Daily Consumer Tips

Spam, Watch Out For a Larger "Delete" Key

On the technology front, Lenovo has made changes to the Lenovo ThinkPad T400S. The Boston Globe is reporting that Lenovo installed keystroke-tracking software on 30 volunteer employees' computers to study keystroke usage. In this study, they found that the volunteers used the "Escape" and "Delete" keys 700 times per week and yet according to Lenovo, those were the only non-letter keys that had not been enlarged. As a result, those keys have now been made twice as large. Lenovo also says that redesigning these keys that way has cut down on the accidental taps of "End" and "Insert" keys too. This was a redesign whose time had come. My reasons for supporting the resign include the following:
1. Heavily used keys such as "Enter", "Spacebar" are larger than the rest of the keys. With the advent of spam, chain letters and inter-office email being forwarded and forwarded, it was about time we needed a bigger and more conspicuous "Delete" key.
2. Not every consumer who uses a computer has taken typing classes. For those of us who use a computer daily but have not taken a typing class, larger "Delete" and "Escape" keys will make our lives easier.

Confirmation Code: GHNNBBS5433005

Digital TV Conversion Daily Tip

The national conversion to digital television moves forward today. The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that 2 million US homes are still unprepared for this conversion. If you are one of the consumers who rely on over-the-air television signals, there are some things you can do in order to get a digital signal. They include:

1. Purchasing a TV with a digital tuner.

2. Subscribe to cable or satellite feeds.

3. Purchase a digital converter box. This will be attached to your analog television in order to get a digital signal. Call (888) 388-2009 or www.dtv2009.gov to get a converter box coupon. Coupons are available until July 31. This third option is the least expensive way to watch television.

Considering Renting? Do Not Pay for Internet Access

If you are looking for a place to rent or you are already renting, you could save some money by not paying for internet access. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, property owners and landlords are enticing new tenants by providing free wireless internet access. Most high speed internet plans cost around $40-$50 per month. This equates to a savings of about $500-$600 per year for renters. For landlords, this is a winning situation since they are at a competitive advantage over other property owners who do not provide the service. If you are a renter and are looking for a place to rent, consider places with free internet access in order to save some money.

Save $40 per month, $480/year!

Back in 2004, I made a decision that saved our family $40 per month. We got rid of the home phone. In the beginning, it was very difficult to think of a house without a home phone. What happened was that we had 4 cell phones in the home and no one was touching the home phone. After calling the local phone company to have the phone disconnected, I started having second thoughts. Suppose all the cell phones in the home do not work? How are we going to be reached in an emergency? How about all these places that ask for a home phone? Your teenager's school, the doctor, dentist, vet...all ask for the home phone. I just decided to provide my cell number. All my contacts have my cell number. It has been great ever since. We love the home phone but we do not miss it. Imagine what you can do at the end of the year with $480.Holiday shopping anyone? Cut the landline chord and save money. If you decide to disconnect the home phone today, you will still have $240 by December!

AT&T Plan Does Not Add UP

Tired of counting minutes? BoostMobile has a prepaid plan for all you can talk, text and surf for $50 per month. MetroPCS has all you can talk and text for $40. Now AT&T is joining the prepaid club.According to the NYTimes, AT&T will start offering a prepaid plan for unlimited local and long distance for $3 per day starting Monday May 11. According to the story, you go online in the morning, pay $3, talk all day and be done with it. according to Mark Siegel, a spokesman for AT&T, “it’s for people who want to use the phone for a day without counting minutes.” It seems like a good deal but according to Daily Consumer Tips, if you use the phone for 30 days, you would have used a whopping $90 in prepaid calls. Better to stick with MetroPCS or BoostMobile.