks, I've only experienced it twice and both times it wasnt really that expensive stuff but it still really sucked. On the bright side you can probably sell off that keyboard on geekhack or ebay and shouldnt really have to cut down on price too much since it's basically unused.
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EPT
