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Microsoft Windows “Vista Capable”: Good for Booting Only

Vista largeWindows Vista is the much touted and latest operating system from Microsoft. Like most software, the publisher establishes minimum hardware requirements of your computer for the program to operate normally.

Microsoft says that a “Windows Vista Capable PC includes at least a modern processor (at least 800 MHz), 512 MB system memory, a graphics processor that is DirectX 9 capable.”  [See website.]  They do indicate that the nifty new Windows Aero interface only comes in the premium versions of the software and that advanced or additional hardware may be required.

Many computer makers have been marketing their computers as “Windows Vista Capable.”  The trouble is your idea of a “capable” computer may differ from that of manufacturers and Microsoft.

According to Dell, if you buy their minimum configuration for a “Windows Vista Capable” computer, here is what you can expect:

*MOUSE PRINT:

Dell Vista capable

Translation: The computer will turn on, but you can’t do too much with it.

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JetBlue’s Customer Bill of Rights: The Big Loophole

jet blue rightsThe past two weeks have been a publicity disaster for Jet Blue and a travel nightmare for passengers after hundreds of flights were still being cancelled days after a snowstorm passed.

To its credit, the company quickly admitted its errors and embarrassment, and pledged to do better in the future. Rather than a hollow promise to improve, the company put its money where its mouth is, and unveiled a “Customer Bill of Rights.”  It will pay people rather generously for their inconvenience when flights are delayed or cancelled — up to the price they paid for their ticket. Compensation increases as the time of the delay increases.

However, the airline will generally only provide these benefits when the cancellation or departure delay is a result of a “controllable irregularity.”  Nowhere in the policy is that term defined. So, our trusty mouse went to work, and ferretted out the definition from the company:

*MOUSE PRINT:

“A controllable irregularity is something that is within the control of JetBlue, such as staffing issues, technology issues, maintenance issues, etc. It essentially includes most everything except weather, air traffic control constraints, or airport conditions beyond the control of JetBlue.”

So, potentially the thousands of passengers stranded in airport lobbies around the country over Presidents Day weekend would not have been compensated a penny had the new policy been in effect at that time. No doubt arguments would have broken out over whether the problem was the weather or mismanagement.

Only passengers held captive on airplanes on the runway would clearly be covered because the “controllable irregularity” language does not apply to the “ground delays” section of the policy.

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Capital One No Hassle Rewards: Only $48,000 Roundtrip

Capital One card Everyone has seen the Capital One TV commercials that convey the impression that cashing in points you have earned for a free trip with other banks’ credit cards is nearly impossible. Whatever date you want, “the answer is always ‘no’.” [Watch commercial.]

The fix, they say, is to get a Capital One “no hassle” card with no blackout dates on any airline. Sounds great, right?

What they don’t tell you in the ad is that they charge you an arm and a leg in points for some “free” domestic roundtrips — far more than many of their competitors. So, in keeping with the spirit of their press release a few weeks ago, urging consumers to be more informed when making financial decisions, herewith are their terms and conditions: 

*MOUSE PRINT:

§ The number of miles required by the Cardholder for travel redemption will depend on the cost of the itinerary chosen by the Cardholder at the time of redemption. The mileage requirement is as follows: 15,000 miles are required for tickets up to $150.00; 35,000 miles are required for tickets from $150.01 up to $350.00; 60,000 miles are required for tickets from $350.01 up to $600.00. For tickets over $600.00 in value, the required number of miles will be determined by multiplying the cost of the ticket by 100 (ex. $768 ticket requires 76,800 miles). [see website]

Translation: A $400 airline ticket will require 60,000 points. To earn 60,000 points under Capital One’s revised system where every dollar spent earns 1.25 points on their regular card [up from 1 point], you would have to purchase $48,000 worth of goods and services.(Some purchases and other of their cards may earn 2 points per dollar spent.) 

It has been a rule of thumb in the travel industry to charge 25,000 points or miles for a free domestic roundtrip. Bank of America, for example, lets you redeem 25,000 points for a ticket worth up to $400. Earning points at the rate of 1 point per dollar spent, your free trip would require $25,000 in expenditures on the card, about half what Capital One requires.

Providian’s “Real Rewards” card earns a point per dollar spent, and one can get a $500 ticket for only 20,000 points. [Card no longer available to new applicants.]

Both Chase and Citibank, the two leading credit card issuers, make it almost impossible to determine in advance of applying for their cards how many points are required for particular rewards. And some of them are now imposing up to a $59 redemption fee.

The power of repeated advertising for Capital One’s “no hassle” card no doubt has brought it many customers who didn’t bother to check the fine print before applying.

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