Yeah Phil,
I'm runing along the same path. I've been struggling since mid-March. I've
installed/uninstalled partnered/re-partnered, created new Outlook Profile,
shutdown/restarted - you know the drill... I'm waiting to be told I have to
re-install my whole system.
It all started... in response to the Daylight Savings Time Mess... when I
upgraded to WM5 on my Verizon Samsung SCH-i730 (at Verizon's suggestion) - my
first mistake ... After synching, I lost Contacts with Notes & Calendar
items with Locations on my mobile using the "New & Improved" AcitveSync 4.5.
At least, I didn't make the jump to Outlook 2007 - sorry.
So far, Verizon's response is that is "sounds" like a software problem, so
I'll have to contact MS, AND.. MS's response has been that my Outlook data
"might" be corrupted. Gee, I wonder how that happened? Well, I guess the main
thing is that I'M the one that has to jump through hoops for days/weeks to
get this resolved (if I even can). Why do I get this feeling similar to what
you'd feel if you were just informed by your friendly Managed-Care Doc Shop
that you a have a terminal disease, and that it "may" be pre-existing???
Those premiums just keep goin' up, don't they?
Phil, pardon me while a RANT (or just skip the next 4 paras)...
)(*&&&*(&*((*&####
I spent 4 hours straight on the phone with Verizon Tech Services (and what
is now approaching 2 more man days with numerous other Level 1 & 2 techs).
They didn't even know the difference between a Smartphone & a Pocket PC
Phone! It's odd that Verizon doesn't seem to have any "Known Issues/Problems"
with their product. I guess it doesn't add to the bottom line to keep track,
eh? Neither does a decent desktop "charger". It does LOOK pretty though. I
dread to think what the Bluetooth experience is like. Ahhh, but those glossy
ads SURE are nice!
Also, I noticed the salespeople at the stores don't even know how to enter a
contact or calendar item one - on any of their "phones" (GOD FORBID). NO
doubt, the most important thing to them is being able to roll those
Blackberry "Balls" in search of the Meaning of Life on the Internet or some
such thing. Again, as long as it LOOKS good.
MEANWHILE, I've got a REAL business to run & really get tired of this
"incompetence disease". These people should PAY ME for what I've been through
trying to get their crappy products/software/services to even resemble
functionality. There should at least be an optional offering to their VIP
customers called something like "God Help Us, Because No-one ELSE Can".
After blowing away the firmware on my SCH-i730 with WM5, which didnt' work,
it was suggested (not suprisingly by Verizon) to upgrade my phone & move to
WM 6, which I did (Hey, romantic mythology was worth a try, right?) I knew at
this point that I was really screwed, but PROTECTIVE DENIAL runs deep in the
heart of us lowly longtime customers.
)(*&&&*(&*((*&####
Other wierd stuff relating to basic functionality is also happening. The
software implemented LOCK is inconviently annoying & buggy (especially where
NOTFICATIONS are involved) AND the battery gets drained big time even though
you get very little "backlight time". It's really interesting that with
nothing running, a MAJORITY of the PROGRAM MEMORY is used & a MINORITY is
available. They really screwed up many basic areas as well as making many
other "no brainer" navigational/ease-of-use mistakes. What were they
thinking??? - or should I say - NOT thinking. Well, obviously they weren't
thinking of their customers - or should I say their victims.
ANYWAY,
Many people are having problems but getting left in the lurch when it comes
to "technical support". I don't blame the people working the "pits". I doubt
if they even got an hour's worth of training on what they're supposed to be
supporting.
SO... now I have a new $350+ PocketPC phone (Samsung SCH-i760), new WM6,
new ActiveSync 4.5 (which has no Backup facility) AND my same old Windows XP
SP2 with Outlook 2003 (Small Bus Edition) - these I had before & everything
worked fine with WM 3.0 second edition on my old PPC Phone), AND... guess
what it STILL won't sync those records (Golly Geeeee Wiz). AND..., I'm
finding bugs with WM6.0 related to RECURRING CALENDAR ITEMS as well as a
pretty p-poor navigational "flow" given the WM 6.0 "buried in the menu" user
interface. I wish I could just go back to 4 years ago. That's what I get for
not just waiting for the Daylight Saving Time Mess to cycle by. Y2k didn't
cause me near the heartache that this software mess did!
I've searched all over the Internet, Verizon's site, MS's site & get only
inklings of what "might" be wrong. I'm trying to get tech support from MS now
because Verizon says it's a "software issue" (which it probably is) and
Samsung doesn't DO support. So, now I'm approaching that big Software
Monolith in the sky & feeling sick about it. I'm about ready to go back to a
manual organizer (I think I used a Daytimer in the 80's) - Ahhhh yes, the
good old days. I'll just get a regular cell phone, use the daytimer, do some
paying work for one of my clients, go on a date and take in a nice feel-good
movie, have dinner & wine afterwards AND RETURN THIS POOR EXCUSE FOR A PDA
PHONE. I'm disgusted with being a beta tester for these profit-heavy,
quality-light jokers.
Oh, I'm reading some vague stuff that indicates a need to have Outlook
Exhange 2007 - I REALLY hope THAT'S not the case.
I'll let you know if I get any results from MS. Good Luck, Phil....
My suggestion to Microsoft: Have all the Execs at Microsoft & all the Execs
at their business partner orgs be sentenced to having to use the products
they expect their customers to use. What a bunch of CRAPWARE.
Sorry Guys, but you blew it big time on this one. This is what happens when
products/services are "over-outsourced".
Oh, and yeah, I realize that "Due to the volume and variety of suggestions,
we can't provide compensation or attribution." I accept.
