My mistake purchase was the Sony Walkman MZ-NHF800 mini disc player: gdgt.com/sony/walkman/mz-nhf800/
I was looking for a new music player, but didn't want an iPod because it was more expensive than most players at the time. When I saw these newer generation mini disc players, they looked really enticing. It had awesome battery life, pocketable, and had high capacity discs. This model could also playback MP3s, something new at the time for mini disc players. Also, it was cool that I could record audio with it. So I saved up and bought one.
I first realized this was a mistake when I tried putting music on it. If you transferred your music as MP3s, the audio just didn't sound right - lower volume and worse sound quality for some odd reason. In order to fix it, you needed to convert it to Sony's ATRAC audio format which took forever. All this transferring and converting required this Sony software that was buggy and slow - think iTunes, but much worse.
Once I got the music on, everything was cool...until I tried using it at night and I couldn't read anything on the screen since it didn't have a back light. I already knew that it didn't have a back lit screen and I didn't think it would be an issue since CD players I've used in the past didn't have the light. But when you have a device that can store hundreds of songs opposed to ~20, it's a problem. On top of that, this had a more complex menu system, so navigation was a nightmare.
I actually kept it for a while (still have it somewhere) and I eventually got used to it. I just never added new music and I managed to memorize the navigation menus so I can do it without looking. But if I could go back in time, I probably just pick up an iPod. After I finally retired it, I got a Zune. I guess I'll never learn (jk, it's zunetastic).
Anyone else have gadget purchase regrets?
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Have you ever bought a gadget that you were lusting after for a long time, but then it ended up being a piece of crap?
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cass' pick
I have one of those Minidisk players, their awful. I was younger and less tech savvy when I received one as a gift, and never got around to puting any music on it. I did drag it out after I joined this site and made it work for kicks. It has a permanent place at the bottom of my have list. Also that software was so bad that it bluescreened my laptop, requireing I use it via XP mode. gdgt.com/question/help-sonic-stage-sucks-362/
Perhaps my biggest regret for a purchase is my Microsoft Strategic Commander. I still intend to use it when I get a bigger desk, but it sits unused in the mean time. A peripheral for the RTS gamer and CAD user was too good to pass up. Especially compared to the expensive competition. gdgt.com/microsoft/sidewinder/strategic-commander/
Perhaps my biggest regret for a purchase is my Microsoft Strategic Commander. I still intend to use it when I get a bigger desk, but it sits unused in the mean time. A peripheral for the RTS gamer and CAD user was too good to pass up. Especially compared to the expensive competition. gdgt.com/microsoft/sidewinder/strategic-commander/
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cass' pick
The year was 1993 and I had the most enviable job of working in the video game section of Toys R Us. The first-ever 64-bit game system was about to be released. We had received all the promotional materials well in advance and since employees got first dibs on new stuff I was prepared to spend my pittance of a salary on the console and a few games. Then one day right after Thanksgiving the palette was pulled off the truck and I got my hands on one of the beautiful black boxes with red letters and two glowing yellow eyes.
Sadly, that was about the happiest moment of my experience with the abomination called Atari Jaguar. With a grand total of about two good games (Tempest 2000 and Aliens vs. Predator) the system was a complete and utter failure. Bad software, cheap hardware, no third party support, it was DOA.
Evidently the Jaguar's case molds were purchased by a dental imaging company and repurposed as some sort of camera! ( www.1up.com/news/atari-jaguar-revived-dental-camer... )
Sadly, that was about the happiest moment of my experience with the abomination called Atari Jaguar. With a grand total of about two good games (Tempest 2000 and Aliens vs. Predator) the system was a complete and utter failure. Bad software, cheap hardware, no third party support, it was DOA.
Evidently the Jaguar's case molds were purchased by a dental imaging company and repurposed as some sort of camera! ( www.1up.com/news/atari-jaguar-revived-dental-camer... )
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cass' pick
Yeah, my first Palm Pilot. I had recently switched to Mac and the Diamond Mako (a.k.a. Psion Revo +) sync software didn't really work with the Mac, so I was eyeing up the Mac-compatible options. I was excited to get a Palm so I could sync with my computer again. When my Mako finally suffered the dreaded battery charging failure, Circuit City's extended warranty crew couldn't fix it so they gave me the original cost in store credit.
