Posted by Tom Greer on December 2, 2009 in Site-related
We are back to normal operations, after taking time away from posting for personal reasons.
First off, I want to express our sincere appreciation to our hardcore fans. Despite months without any new blog postings, we still have a respectable volume of daily visitors and a sizeable number of subscribers to our RSS feeds.
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Posted by Tom Greer on July 30, 2009 in Reviews, Site-related
Yesterday, we published an overview of the Toshiba mini NB205 netbook that discusses all of the features in depth. In addition, the article discusses what is special about the NB205, as well as, what is not so special.
This is the first of many “Overview” articles. Our intention is to publish one for every netbook, nettop and all-in-one desktop that is actively sold in the USA.
As we complete each one, we are also inserting the content into our product information pages. You can view the Toshiba mini NB205 product page here.
The reason for explaining all of this is to get your feedback on the structure. Is there anything that’s missing? Is there a better way to present the information? Too much detail? Too little detail?
Please comment below or drop me an email. I plan to use this first one as a template. So, it would make sense to make any revisions before I start to clone it.
Posted by Tom Greer on July 27, 2009 in Reviews, Site-related, Videos
Over the weekend, we implemented a completely new design for the Netbook Scoop web site. The new design has offers a number of new features. The common link between all of these features is to provide you easier access to information about netbooks, nettops and all-in-one desktop computers.
Responses to Our Improvement Poll
Back at the beginning of June, we asked you what improvements you wanted us to incorporate into the Netbook Scoop web site. Much of our work was in direct response to your answers.
So here is a rundown of the new features.
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Posted by Tom Greer on July 27, 2009 in Site-related
We have just turned the “Under Construction” page off to unveil the new design for our site. We still have a number of tasks to complete before everything is complete. So we will be busy for a few more hours.
But please come in and stay awhile. Just forgive the dust… and the noisy pounding and hammering in the background.
UPDATE (7/27/09 2:00AM EDT): OK. The site appears stable. The new features all appear to work as planned. We still need to add content like reviews, specs and videos. However, if you spot anything unusal, please leave a comments and we will fix it ASAP.
Posted by Tom Greer on June 9, 2009 in Asus Netbooks, Site-related
Over this past weekend, Steve and I downloaded all of the entries into Netbook Scoop’s May 2009 Netbook Giveaway into a spreadsheet. After validating the data, we randomized the list. Then, we went to random.org, where we requested a random number. We received “21″.
The entry on row 21 of our spreadsheet was Sid Mair.
Congratulations, Sid! You are now the owner of an Asus Eee PC 1008HA.
Posted by Tom Greer on June 8, 2009 in Site-related
Our goal is to become the best site for news and information on netbooks, nettops and all-in-ones. We are constantly pursuing new ways to improve the value that we add to our visitors.
We have lists of ideas for improvement. The challenge for us is not ideas, but time to implement all of the things that we have dream up.
Therefore, we are always trying to decide what is most important. So, instead of us deciding, we thought we’d list several ideas here and ask you which ones you think are more important.
Please vote on the list below. You can choose up to four items by holding down the control key.
If we have not listed an item that you think should be a priority, please tell us about it in a comment below.
What improvements would you like to see to our site?
- Make it easy to compare specs on different models. (57%, 31 Votes)
- Provide more information to help visitors choose best netbook for them. (44%, 24 Votes)
- Add links to reviews, videos and articles to the product pages. (41%, 22 Votes)
- The site is sluggish, crank up the speed! (26%, 14 Votes)
- The blue background is to hard to read. Make it white. (19%, 10 Votes)
- Compact price comparison charts by only listing best five prices. (11%, 6 Votes)
- Add a separate RSS feed for Deals and Falling Price Alerts (9%, 5 Votes)
- Collapse the list of products in the Compare Prices pages. (7%, 4 Votes)
Total Voters: 54
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Posted by Tom Greer on May 30, 2009 in Asus Netbooks, Site-related
When things go awry, you do your best to get back on track and achieve your objective. But sometimes, the harder you try, the worse things get. At then there are those times, when things get so messed up, that you just have to stop, laugh at the situation and then roll with it.
And we are at the point with our May 2009 Netbook Giveaway.
It sounded so simple. Our plan? Tell our readers we will give away a netbook at the end of May. Ask them which one they want. Order it. Play with it for a short time. Publish a review. Select a winner. Ship the netbook to them.
In the beginning everything went per plan. We announced the giveaway. You selected the Asus Eee PC 1000HE. The Blue model. We ordered it. We unboxed it.
Then things began to go south.
