• esc27@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      I think the M477 and M479 were good, but those are business class laser printers. So far I’m less impressed with the 4301 that replaces them.

  • NONE@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Any Apple product, mostly the iPhones. If you live in Latin America, those things are more a burden than something useful. They are too expensive, too fragile, and too Eye-catching for burglars.

    They eats up your phone plan in hours just by existing, you can’t borrow a charger because everyone around you has Android. The simplest things to do on Android are an ordeal on Iphone.

    The only way it can be worth it is if you have all Apple products (iMac, AppleTV, iPad, etc). But for that, you better be prepared to pawn your soul.

    • crystenn@lemmy.ml
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      2 months ago

      The first paragraph, I can get along with and understand where you’re coming from.

      The second paragraph, could you elaborate what you mean by “eat up your phone plan just by existing”? I personally use an iPhone and have had very normal data usage rates that is accurately tracked through both the phone and my carrier’s app.

      Also regarding borrowing a charger, they just moved to USB-C so that will be a non-issue a few years down the road when lightning is phased out.

        • crystenn@lemmy.ml
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          2 months ago

          Sure, but whether they were forced to move over or did it out of the (non-existent) goodwill of their hearts wasn’t the point of contention in the discussion and results in a similar outcome. The initial commenter pointed out that they couldn’t share a charger and I just mentioned that this should be a non-issue once lightning is phased out.

          • thevoidzero@lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            Considering they made it so that you need apple issued usb-c, and have problems with normal one (probably fixed now because people obviously complained). I’d say avoiding it is a good choice.

            • crystenn@lemmy.ml
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              2 months ago

              Not true. Check my other comment on this thread where I talked about my experience with 3rd party USB-C cables

      • NONE@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Well, it is necessary to clarify that I speak not so much from my own experience but from those close to me (family and friends who have or have had iPhones, I have only had iPods). With regard to the phone plan, the people I know who have had iPhones always tend to have no data to browse, because the data on their phone runs out surprisingly faster than on Android phones. I don’t know what the technical details would be, I suspect it has to do with processes running in the background that require internet.

        With the chargers, on the one hand the thing is that most iPhone phones circulating in Latin America are older, so none have the Type-C port that is now Standard. And for the iPhones that do have it, correct me if I’m wrong, but I think those iPhones have a particularity that only cables manufactured by Apple can effectively charge the iPhone, while any other cable either can not charge it as quickly or can even damage it. I think something similar happens with the Nintendo Switch, that its port is Type-C but only cables made by Nintendo work, but I insist in saying that I could be wrong.

        To conclude, I must say that this is just my opinion according to a specific context. I am sure that in more developed countries like the United States, Japan or European countries, the experience of having an iPhone is as normal as with any other phone, or even better.

        • crystenn@lemmy.ml
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          2 months ago

          Gotcha. It could be entirely possible that the anecdotal experiences regarding phone data that you’ve heard could be simply because they’re heavier users or that they purchased a smaller quota. From personal experience, I really have not noticed any background processes that suck up data.

          Regarding the type-C cable though, I have actually experienced that problem where cheaper cables do not work for charging. This part is PURE SPECULATION on my end, but I suspect Apple stops cheaper cables from charging on the off chance that it increase the risk of a fire (cheap cables = thinner wires = more resistance = more heat) because when stuff like that makes the news, the headline is typically “iPhone caught fire while charging” and not “Cheap cable caused a fire.” I spent a lil more on a third party USB-C cable that was higher quality and rated to charge up to 65W and have had no problems with it. I’m not sure what the economic situation is in Latin America, but where I am (Malaysia), I spent about RM60 (which is roughly equivalent to $13) on the cable that worked compared to RM20 for the cable that didn’t, just to give you a point of reference.

      • all-knight-party@kbin.run
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        2 months ago

        Plus how can you hold “borrowing a charger” against a phone company? If you don’t have a charger on hand that’s your fault.

        • qaz@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          Because they insisted on using the inferior lightning connector instead of using USB C like everyone else.

          • all-knight-party@kbin.run
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            2 months ago

            Yes, that would’ve been a very valid reason for that person to not recommend an apple product. But to not recommend it because they can’t borrow one from everyone around them is such a weird way to put it that I didn’t even consider Apple’s absurd reasoning for using the lightning connector

      • NONE@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago
        • sigh *

        Ok, let me see. Again, this is my experience and my opinion, so some things may not be a problem for you at all, for example:

        Testing self-developed games or apps. I develop games. To test them on android I just need to create the APK, pass it to the phone, install and done. I may be wrong, but on Apple it’s not that simple.

