This is a draft post?

 Ok so things are happening here.

Consoletronics, Sydney

Recently picked myself up a used Xbox off Ebay to use as a media centre. As expected it wasn't modchip'd so I needed to find a place in Sydney to get it chipped. I know I could have done it myself, along with the software mods etc, but it just didn't interest me learning about that stuff. So I tried to find a place around the Hornsby area to get the chip installed, but failed miserably. The closest place I could find was in Bankstown at a place called Consoletronics, which were fantastic. I dropped in unannounced on a Saturday, left the xbox and return a couple of hours later to pick up the finished product. Plus they were giving out a years warranty on the modchip and the install job, which is quite cool. The last time I had a xbox modchip installed, the guy took 6 hours and really didn't know what the F he was doing. But then again, that was the first round of modchips and they required 26 or something soldering points.

Alas, I'd recommend Consoletronics to anyone in Sydney getting their Xbox modchipped.

Review: Telstra i-mate Jasjam

My experience with the JasJam on a Telstra $80pm for 24months service

About 6 months ago I hastily purchased myself a JasJam, (codenamed as Hermes) I had romantic dreams of using it as a pseudo blackberry and having mobile email. I also like the idea of using it as a palm pilot and syncing it to my desktop, with special emphasis on my contacts and tasks.

JasJam
On first inspection, the JasJam looked good. Although quite large for a mobile phone it came with a carry pouch. The software was responsive and seemed quite complete. But it didn't take long for the problems to start occurring. So far I've been through 2 brand spanking new Jas Jams and both of them have the same issues.

The Good

• Handwriting recognition was a nice surprise. Although I couldn't master all the different entry methods, like the 'Block Recognizer' the 'Letter Recognizer was enough for me and it was great that there were so many different types of text entry. One to suit everyone I'm sure.
• Extra Applications - I installed MobiPocket (an ebook reader) which was fantastic and I was able to read my books very clearly from the phone.
• Skype - Another extra application. It was wonderful having skype on this phone when I would get the WiFi working. It seemed to me that Telstra blocked me from using Skype with their 3G network, as I could never get it to connect. Skype on the JasJam does have a number of problems, and after a phone software upgrade just stopped working altogether. But while it lasted, it was fun.
• Scroll wheel on the side of the phone was great. I just loved it. Getting through emails, menus and books was fun.
• MSWord and Excel were quite useful.
• The email application worked well with IMAP and generally was a good client.
  

The Bad

• WiFi was just horrible to use. It often disconnected. It was unreliable, and wasted huge amounts of batteries. When it was connected it kept popping up and offering other networks to use. Plus the management tools for what networks you wanted to use was just a nightmare.
• It's too big. I never felt comfortable carrying it.
• Camera is bad. Not worth using.
• The software would often lag, and start to slow down.
• Windows Mobile is missing lots of needed tools such as a text editor, world clock, etc.
  
• User interface is fairly crap.
  
• Random button presses. Even when I switch off the interface and put the phone in my pocket, at some point I must knock some buttons and wham, I'm now browsing the internet.
  

The Broken
The buttons on the front such as answer call, start menu etc... would occasionally just stop working. I've never been able to figure out a pattern for when these buttons would work and when they wouldn't. Just sometimes I can press the 'phone' button to make a call and other times I can't.

Video Card just kept freezing up. At least this is my theory on it. From occasionally to quite often, when you turn the screen on it will be white. All white. Then you have to keep turning it off and on until it starts showing you the interface. When it does actually start showing the interface, it is all scrambled and wrong, and again you just have to keep turning it off and on until it works. The longest this happened to me was for about 30mins. Obviously this was when I really needed it the most.


Telstra
My mobile email ambitions came crashing to the ground after I saw Telstra's exuberant mobile data usage charges on my first bill. They were charging me 1.5c per kb, on my standard plan, which was ridiculous. One download of my emails (without attachments) could easily cost me upto $10AUD.

Another note with Telstra is that there is a difference between and Telstra shops and licensed dealers. I unknowingly bought my mine from a licensed dealer, which meant with any problems, I must take it back to the original shop. So all these other Telstra shops are useless to me.


Lessons
The JasJam is a no no. I've now returned mine to shop 3 times and even been given a totally new one. Same problems over and over again. I've talked to a number of other Jas Jam users, more or less the verdict is the same. This phone sucks.

Microsoft Windows Mobile 5 seems ok. A little confusing at times. The network configuration on all fronts is horrible. WiFi, 3G, GSM even Bluetooth see all over complicated and not easy to use.

Telstra. Umm, I'm not sure I can say anything nice about Telstra. I guess they have good coverage. Over all they are expensive, rude and simply don't cater for my needs.