I went out and bought the Palm, then got it home and installed the software. It became apparent to me real quick that this was not going to be a pleasant experience. After using the Palm for a couple days, I could have cried. I wanted my beloved Mako back in the worst way and wished I had refused their offer and just asked them to send it back to me so I could have tried to fix it myself. To this day, I have never loved a portable gadget as I loved that Mako. Lesson learned.
I went out and bought the Palm, then got it home and installed the software. It became apparent to me real quick that this was not going to be a pleasant experience. After using the Palm for a couple days, I could have cried. I wanted my beloved Mako back in the worst way and wished I had refused their offer and just asked them to send it back to me so I could have tried to fix it myself. To this day, I have never loved a portable gadget as I loved that Mako. Lesson learned.
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cass' pick
Oh man, you just reminded me that I used to have a mini-disk player. I don't remember the exact model anymore but I think it must have been a little nicer than the one you got because it had backlight. My biggest complaint was that in order to get good quality sound on the disks I had to find an optical cable and at the time they weren't easy to come by. I did get it sorted out though and came to really enjoy using it.
I'd say my "regret" is split in two directions...
1) The gaming rig I bought the hardware for recently... that doesn't work... and no amount of troubleshooting has helped me sort out WHY it doesn't work. *mad*
2) These small "rock" shaped MP3 players... that I can't remember the brand name of (it was one of the better known brands but lower end quality). I got them for myself and my son for christmas one year. They both died within a few days. They were so cheap that it wasn't worth the time to take them back to Fry's. I went back to using my super huge Creative Zen that was old at the time and several years later... still works. (and that reminds me, I should add that to my "have" list)
I'd say my "regret" is split in two directions...
1) The gaming rig I bought the hardware for recently... that doesn't work... and no amount of troubleshooting has helped me sort out WHY it doesn't work. *mad*
2) These small "rock" shaped MP3 players... that I can't remember the brand name of (it was one of the better known brands but lower end quality). I got them for myself and my son for christmas one year. They both died within a few days. They were so cheap that it wasn't worth the time to take them back to Fry's. I went back to using my super huge Creative Zen that was old at the time and several years later... still works. (and that reminds me, I should add that to my "have" list)
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cass' pick
I have two, and both are pretty old, and it really pains me to say this, cause I'm sure I would love to have them both right now. My 32x for my Sega Genisis, and Sega Dreamcast.
How could any video gaming kid with a Genisis not want a 32x? Improved graphics, and um hello it had DOOM! Just totally sucked, no games were ever made for it.
I bought the Dreamcast based purely on how awesome Crazy Taxi looked, it was fun, but I don't remember a single other game I played on it.
How could any video gaming kid with a Genisis not want a 32x? Improved graphics, and um hello it had DOOM! Just totally sucked, no games were ever made for it.
I bought the Dreamcast based purely on how awesome Crazy Taxi looked, it was fun, but I don't remember a single other game I played on it.
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cass' pick
you are much better than i am.
my rule is if i can't use the new tech after a week or two i retune them.
i tried a gateway netbook for example a while back and the size, the processor just the device who ended up being less than i expected so i just returned.
another example was the 1st nook i thought it would a great device but it turned out to be for me at least less than i expected and not as effective as the kindle. i have used the nook color and find it to be much better but that 1st gen on was not all that great for me.
my rule is if i can't use the new tech after a week or two i retune them.
i tried a gateway netbook for example a while back and the size, the processor just the device who ended up being less than i expected so i just returned.
another example was the 1st nook i thought it would a great device but it turned out to be for me at least less than i expected and not as effective as the kindle. i have used the nook color and find it to be much better but that 1st gen on was not all that great for me.
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community pick
For me it had to be the Wii. I bought the Wii thinking that Nintendo is finally going to be top choice of the console wars this time around and that Nintendo will have great 3rd party support because of the success they had with it. Well, for me, I don't really care much for Nintendo 1st party games and I was counting on some good RPGs to come out for the Wii. Well, as of right now, I've yet to get ANY RPGs for the Wii and, also, I've packed my Wii away about 2 weeks ago.
Another purchase that I should've regretted but didn't is the original N-Gage. I remember ALL my friends were making fun of me buying an N-Gage. Texting wasn't big then so they thought I was stupid for buying into it and I got a lot of laughs from side-talking. I never regretted the purchase since I thought it was just well ahead of its time. Come 2011 and you see everyone playing games on their phone like I did back when the N-Gage came out.