        File management. Many times I use my phone as a Pendrive, others I want to save my music to listen offline. Of the latter I remember that on my old iPod it was a headache to transfer music from my non-Apple PC to the device, transferring other files was just impossible, and it seems to me that that has not changed in Iphone, but I don’t know for sure, since I don’t handle an iPhone.

        Going back. All modern Android phones have three on-screen buttons, the order varies, but in general they are: one to see all open apps and close the ones you don’t need or all of them, one to exit the app completely, and one to go back to the previous tab in an app. The iPhones I have been allowed to handle do not have any of the three buttons, the back button is the one I miss the most.

  • Sanctus@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    I have never had a good time with Asus anything and their customer service is abysmal.

    • seaQueue@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Their after sale support (both warranty and technical support) is absolutely abysmal. If you need support for one of their products you’re best off dumping it “as is” on fleaBay and buying something else to replace it.

  • Resol van Lemmy@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Adobe Creative Cloud. It’s really expensive, and once you stop paying, you lose everything.

    No wonder why it’s some of the most pirated software in the world.

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      2 months ago

      Losing access to a work I put hours and days, sometimes months of my life was the main reason I now absolutely refuse any non-open source products. My advisor/colleagues sometimes say “university gives it for free”, or “we pay all that money for this softwares”, but I am not going to use them even if they are slightly better than open source.

    • Zahille7@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      I got a bundle of a Razer keyboard, mouse, headset, and mousepad for all of $50 one time cause it was on sale and we just happened to come across the last one they had. This was about a year ago, because I was needing new ones anyway, and they’ve been perfectly fine ever since.

  • RBWells@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Tile countertops. Our house came with them and they are terrible. Who the fuck thought of these?

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    2 months ago

    Anything from Anker after they cancelled an order with PayPal approved payment because ‘they couldn’t verify payment’. Then they insist that the cancelled order could be reviewed if I put personally identifiable information into a random Google sheets doc.

    All complaint handling appeared to be a bot. They refused to explain what was the concern with the payment and always responded with very similar ‘apology’ emails even when I indicated for every email they send i’d inform another person to avoid them.

    • Empricorn@feddit.nl
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      2 months ago

      Also, Eufy is owned by Anker. They claimed they weren’t transmitting images until hackers proved they could access your “smart” cameras…

      • esc27@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        The problem is, in order to view the cameras in their app, the video has to relay through their cloud servers, and they had little to no security. Since then they have added encryption which hopefully helps.

        Best practice is to avoid placing any cameras, especially big box store cloud cameras, anywhere sensitive. The two cameras I have online right now are outside where hackers won’t see anything my neighbors can’t see.

      • barsquid@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Anker is off my list because of the cameras. They used to be my go-to for cables and chargers. Completely unacceptable.

        • frunch@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          Any suggestions for a different company to buy cables etc from? I’ve bought their chargers and cables and been happy with them but I’m fine with trying something different next time.

          • barsquid@lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            The suggestion I took was Ugreen for chargers and cables. Cables seem to work, and don’t instantly fray, that’s all I want. I got a compact GaN wall plug and it is reasonably fast for the size. No fires and no fried electronics so far.

    • snek_boi@lemmy.ml
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      2 months ago

      On Christmas 2023 I was given an Anker charger. By March 2024 it stopped working…

      • MerchantsOfMisery@lemmy.ml
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        2 months ago

        I really wonder if their product quality fell off and why. I have chargers/cables/batteries from Anker that I bought in 2016 and not a single one has failed.

        • gorgor301@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          Ive only used their headphones and chargers, which I bought recently, theyre still working fine. Mostly. Except for my bluetooth earphones. Theres occassional lag and stuttering problems with it on my laptop.

    • spongebue@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      This was the same company that refused to ship to Rhode Island, suggesting you had their product shipped to a friend on “the mainland” who could then forward it

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    2 months ago

    A phone plan with a phone. You pay more over time and you get stuck with a contract.

    Buy a phone and get a plan from a MVNO. Your monthly plan will be better and cheaper. Also since you own the phone when a better plan appears you can just switch.

