The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Should baby boomers buy an Apple computer or a PC?

My friends Margaret and Jim are in the market for a new computer.

I’ve been offering advice because I bought an Apple desk top in January of 2008.

The Apple has worked pretty well for me. It has a 24-inch screen. I can get a blog post on the screen and look up articles in the space beside it; both are full size.

I’ve only had a few problems with my iMac. When I started blogging, I couldn’t figure out how to make links underneath highlighted words. I struggled and struggled. Finally, I determined it was the Safari browser. You needed to do special steps in the TypePad blog platform if you use Safari.

My biggest problem was the screen intensity of the iMac. It felt like the screen was "frying" my eyes after several hours of computer work. I went to the Apple store in Tukwila, Wash., for two sessions to get the screen brightness turned down beyond the lowest setting for brightness.

When it came time to buy a laptop to use when I’m traveling, I bought a PC. I didn’t want two computers that gave me eye strain.

Now that I have glasses that darken in bright light, the problem has largely disappeared.

I went with my friends today to the Apple store at University Village in Seattle. The store is much larger than the one in Tukwila. The staff was friendly and helpful – much superior to the customer service I received at Verizon Wireless this weekend. I’ll be blogging about that Saturday.

My friends are probably going to buy the 21 inch desktop iMac.

What about you? Do you love Apple computers or is the PC the one for you? Leave me a comment below and let me know how your computer is working for you. Also, what would you advise my friends to buy?

See the article "Should You Upgrade to the Latest Windows or Mac Operating System?" on the Boomer Technophobia Web site for information on the Mac-PC question.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What do you think of Wired Magazine’s new rules for the digital age?

Wired Magazine has mulled over the complex computer and cell-phone world and come up with 70 new tips for best practices for consumers.

These are among the ideas in its article, “How to Behave: New Rules for Highly Evolved Humans”:

• Don’t Google-stalk before a first date.

• Don’t blog or tweet anything with more than half a million hits.

• Delete unwanted posts from your Facebook wall.

• Meet online friends in the real world.

• Texting in the company of others is O.K.

• Never broadcast your relationship status.

• Don’t lie with your Facebook photo.

• Friend your boss and coworkers on Facebook

• Leave your Wi-Fi open so others can use it.

• There’s no such thing as too many friends.

• You can reinvent yourself online.

• Ignore your ex on Facebook.

• Don’t hesitate to haggle on Craigslist.

• Never unfollow someone just because they unfollowed you.

• Don’t send out a follow-up e-mail apologizing for a typo in a previous e-mail.

• List your high school on Facebook, not in LinkedIn.

• Give credit when repeating tweets and blog posts.

What do you think? Are these suggestions worthwhile? Did Wired miss the mark on some of them?

To leave a comment, click on Comments below and write in the space provided.

For details on each tip, click here.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Do you save money shopping at Costco or another warehouse club?

Last year, I joined Costco because an article in Consumer Reports suggested you might be able to get a good deal on a computer.

This year I joined again because I wanted to see if I could get a low price on eyeglasses.

So now that I have a membership, what should I do with it? I have a small family, so buying huge containers of food isn’t a practical consumer choice.

The Consumer Reports article, “Costco vs. Sam’s Club: New Reasons to Join or Switch” on ConsumerReports.org was helpful.

It said warehouse clubs make their money on memberships and have a lower mark up than other stores. However, you may find better deals at supermarkets on specials because they’re sold at a loss to attract consumers.

Costco and Sam’s Club buy items directly from the manufacturer to get cheaper prices. That means you won’t find wide variety of brands, for example, there may only be one brand of raisin bran cereal.

Although you may find large ticket items such as sofas and appliances, you can’t count on finding them in the store the next time you shop.

These practices can lead consumers to overspend, the article states.

If you control the urge to spend, the article says, club membership can pay off. Here are tips to help you shop at warehouse clubs:

• Make a list and stick to it.

• Know how to identify super-bargains. At Costco, “.97” at the end of a price generally indicates discontinued or slow-moving products. At Sam’s, a “C” at the end of the item number denotes a canceled item.

• Compare the club’s unit prices to those at your supermarket for heavily discounted staples. Supermarkets might be less expensive.

• For big-ticket items, compare the club price to that of other retailers by going to sites such as PriceGrabber.com or BizRate.

• Consider splitting large buys with friends. Otherwise, don’t buy in bulk perishables or medications with a short shelf life – check the expiration dates. You’ll end up tossing a lot away.

• Try unfamiliar products judiciously. You don’t want to get stuck with, say, a gallon of Brand X Vidalia onion salad dressing.

