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Basementgeek
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| Posted: Sat 03/13/2004 11:38pm [Post #1] |
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Found this on another help site. Free IBM 2.4 cel, 256, 40 gig, XP home,15in monitor, 56k, DVD ROM, speakers, 3 yr warranty....
http://www.metronomy.com/
I don't know about you, but you can never have to many PC's 
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galena1
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Joined: 19 Oct 2003
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Location: Devon -UK
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| Posted: Sun 03/14/2004 8:47am [Post #2] |
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Sounds too good to be true. Seen this advertised elsewhere some time ago in computer mag. Well I've decided to give it a whirl and my ref number is 40,000+ so might be a day or two before it turns up 
When(if) it does I shall be requesting some assistance re networking it with my existing. Cheers Basement for the link. Will obviously keep you posted on THIS. Regards Bob.
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P4-3.0G - Seagate Barracuda 160 - Maxtor 120 - Antec Hard Drive Cooler - 1GRam - Radeon9800Pro - Sony Multi DriveDVDRW - Audigy2 6.1 - XPHome |
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Basementgeek
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| Posted: Sun 03/14/2004 9:17am [Post #3] |
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I just looked it up on IBM site and to buy it was $720.00 USD.
During those 3 minutes "commericals" will give about enough time for a potty break and grab another beer from the frig.
Lets know how it goes.
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galena1
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| Posted: Sun 03/14/2004 9:48am [Post #4] |
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You bet - Really looking forward to it - Till the cynicism kicks in
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I know everything about nothing, nothing about everything and precious little about the bit in between.
P4-3.0G - Seagate Barracuda 160 - Maxtor 120 - Antec Hard Drive Cooler - 1GRam - Radeon9800Pro - Sony Multi DriveDVDRW - Audigy2 6.1 - XPHome |
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woodcock23
Advanced Tech
Joined: 12 Sep 2003
Posts: 1227
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Location: Worcestershire. England.
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| Posted: Sun 03/14/2004 10:31am [Post #5] |
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Well Basementgeek it looks as Galena1 said too good to be true; I wonder if you have to have a particular ISP and Broadband provider and how much that will be, what about paying for email? how involved would you be in Market research? what are the CDs you need to download? whats their function on the Computer? and the final question when you reach seventy do you find it hard to believe someone wants to give you something for almost nothing? cheers Jim. |
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Basementgeek
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| Posted: Sun 03/14/2004 10:44am [Post #6] |
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I read the FAQ's and saw nothing about a particular ISP. I am sure their will be some hoops to jump through. If I were you I would give it a try.
I sure they will pester you to buy stuff.
I would give it a go, but I am in the US and can't, just for the UK.
About time you UK blokes get a geat a break on PC equipment.
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galena1
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| Posted: Sun 03/14/2004 10:51am [Post #7] |
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I did note in the registration that my ISP had to be marked by me as 'other'. Of course, the old saying goes,"if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is". (Talks to myself) "There, happy now the cynicism has kicked in" Cheers All Bob.
PS- 720$ Bloody Cheapskates.
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I know everything about nothing, nothing about everything and precious little about the bit in between.
P4-3.0G - Seagate Barracuda 160 - Maxtor 120 - Antec Hard Drive Cooler - 1GRam - Radeon9800Pro - Sony Multi DriveDVDRW - Audigy2 6.1 - XPHome |
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Canuck
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Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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| Posted: Sun 03/14/2004 11:29am [Post #8] |
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Very skeptical about this, so far any benefits gained is that 40,000 + people have given their e-mail addresses and other info asked for. Don't be surprised that "due to the overwhelming response to this offer, we have had to cancel this program" and then expect to be inundated with spam.
40,000 at $ 720 = $28,800,000.00 .. what a promotion! 8O
Also have your read their terms and conditions? pay attention to the highlighted areas:
The following 5 key terms and conditions are for your guidance only, and do not constitute a legally binding agreement. Before delivery, you will be required to complete a written agreement,either by post or online. (So no mention is made about what the agreement contains).
1) On screen advertising: In exchange for your free PC, you must accept up to 3 minutes of on-screen advertising per hour of PC use. Every month, you will receive a cd containing adverts to be shown over the following four weeks. Each disc must be loaded onto your PC for the system to update. Should you fail to do this, your PC will be disabled.