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    2 months ago

    Boox Palma. Got one for myself as a treat and upgrade to my aging Kobo and the screen broke within 24 hours. I have never broken a screen. Support immediately told me it was “pressure” and that it wasn’t covered. I was very careful with it so no…I really don’t believe them. If the screen is THAT fragile…no interest. Planning on selling the ewaste at a yard sale. No way am I giving them money to fix an already flawed product.

    • seaQueue@lemmy.world
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      They’ve had screen breakage problems since about 2-3y ago for some reason. My OG Nova Air has survived about half a dozen short drops without any issue but more recent devices are just spontaneously breaking in people’s bags or sitting on a counter.

      I think they’re dealing with some kind of design failure where they haven’t accounted for display stresses in the newer thinner screens but they’ll never, ever, admit to it. That would open them up to replacement liability and drive them out of business.

      If you do buy one of their newer devices I strongly encourage you to buy a 2-3y aftermarket warranty with it otherwise it seems like you have a decent chance of just being shafted at random.

        • seaQueue@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          Oh yeah, I’m not saying you did anything wrong I’m just telling people to protect themselves when they buy their products.

          They make nice eink devices, they just have a tendency to implode fairly often so definitely have buyer protection for a couple of years if you’re going to spend on one.

          There’s really nothing you can do to go after them either, I doubt they have enough of a presence in the US to make a small claim worthwhile.

          I’d you bought yours with a credit card take a peek at your card agreement and see if you have any coverage for electronics purchases. You might have coverage for 1-2y for phones, tablets, computers, etc and could make a claim through your CC company.

          • itchick2014 [Ohio]@midwest.social
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            2 months ago

            I got it through PayPal and ain’t nobody got time for that lol. I definitely learned. I ended up with a new Kobo and am very happy with it so I am actually happier long term.

        • barsquid@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          I appreciate it. I’m trying to find an ereader now and I can cross them off the list. I wish I had leapt on the Pine64 one while it was in stock but I desired the color screens too much.

          • itchick2014 [Ohio]@midwest.social
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            I have been happy with my Kobo Libra Colour I picked up after the terrible experience with Boox. I wish a phone sized option was available from Kobo but I have been enjoying the option to use a stylus more than I expected.

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    2 months ago

    Any guitar under $700 with any feature you’d expect to be standard in medium to high end guitars. If a brand new guitar has a floyd rose but is $300, it won’t hold tuning, and the screws will strip easily.

    Not saying expensive guitars are good by default, but there’s very little room for innovation in the guitar world, and corner cutting will happen in cheaper guitars.

    • LarkinDePark@lemmygrad.ml
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      Harley Benton Fusion 3 owner here… €450. Nothing at all wrong with this thing.

      What you’re saying was true 10 years ago but musical instruments have been improving in quality a lot recently.

      • Moonguide@lemmy.ml
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        2 months ago

        Hm, yeah that might be the case. Last guitar with a FR I bought was well over 10y ago.

      • all-knight-party@kbin.run
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        2 months ago

        I have had two Harley Benton bass guitars, a 5 string fretless, and a 5 string PJ combo, and they both shit the bed and ceased to work in under a year of light usage, both times it was cheap electronics (the pickups).

        That being said I have many friends with Harley Benton instruments and amps and they all work fine still, I just got unlucky. Of course, cheap parts are cheap parts and will be more liable to fail than better ones. It is still a lot better than it used to be.

  • catch22@programming.dev
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    2 months ago

    Any “Gaming” headphones they are all such trash. Buy a nice pair of headphones with a quality metal headband and get an audio cable with a built in mic.

  • LarkinDePark@lemmygrad.ml
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    2 months ago

    Logitech mouse. They keep making them worse in order to sell more overpriced usb adapters. The software is hilariously bad. The world needs a Logitech alternative. Please China, I’m begging.

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      2 months ago

      I swear by the marathon mouse. And I love the scroll wheel unlock of logitech mice. Scroll wheel goes brrrrrrrr

      • LarkinDePark@lemmygrad.ml
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        2 months ago

        Yes I love that too. I got the MX Anywhere 3 to replace to 2 I had. I’ve had a bunch. They all fail in the same way, they start doing double clicks for single click. But usually after a couple of years, I’m fine with that part.

        The bullshit is when they make the new mouse incompatible with the old USB adapter OR THE SOFTWARE! And you have to install Options PLUS! And doesn’t work often and needs to be reinstalled.

        They make good stuff but the bullshit is bullshit.