This is a little rant I'm afraid. I know it's basically my fault BUT!!!!!

Sometimes when at clients premises, I have to use a series of rescue/installation discs to resolve an issue.

Sometimes, it can take quite a few hours to sort out the multiple problems people allow to accumulate on their computer before seeking professional help. A lot of which is helped along by the 'bar room fixers' who know absolutely sod all in real terms about much at all.

They don't know what the real problem is because they've not seen it and clients rarely know how to describe the problem fully anyway - not that there's anything wrong with that, I don't expect it.

The client then goes and mis-follows the wrong advice they've been given and make an even bigger dogs breakfast of the whole thing and after they've totally screwed their computer, they call me.

Now to the point of my rant.

After I've spent hours sorting out the cock-up, I put my things back in my bag (or so I think) and head off home. Some days, or even weeks, later I open my bag looking for the discs to find that I've accidentally left at my clients.

The annoying thing is the client, who now has a full set of service and recovery discs that I've paid for, and doesn't have a clue in hell how to use them, hasn't had the decency to ring me and let me know I've left them. This has happened every time I've done it.

I now have to go through the time and expense of getting a new set of dics together.

ONE THING YOU GET FROM ME IS HONESTY, IF YOU CAN'T RETURN THE FAVOUR THEN YOU DON'T DESERVE THE SERVICES I OFFER.

​I will work out where I left them and that person will have a heavy bill next time they call me!

It just goes to show, there's a lot of really dishonest immigrants out there.

Some of you know I sell mobile phones and tablet PCs and it has been mentioned that you can buy them cheaper elsewhere. Of course you can but remember, just because it's cheaper, it doesn't make it better value. Read on and I'll explain why.

The suppliers I use carry out quality control checks to make sure they're not shipping out junk. Quality control checks cost time, and time costs money, and that cost has to be added onto the price of the items being sold.

I've bought from the 'cheap' suppliers in the past and had over 80% fail rate within the guarantee period. That's OK you say, just send it back for a refund or replacement. That's when it gets interesting.

Here's how it goes:
You buy a great looking iPhone copy from el chinese cheapo dot com for €80 cos you can't afford the real thing - lots can't - pop your sim card in and away you go. Things are great - for a couple of weeks - then you realise how limited it really is, how quickly the battery runs out, how easily marked the case and screen are and, to top it all, the tv function that you thought would be handy doesn't actually work cos it's analogue and all your local tv channels are digital. Phooey!
Of course, the batteries aren't covered under the warranty, nor is the fact it looks like a box of shite after only 2 months use. Then, just 6 months in, it stops working - now this is where it really gets good!
You contact the super-cheap seller (if they're still around) and they tell you to get a quote for the repair and they'll help with the cost if it's not too much. Pardon? Isn't this under guarantee? Aren't you supposed to offer a replacement or a refund? How much are you prepared to give me towards a repair?
Now for the punchline - Send it back to us (in china) by registered post and if it's a manufacturing fault, we'll give you a 5% discount on a new phone over €120. WHAT!?!?!?!?
OK, if you send it back, that €80 phone has just cost you €100 or more and you'll have to spend another €100+ to get another phone that will probably fail whilst still under guarantee. Guarantee???
Oh yes, if you manage to get a refund, you will still be out of pocket because you don't get the return postage back, nor the original delivery charge either! That's at least €30 down the drain and you no longer have a phone.
Then you don't buy budget phones from people like me because you've already been duped with the garbage chinese suppliers and all these chinese phones are total crap, aren't they - wrong! It's only the cheapo suppliers where you get the crap, if indeed, you actually get anything.

Just remember the old adage - you get what you pay for. Buy super cheap, get super crap.

I've been on the Costa Blanca for over six and a half years now and have built a strong reputation for getting things right. If the phone or tablet you bought from me goes wrong and it's covered by the manufacturers warranty, it gets replaced or you get a refund of the purchase price. Simples!

Loss of data, photos, apps, documents, account information, batteries, flashing or rooting, overall appearance and durability of certain items are not covered under the warranty, nor are we responsible for loss of, or anything associated with, such items. They are your responsibility. This list is not exhaustive.

It would seem the Apple are testing a new tablet with a 13" screen as well as looking at a larger screen format for their iPhone!? WOW, this could be brilliant - if it comes in at less than the 13" Macbook Air (around £900.00). It must be stressed that this is still in testing phase and it is not clear whether it will run the iOS or OSX.