Another purchase that I should've regretted but didn't is the original N-Gage. I remember ALL my friends were making fun of me buying an N-Gage. Texting wasn't big then so they thought I was stupid for buying into it and I got a lot of laughs from side-talking. I never regretted the purchase since I thought it was just well ahead of its time. Come 2011 and you see everyone playing games on their phone like I did back when the N-Gage came out.
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The last time I actually lusted after a gadget, honestly, was probably in the days of cassette tape recorders so these days - and when you buy stuff after stuff you become even more of a reviewer than a reviewer - so it's more a sense of 'oh I see, as I expected... sigh'.
Similar problems and even more of a rage on the Sony Net MD / Hi-MD / ATRAC HDD/Flash player front. Only as I said I wasn't lusting after them (especially after the release of the 3rd gen iPod), and admittedly I didn't buy most of them.
At the time I was shilling them as a favour and I found it not only frustrating, but actually embarrassing to be involved with - roundly disinterested product managers did not help with the sense that all development was being carried out in an ivory tower, and Chronicshitage was basically the icing on the 'We know all consumers are criminals, and we'll let you know we know' hubris.
In terms of gadgets I bought that I regretted, I guess Sony figures again prominently with their Qualia range. Every one of them I bought was pretty freakin' incredible in narrow ways, but ultimately turkeys as a complete product.
Similar problems and even more of a rage on the Sony Net MD / Hi-MD / ATRAC HDD/Flash player front. Only as I said I wasn't lusting after them (especially after the release of the 3rd gen iPod), and admittedly I didn't buy most of them.
At the time I was shilling them as a favour and I found it not only frustrating, but actually embarrassing to be involved with - roundly disinterested product managers did not help with the sense that all development was being carried out in an ivory tower, and Chronicshitage was basically the icing on the 'We know all consumers are criminals, and we'll let you know we know' hubris.
In terms of gadgets I bought that I regretted, I guess Sony figures again prominently with their Qualia range. Every one of them I bought was pretty freakin' incredible in narrow ways, but ultimately turkeys as a complete product.
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maaaaan I dont even know if I should post this as it will probably lose me my Geek Badge or something but I lusted seriously after a computer a long time back (83 or 84) and there was out a new fangled thing called the Coleco ADAM ok some of you will say that aint no computer thats a game console However at the time I couldnt afford a apple 2 or IBM I saved and saved for it got a couple games with it but it was so terrible it ended up sitting there collecting dust till I gave it away it did get me interested in computers and Im proud to say Im a Sys Admin and web developer today and computers and gadgets are my life
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For me it was the overhyped HTC Hero, that the local Sprint rep said was superior "in every way" to the iPhone 3gs. The phone was made of cheap plastic, slow, the UI was horribly laggy, I always hit the off button by accident because it was so close to the back button, it couldn't play games with any fast motion and wouldn't get a Froyo update until I rooted it and put it on myself. Even after overclocking the cpu to 750+ mhz it still won't play Angry Birds at over 5fps...
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One of the first gen EEEPC "netbooks". It has a Celeron M (Atom's didn't exist) and it is so underpowered you can't do anything, two tabs max in a web browser. The keyboard is so small I can't type on it, I think the screen is a 7". I never used it, should have returned it the day I bought it.
Unless someone can find a way to put ChromeOS on it, but every "solution" I've found involves different hardware.
Unless someone can find a way to put ChromeOS on it, but every "solution" I've found involves different hardware.
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Yeah, the HTC Flyer. Check out my review.
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Yes, the Netgear Digital Entertainer. Never used it for more than 10 minutes. An awful, unfinished product.
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Hah, this is more recent but it's a good example as I just pulled a box out of storage while moving.
The original Apple TV. Man. That thing was a steaming pile. I thought it would represent the future of digital media and change how we could consume video content. I was ready to cut the cord. Fortunately, my roommates at the time were more rational and said, "hey Dave, let's wait a few weeks and see what happens first."
Good thing! Constant lock ups, overheating, general sluggishness. Good riddance!
The original Apple TV. Man. That thing was a steaming pile. I thought it would represent the future of digital media and change how we could consume video content. I was ready to cut the cord. Fortunately, my roommates at the time were more rational and said, "hey Dave, let's wait a few weeks and see what happens first."
Good thing! Constant lock ups, overheating, general sluggishness. Good riddance!
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