Listening to the Voices in My Head

RedFox AnyDVD HD - To me, this was a great shell game.

A year or so ago, ONE person left Slysoft, all the others stayed.

Then Slysoft was 'shut down', then was reopened a nanosecond later as Redfox 'Project'. Exactly the same software, slightly different logo (they only put a black mask on the Fox, I kid you not, that was all that was done). They insist they're NEW company, but Slysoft forums still work, as does Slysoft software checking for updates. So yes, it was a name and possible location change, but they were no longer going to honor Slysoft license holders.

Here's the rub: I had gotten the life time updates option for Slysoft. 'Redfox Project' graciously offered a 20% discount for Slysoft lifetime license holders.

To me, this is like if the FORD company decided to rename to CORD, and every FORD owner was told their extended warranty, lemon laws, or contracts weren't going to be honored.

I did end up getting the lifetime license again, as I do NOT do subscription software if I can avoid it. Here's hoping they don't pull another shell game.

If I have asked you over and over if the DVDs you're selling are the real deal, because I have been burned by people selling crappy pirated off the TV or old VHS tapes, then burned to DVDs and calling them 'box sets', even with network logos from different TV stations on them, and you tell me "Original discs, used but in great condition", you have NO call to get all snarky and pissy when I send you an email voicing my disappointment in selling me bootlegged.

I checked all my correspondence with you, and you on more than one occasion, assured me that the DVDs were originals. Imagine my disappointment and then anger when I open the box, and find out what you have sold to me is not Original box set, and not even original discs in new CD/DVD cases, but obviously burned/copied DVDs. All you have to to is turn em over and take a look and you see the telltale 'blue/purple' dvd underside, rather than the gold-ish color of a proper DVD.

Yes, you gave me a full refund, saying I don't have to send the pirated discs back to you, but then you whined at me that you have to pay an overdraft fee? Maybe you should have thought of that before selling pirated goods, yes?

You told me to just throw them away. No, I am going to see about sending them back, as I don't want them. But I have to make sure that when I send them back, if the parcel gets tapped for customs inspection, that *I* don't get into trouble for shipping pirated media.

I've been watching Carl Sagan's "COSMOS". I thought it would be great if I could find it as an audio book. I looked, and could only find two Sagan books, neither of which were "COSMOS".

What I found funny was this: On Amazon dot com, some bright spark bought a printed in 1982 copy of "COSMOS". He gave the book a one star rating because the info in the book was 'dated'. What.. the..fu...? A 30 yr old book, and he's surprised the newer physics discoveries aren't in it?

I told him "Complaining that a 30 year old book you bought has dated info is rather silly, isn't it?"

But I digress: Audio book. I couldn't find one anywhere, so I came up with this idea: I have the DVDs, Who better to narrate COSMOS than Carl Sagan. (whistles innocently)

I purchased an external Blu-Ray/DVD player for my new desktop. It has paid for itself by virtue of Amazon dot Com.

Now, I like supporting Australian businesses, as it keeps people working, and is a good thing to do. But when I see a boxed set of a series for sale here for $60 and I can't get it, including shipping, for $36 from Amazon. Another was $63 from Amazon, and $149 AUD average price from local stores. Entire order, would have been over $200 AUD. Via Amazon, less than half that, including shipping.

Sorry, but as much as I like to support local businesses, when the bottom line is that much of a difference, I have to shop with a budget in mind.

I have been seeing these ads about DVDs. They come with the DVD movie, and two other formats for you to use on different media players. This is announced like it's some big favor.

What the hell do they think I (and millions of others) have been doing with their DVDs already?