Until the introduction of the iPad mini, the iPad had always had a 9.7" screen with the next step up being the 11" Macbook Air and the 13" Macbook, so giving the iPad a 13" screen puts it squarely in the Mactop market. Of course, we do not know if it will be rolled out an iPad or as a Macbook Touch, or something along those lines. I guess that will be down to which OS is eventually used.

So, what will it be? We just don't know yet but as soon as we do, we'll let you know.

Then there is the weight consideration and ease of use. 10" tablets can sometimes feel a bit cumbersome with many people choosing the 9" models for ease of holding and typing. Another thing to consider is, iOS is not Flash compatible whereas OSX is.

Apple are also looking to bring the iPhone into line with other smartphone manufacturers by upping the screen size to 5" from its' current 4". Again, nothing much is available on this front but things seem to be getting exciting over in Apple land.

All brand names and registered trade marks acknowledged.

Many of us will have heard of the Microsoft Surface, that nice little tablet pc made by the maker of that operating system that nobody wants - Windows 8.Well, it seems the same is true for the Surface - nobody wants it.

Microsoft, it appears, has spent close on to $1 billion on this product from inception to store, well 20 stores actually if you discount mail order.

Many things have been blamed for the failure of this device that got pretty good reviews at release, those errors of judgement include waiting for two and a half years, allowing Apple to get in there and grab the market. Too expensive - the Surface, with its' cover,  was $100 dearer than the cheapest full sized iPad.

Of course, if you had an iPhone, it made sense to get the iPad over the Surface because just to be able to use those apps and the iTunes full of your music. Microsoft have only just lowered the price of the Surface so it beats the iPad.

The other key pointer, suggested to be of blame for the failure of the Surface, is that it was only available over the counter from 20 stores across the US. This was the number of Microsoft branded stores where it was available from - the ONLY stores it was available from!

Despite this, good old Microsoft are not going to give in. It would seem that they plan to release a newer version of the Surface within a year.

On a slightly different note, Microsoft seem to be making inroads with their Windows phone - the ideal place for Windows 8 without the desktop feature - knocking Blackberry off the 3rd place slot.


All brand names and registered trademarks acknowledged.

OK, hands up if you think your iPhone stands head and shoulders above the rest in the reliability stakes.OK, that's 1 ....... 2 ...... 3 .. 4 ........ 5. Anyone else?

OK, hands up if you think your Samsung Galaxy is the best.

Well ...... actually, the iPhone is both the best and almost the worst. The least reliable smartphone on the market is officially  the ...(fanfare of trumpets ..... tadaaaaaaa) Samsung Galaxy S3! Oh my gosh, is that right Clive? Who says so?

That would be Mobileinsurance.co.uk Bob.

According to them, the top 10 least reliable smartphone goes like this:

1. Samsung Galaxy S3
2. HTC Desire S
3. Nokia Lumina 610
4. iPhone 4
5. Blackberry Bold 9900
6. iPhone 4S
7. Sony Xperia S
8. Blackberry Curve 9220
9. Samsung Tocco Lite 2
10. LG Nexus 4

The most reliable smartphone is reported to be the iPhone 3GS from 2009 with the Blackberry Torch 9800 in second place.

Don't shout at me if you disagree, I didn't compile the list.

What I find interesting in this report is that branded mainstream smartphones prove to be so unreliable. The main criticism I receive from people when I show them my range of unbranded smartphones (at prices considerably less than the mainstream) is that they're unreliable - ha! The Galaxy S3 is less than 12 months old.

My unbranded smartphone is 12 months old and still works, it still gets the oooooohhs and aahhhhs when people see it and I'm immediately asked if it's a Samsung and how much.

They are totally amazed when I tell them. They all run on the Google Android operating system, just like Samsung, HTC and loads of other branded smartphones out there but they're less than half the price and have additional features such as:

• They accept 2 SIM cards
• They're unlocked so you can put ANY SIM card in. It can be your current PAYG SIM or your contract SIM. Your UK and your Spanish SIM, It doesn't matter.

So why not get over it, put that snobbery aside and take the plunge. We have smartphones that look like the S3 (it that's what you want), probably more reliable, and probably less than half the price.

Go on, ask us, you know it makes sense.


All brand names and registered trade marks acknowledged.