2) The PC is lent to you for a term of 36 months, after which you will be offered a new computer and a new agreement, or you can simply return the old machine to a local collection point.
3) Your household must use the PC for at least 30hrs per calender month, or approximately 1 hour a day.
4) The PC must be connected to the internet at least once a month, and you must maintain an ISP (Broadband, 56k or ISDN) account throughout the term of the agreement. (why? so they can see where you've been .. spyware?)
5) The principle applicant should be 18 or over, and provide a home telephone number. We will conduct a security check linking you to the address given. Under certain circumstances, you may be requested to provide alternative proof of ID. This offer is restricted to one PC per household, and is only available to UK residents at this time.
If you accept these terms and conditions and consider yourself eligible, then please click on the 'Order your free PC' button to the left of your screen, and complete the short application form."
Get the idea of 'Big brother watching you? What price do you put on your privacy?
Last edited by Canuck on Sun 03/14/2004 11:48am; edited 3 times in total |
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Basementgeek
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| Posted: Sun 03/14/2004 11:41am [Post #9] |
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That is one reason I have a Yahoo and Hotmail account. I never give out my primary E mail except to friends and family
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Canuck
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| Posted: Sun 03/14/2004 11:51am [Post #10] |
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Right Basement, but if you're one of the lucky ones to be chosen, they'll want more than an e-mail address! |
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Basementgeek
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| Posted: Sun 03/14/2004 2:02pm [Post #11] |
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I guarantee you they will want a home address, phone number and I am sure a credit card number.
Would give somebody a $700.00 + PC without positive ID/credit info ? This is not a gift but loan. They will insist that they know how to contact you in case you decide to ship out on the deal. If it were my business I would require a healthy deposit, like 50%.
Again If I wanted/needed a new PC I would take them up on their offer. You can always return it.
I did not research everything naturally since I don't in the UK, just thought I would tell what I saw.
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galena1
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| Posted: Sun 03/14/2004 6:08pm [Post #12] |
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Not a problem for me, just going with it to see the score. The cynicism is well and truly activated.This is 2004, ther HAS to be a catch.Cheers. Bob
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I know everything about nothing, nothing about everything and precious little about the bit in between.
P4-3.0G - Seagate Barracuda 160 - Maxtor 120 - Antec Hard Drive Cooler - 1GRam - Radeon9800Pro - Sony Multi DriveDVDRW - Audigy2 6.1 - XPHome |
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whoozhe
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| Posted: Sun 03/14/2004 9:32pm [Post #13] |
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Would be interested in who is behind this. This is not a new scam and has been tried, in slightly different formats elsewhere.
The object of the supplier is to collate information from users with their permission under the agreement. That information is then used by the provider in any form he sees fit.
Normally there is a monthly survey to be completed.
The sale of statistics gathered from 40,000 is far more entising to advertising and marketing companies that the old street surveys which ususally maxed out at 2000 people.
The problem is that in every case the company has gone belly up. I suggest that if anyone is in the least interested that they contact IBM directly.
By the looks of this scam the provider stand to make money out of selling internet connections which possibly the provider owns or is associated with.
NOTHING IS FREE
For a similar scam see http://www.itd.umich.edu/virusbusters/hoaxes/free-pc.ht ml
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Basementgeek
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| Posted: Sun 03/14/2004 10:19pm [Post #14] |
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mart44
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| Posted: Mon 03/15/2004 2:34am [Post #15] |
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This sort of offer always makes us race to the search engines. I came up with this article on the offer written by someone who seems to have done his research on it.
There is of course a money making aspect to it. They hope you will buy stuff from looking at the adverts. I suppose I wouldn't be adverse to buying something as a result of watching the ads if it was an item, bit of software etc I thought was good. The article suggests there may be a market research aspect to it as well. There appears to be nothing underhand about the offer since they make clear to start with what is expected of you. You just need to decide if abiding by the terms will be a pain or not.
In short, it appears that it's just a business venture that they hope will make them some money. Nothing wrong in that but, as the article points out, it's another matter whether the venture will work out for either party. Time will tell. |
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