We put the 1000HE on the charger overnight. When we powered it up the next morning, the display was goofed up. It appeared in low resolution with funky psychedelic colors.
No problem. Just get it exchanged. But after a number of calls and emails, it became obvious that we would not have a replacement before the end of the month.
So, if we were going to keep our commitment to give away a netbook at the end of May, we needed a Plan B.
My solution: up the ante! By the third week of May, the 1000HE was no longer the most popular model of the Eee PC. The 1008HA was now the hot item. So let’s switch the prize!
This brainstorm occurred to me in the middle of a three-day out-of-town seminar. During the next break, I popped open my netbook and placed the order with the first merchant who showed it in stock. I processed the order in less than 60 seconds. I was proud of my snap decision-making and fast execution.
The following morning, I searched my email for the ship confirmation. There was none. A quick trip to the merchant’s site showed that there stock was gone and my order was on hold awaiting their next delivery from Asus.
Earlier today, I looked at placing the order elsewhere and having it shipped overnight, Saturday delivery. After recovering from the sticker shock, I looked at Monday delivery instead. Still ridiculously expensive. OK, how about regular delivery? Oh, if we don’t choose expedited delivery, it won’t ship until next week? Then never mind. Our original order is supposed to ship by then.
So after stepping back, taking a deep breath and taking some time to find some dark humor in all this, I had a good laugh. OK. It’s time to give in and roll with it.
So this is where we are:
The delivery of our Asus Eee PC 1008HA has been delayed. We will keep enrolment open until it arrives. At that time, we will close the entry process and select a winner.
I still feel bad that we didn’t perform to our original plan. But sometimes life has other plans.
Update 6/3/09: The delivery of the White model was delayed again, so we accepted a Black model as a substitute. It is in transit. Deadline for entries is Friday, 6/5, at midnight. Drawing (random) over weekend. Winner announce on Monday.
Posted by Tom Greer on May 28, 2009 in Asus Netbooks, Site-related
The object of our May 2009 Netbook Giveaway was supposed to be an Asus Eee PC 1000HE. However, due to circumstances beyond our control (the 1000HE was defective upon receipt), we have been forced to modify our plans.
When it became apparent earlier today that we would not have a replacement 1000HE in time, I made a command decision and ordered an Eee PC 1008HA instead.
My logic?
The original decision to giveaway an Asus Eee PC 1000HE was based upon your votes in a series of polls earlier this month. But these were done before the introduction of the 1008HA.
I decided that there was much more excitement about the 1008HA – - and that you would probably be much happier getting one of the latest Eee PCs instead.
So if you would be interested in receiving a White Black version of the Asus Eee PC 1008HA, then please be sure to sign up before Saturday at midnight.
Update 6/3: Due to the lack of availability of the White model, we substituted Black. Entry deadline is now Friday, June 5, at midnight.
Posted by Tom Greer on May 27, 2009 in Site-related
Last evening, we ported our site over to a new server. We had outgrown our britches, again. This server is about 10x the capacity of the old one.
We did experience some unexpected problems. The site was down for a couple of hours last night. Then, our price comparison tables stopped functioning properly for a bit.
But that’s all behind us now.
We apologize if you were inconvenienced. We appreciate your support.
Update May 28, 2009 12:20am: Well, after about 12 hours of additional downtime, we are up again. Full speed ahead!
Posted by Tom Greer on May 19, 2009 in Asus Netbooks, Netbooks, Site-related
Update 6/3/09: Our order fulfillment date got moved further out. So we opted to substitute the black model. It is already in transit. We will close entries on Friday, June 5, at midnight. Random drawing over the weekend to pick the lucky winner. The winner will be announced on Monday.
Update 5/28/09: We have changed the model that we will give away. We have upgraded to an Asus Eee PC 1008HA (White).
Update 5/29/08: Our Asus Eee PC 1008HA is on backorder. Enrolment stays open until it arrives.
On May 4, we told you we were going to give away a netbook during the month of May. In that post, we asked you which netbook you wanted us to give away. You told us you wanted Asus Eee PC 1000HE. So we asked, “Which Color?” And you voted for the Blue model.
So we ordered a Blue Eee PC 1000HE. It has arrived!
Tonight we will record the unboxing. We will post it here as quickly as we can edit it.
We will use the netbook for a short while. Then we will publish written and video reviews of the Eee PC 1000HE.
At the end of May, we will give it away to some lucky winner.
The Giveaway is open to all residents to the USA who are 18 years and older. To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is subscribe to our newsletter (that includes clicking on the link that completes the confirmation).
It is that simple!
By entering you agree to our May 2009 Netbook Giveaway Terms and Conditions.
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