• Pay with cash; it’s a reality check on how much you’re spending.

• Shop on weekdays, preferably when the store opens or in midafternoon. That’s when crowds tend to be lighter.

• Not sure about joining? In many states you can request a day pass at Sam's Club and pay a surcharge, typically 10 percent over what members pay. Costco used to have a similar program, but discontinued it. Now, only members can purchase there.

Here are other articles to help you evaluate warehouse clubs:

“Does Costco Make Your Wallet Look Fat?” – KOMONews.com

“Buying Bargains in Bulk, Without Breaking the Bank” – The Seattle Times

“Five Ways to Whip Inflation When You Shop at a Warehouse Club” – Kiplinger.com

“A Comparison of Sam’s Club and Costco” – Associated Content.com

“Are Warehouse Clubs Like Costco or Sam’s Club Worth It?” – My Money Blog

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide Recall of the Week: HP and Compaq notebook computer batteries

About 70,000 lithium-Ion batteries used in Hewlett-Packard and Compaq notebook computers are being recalled, reports the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The recalled lithium-ion batteries can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.

Imported by Hewlett-Packard Co., of Palo Alto, Calif., the batteries were manufactured in China.

The firm and commission are aware of two reports of batteries that overheated and ruptured, resulting in flames/fire that caused minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.

The recalled lithium-ion rechargeable batteries are used with various HP and Compaq notebook computers. Models that can contain a recalled battery include:

• HP Pavilion – dv2000, dv2500, dv2700, dv6000, dv6500, dv6700, dv9000, dv9500, dv9700

• Compaq Presario – A900, C700, F700, V3000, V3500, V3700, V6000, V6500, V6700     

• HP – G6000, G7000   

• HP Compaq – 6720s

The notebook model is located at the top of the service label on the bottom of the notebook. Batteries that can be subject to the recall will have one of the following bar code labels (^ in the code can be any letter or number):
 
62940^^AXV^^^^    65033^^B7U^^^^
65033^^B7V^^^^
65033^^BGU^^^^    65035^^B7U^^^^
65035^^B7V^^^^
65035^^BGU^^^^
65035^^BGV^^^^    67059^^V8U^^^^
67059^^V8V^^^^     

The computers were sold at computer and electronics stores nationwide, hp.com, and hpshopping.com from August 2007 through March 2008 for between $500 and $3,000. The battery packs were also sold separately for between $100 and $160.

Consumers should immediately remove the recalled battery from their notebook computer and contact HP to determine if their battery is included in the recall and to request a free replacement battery, the commission advised.

After removing the recalled battery from their notebook computer, consumers may use the AC adapter to power the computer until a replacement battery arrives. Consumers should only use batteries obtained from HP or an authorized reseller.

For details, visit the HP Battery Replacement Program Web site at www.hp.com/support/BatteryReplacement or call 800-889-2031 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.

For more information on recent recalls, see www.Recalls.gov.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Silvers Summit addresses technology needs of baby boomers as they grow older

Among the throngs of thousand attending the 2009 International Computer Electronics Show to ogle the latest electronic gadgets, one group will be focusing on how technology can help baby boomers as they age.

At the Silvers Summit tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, speakers will offer information on products and services for the boomer generation. The keynote speakers will be Lynn Mento, senior vice president of membership for AARP, and Eric Dishman, director of Intel’s Digital Health Group.

Other speakers include:

• Majd Alwan, director of the Center for Aging Services Technology

• Mary Furlong, Boomer entrepreneur and visionary

• Don Jones, vice president of health and life sciences at Qualcomm

• Dr. Gary Small, professor of psychiatry and co-author of “The Memory Bible”

• Peter Cullen, Microsoft’s Trustworthy Computing Group

• Mike Takemura, director of the Accessibility Programs Office at Hewlett Packard

• Jerry Shereshewsky, CEO of Grandparents.com

• Curt Stone, director of the QoLT Foundry and Industry Liaison at Carnegie Mellon University

• Howard Byck Sr., senior vice president of lifestyle products and services for AARP Services

The Silvers Summit Showcase and display area, offering exhibits of a variety of technologies for boomers to use in the digital age, is underway at the Sands Convention Center through Sunday, Jan. 11.

Among the exhibitors in three categories are:

Brain and Body Fitness

HeartMath. Offers an em-Wave device to reduce stress, a special variation on biofeedback techniques.

Dakim. Helps people of any age keep their brain stimulated and active.

Posit Science. Takes a different approach to brain exercise by targeting auditory processing, memory, and visual processing.

Generation One. Offers hardware with features to deliver reminders, care, and other medical and care-giving functionality.

Accessibility

Clarity. Offers a Life phone, a special cell phone built for senior needs.

ClearSounds Communications. Provides a variety of sound-enhanced and high dB gain products for boomers, seniors, and caregivers.

Hewlett Packard Accessibility. Offers products for the boomer home of the future, with a senior PC and innovative-touch panel PCs.

Living at home longer

Continua Health Alliance. Certifies telehealth products.

MedSignals Pill Phone. Helps seniors stay in touch with caregivers by providing a variety of services such as medicine notification.

On the Horizon. Develops products such as special GPS services and a screen that adjusts its type to an individual’s eyes.

For more information, see the Silvers Summit Web site.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Are baby boomers shopping on Black Friday?

What draws people to Black Friday, the big shopping extravaganza the day after Thanksgiving, and are baby boomers among those getting up in the middle of the night, standing in line, and looking for huge savings?

Baby boomers – 36 percent – and the silent Generation – 18 percent – are less likely to shop on Black Friday than Gen Y – 53 percent – and Gen X – 46 percent, according to a Martiz Poll on consumer opinions.

Forty-one percent of those responding to the poll said they would shop on Black Friday, compared to 37 percent who said so in 2007, the Maritz poll reports.

The boomers who indicated that they’d be shopping on Black Friday said they’d be going to these stores:

•  Walmart – 57%

• Target – 47%

• Best Buy – 34%

• Toys R US – 23%

• K-Mart – 27%

• Kohl’s – 27%

• Sears – 29%

• Macy’s – 17%

• Circuit City – 18%

• Victoria’s Secret – 13%

• Apple Store/iTunes – 6%

What’s the attraction for Black Friday, which seems to become more intense each year?

People are looking for deep cuts in price. They’re willing to wait in line in the cold for hours and push their way through the crowds. They often have in mind specific items they want to give for Christmas gifts such as toys, iPods, and videogames. Or, they’re looking for a big ticket item for their households such as a flat-panel TVs, laptops, and digital cameras.

For a number of shoppers, beginning their seasonal buying on Black Friday helps them to complete it early or to make good progress toward finishing it.

Black Friday shoppers often check ads for prices, and make lists of the items they want to buy. They’ll dash through the first store, buying items, then move on to other stores. This year, since the economy is in a recession, Black Friday shoppers are more cautious about their spending than in previous years.

In many stores, only a few of the deeply discounted items are available. As a result injuries and even deaths have occurred due to shoving and trampling by shoppers.

The day is called "Black Friday" because of its importance in determining a store's profitability for the year.

My next post will be on “Why Baby Boomer Women Aren’t Spending Money on Themselves This Holiday Season.”

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Laptop secured: Will it be the right choice?

Well, I did it. I bought a Sony VAIO VGN-FZ220U/B Widescreen Notebook. It has:

•    Vista Ultimate; Wireless-N support
•    15.4 Inch WXGA XBrite-Econ LCD
•    Intel Core 2 Due Processor T5250
•    1.5 GHz, 2 MB L2 cache, 667 MHz FSB
•    2 GB PC2-5300 DDr2 memory
•    200 GB 4200-rpm SATA hard drive
•    Windows Vista Ultimate
•    DVD+/-RW-RAM Double Layer Drive
•    10/100 Ethernet; 56K V.92 Modem
•    802.11 a/b/g Draft-N wireless
•    3 USB 2.0, 1 FireWire, 1 S-video

I paid $699.99 plus tax. I also bought an extra Gig of memory for $29.95.

The salesman thought I might be able to put my mini-DVD in the drive and edit a movie. That sounds simple. I hope it works.

The customer service I received from Office Depot wasn’t good. I had to wait more than a half hour for the office manager to come and unhook the laptop from the security devices. It was the last Sony of that model, so I just couldn’t take one in a box and leave.

It took another half hour to get it unhooked from the security devices. The office manager had to throw all the laptop carrying cases under the laptop display on the floor before he could get to the place to remove the security items. He had trouble finding the place to turn down the brightness on the display and putting the battery in. I was exhausted by the time I left.

The display seems much less bright than the i-Mac. I hope, I hope.

I have two weeks to try it out. If it bothers my eyes or has other problems, I’ll return it.

I’ll be sure to save my receipt.

Another day spent on the computer trail

Today I went to the Apple store in Tukwila, Wash., to see what could be done about reducing the eye strain I'm experiencing from my i-Mac.

The mac "genius" made my I-Mac screen a medium to medium-dark blue. He also said not to use the computer in front of a window and to buy a glare protector for $35 that you apply over the screen.

The plain, darker screen color seems to be helping.

I may try dimming the lights in my office as well to reduce glare.

I was really tempted to buy the least expensive Apple laptop to use in my travels, but I just can't stand the thought of having another computer that will cause me serious eye strain.

I'm also working on figuring out how to edit video on my new i-Mac. I have a Panasonic mini-DVD camcorder that I bought about three years ago. Unfortunately, the information the camera puts on the DVD is analog.

I knew when I bought my i-Mac that it wouldn't read the files from my camcorder and that I'd need to find a "work-around."

The Apple store gave me a credit for the USB cable they sold me earlier because it didn't work with the analog converter I'd purchased from Fry's Electronics.

The Mac genius I worked with send me down to the Panasonic warehouse in  Kent to get the right cable.

Fortunately, I got there just before they closed the door for the day. I was able to get the cable. I appreciate the Panasonic employee who helped me when he could have walked out the door instead.

Thanks also to the Mac genius for pointing me the right way. I hope to be editing a movie of my wonderful grandchildren tomorrow.

I was disappointed to learn in all of this that the quality of my movies will decrease using the converter. I hadn't planned to upgrade my camcorder for a while, but I may need to do that sooner rather than later.

I'll be making the decision tomorrow about the laptop. A Sony model I saw at Office Depot is about an inch bigger than the HP I reported on yesterday. It cost $50 more but has more omph than the HP, so it may be the best choice.

Should I buy this laptop?

After shopping around, I think the HP Pavilion DV2718US Widescreen Notebook might be a good choice for me. It has:

• 3 GB memory; HP Quick-Play
• 14.1 inch WXGA BrightView LCD screen
• AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual-Core TL-62 2.1 GHz
• 1 MB L2 cache
  
• 1600 MHz FSB
• 160 GB 5400-rpm hard drive
• Windows Vista Home Premium
• LightScribe SuperMulti DVD drive
• 802.11 b/g wireless LAN; Ethernet
• 3 USB 2.0, 1 FireWire, 1 S-video
• 5-in-1 memory card reader
• Weight, 5.25 pounds

Office Depot sells this computer for $649.99.

When I tried to compare prices on the Internet, I couldn’t find anyone selling this computer but Office Depot. Maybe this model is one that Hewlett Packard makes for Office Depot only.

Interesting.

I’m certainly learning about this techie stuff.

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison,  Consumer Specialist

Laptop quest continues

Today I went on a price-comparison shopping spree for a new PC laptop.

It’s amazing. There're so many PC laptops to choose from.

I found some good prices at Office Depot. They just received some new models, so several sale prices looked good on older stock. I liked the HP Pavilion DV2718US: 14.1-inch screen, 3 GB of memory, and 5.25 pounds for $649.99. The smaller size would be good to carry through airports when I’m also lugging my camera, video camera, and tripod.

Office Depot also had:

• Sony VAIO VGN-FZ22OU/B: 15.4-inch screen, 2 GB of memory, and 5.75 pounds for $749.99.

• Gateway T-6321: 14.1 Inch screen, 3 GB of memory, and 5 pounds for $579.99.

Unfortunately I can’t use my 20 percent off Office Depot coupon on electronic equipment.

Best Buy had a good selection, but their prices were generally higher. I liked:

• Gateway T-1628: 14.1-inch screen, 3 GB of memory, and 5.5 pounds for $599.99.

• Dell 11525-100B: 15.4-inch screen, 2 GB of memory, and 6.5 pounds for $499.99.

Costco was a disappointment. I bought a membership in January when I was mulling over buying a desktop. Their PCs lost out as I was swept away by an iMac.

The only laptop I saw at Costco that I would work was: HP DV6753CL: 15.4 inch screen, 2 GB of memory, and 6.14 pounds for $799.97.

I considered several Toshibas, but then ruled them out. I’m not as familiar with the brand, and one shopper I talked with said he had a bad experience with one.

I received good customer service at all three stores. Salesmen took the time to point out features and answer my questions.

At Office Depot, the salesman wouldn’t take a couple of the laptops out of the security devices so that I could test the weight. However, he said I could come back in the evening when the store had fewer customers. Someone could help me then.

I can see why Consumer Reports said to go to the store and try out the keyboards and evaluate the screens. It would be disappointing to order one off the Internet and find you didn’t like the touch of the keyboard or the brightness of the screen.

What has your experience been buying a laptop from a retail store in your area? Were you satisfied? Disappointed? Upset?

Tomorrow I’ll check the Internet to compare prices on these models.

How has your experience been shopping online? Any great companies? Any poor ones?

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist