New I-MAC from Future Shop having major PROBLEMS!

UPDATE:  I got my MAC from Future Shop and with the tech guy and he said the mother board wasn't fried like the service guy said the night before.  He did say it failed a PC test, which apparently most all do.  He said he let the Mac run for days and he couldn't find anything wrong with it.  I said if it happens again, I'll bring it in.   He said fine.  He was very polite and helpful.  I will bring the Mac back if it starts acting up again.  I hope not because it is a lot of money and I want a good computer.

I hope that what I typed below won't become a reality.  I do feel that this Future Shop in Bayer's Lake was very service oriented and helpful.

I can't believe it, my new I-Mac, 27" which I purchased on May 29th 2012, has a fried mother board!  This is the 2nd item I purchased from Future Shop that is defected or a lemon.  I had to take my camera back and thankfully, the GM of Future Shop in Bayer's Lake Dennis, exchanged the camera for me with one that was better.  Thankfully I purchased the extended warranty offered by Future Shop which is over and above the Manufacturer's warranty.  Now, I can't believe I took my IMAC in on Sunday because it was shaking (the screen) and then Saturday, the screen went dark grey.  They thought I'd get it back within 24 to 48 hours.  I hadn't heard from them by Tuesday, so I called Tuesday night and was told that the Motherboard was fried and they had to order a new one. It could take anywhere from 1-2 months.  That is totally unacceptable.  I asked to speak to the manager because if a new IMAC had such a severe breakage at this new stage, I can't imagine what it will work like in a few years. 

I will call him tomorrow and the IT tech took a lot of notes. I expect a new IMAC and not the broken one.  This is not quality if MACs are turning out to be lemons.  This is the 2nd MAC I purchased in 4 years and the other one broke in the first night.  The motherboard was fried as well.  What is happening APPLE????

I'll update you on how this gets resolved by Future Shop and maybe Apple as well.

UPDATED AGAIN: Oct 26th.

I have contacted Future Shop and spoke to Denis one of the managers and spoke about the problems with my 4 month old IMAC.  I'll bring it in to them when I get a moment, probably when I do my travels in November. In the meantime, I have been emailing and calling APPLE in California.  To date, no resolution to my IMAC problems.  Here just a list of some:

- shakes back and forth when I click the mouse
- Turn on: Not consistent at start up.  Screen turns white then black then comes back brighter
- too long starting up and SOMETIMES goes from a med grey colour with the apple sign & my name & ask for password. I click my name & apple sign then it shakes and starts up with the galaxy
- MS errors
- scrapping sounds within the IMAC
- keeps blinking then shakes when I click enter
- if the IMAC is on too long, it won't give out any sound at all I have to turn the IMAC off then back on to get the sound to work.
- when I click on a game, it goes to a deep grey screen and stays that way so I have to hard shut it off then start it back up.
- if I start it back up right away, the entire screen turns into little individual coloured double lines.

I'm feed up with this Apple product and I want something done about it.
People should not have to go through this to get the machine to work properly and with this many problems, it can only get worse!

Thanks for letting me vent.  I'll try Future Shop tomorrow and then Apple again on Monday.

Debbie

UPDATE: Fireplace front refinishing

Hello.

When I moved into my home, many years ago, one of the first things I fell in love with was my fireplace.  It had the Santa bricks (that's what I call them).  They are the red, lined bricks.  The front of the fireplace opening is very small, unlike what I had in my other place, which was so huge that I could sit inside it!  The fireplace didn't have a mantle on it so that was one of the first things we purchased.

We went to Kent's Building and looked at fireplace mantles.  They were very expensive.  The service guy who waited on us said for us to wait a minute.  He came back and brought us to a complete fireplace mantle and outside closure.  It was unfinished so we could stain it or paint it whatever we like.  The price was only $150.00 dollars but the actual price was $650.  The person who ordered it special, didn't come back for it so Kent's sold it to us.

We brought it home and pushed it up against our own fireplace with our bricks already in place and it fit perfectly as if it was made for our fireplace.  We couldn't believe it!  We decided to stain it with a cherry red stain, to match our existing furniture at the time.  So I sanded and then stained it myself.  I usually don't do well to paint or stain anything, because I paint everything in my way!!!

Later years, my cousin Richard, put a back on the mantle, which didn't come with any.  I lost many things down the back of the mantle.  The back was stained the same colour and no one ever could guess that it didn't come as one piece.

Throughout the years, cracks began going across the red, lined bricks, leading upwards.  The crack became longer and wider.  I knew it was time to call in a fireplace guy to see what could be done and if I could afford it.  There was a huge gap between the fireplace and the walls so I wanted this to be fixed as well.

I made a number of calls and left messages, but you know, it amazes me how few called me back.  One person actually came out to my home to give me an estimate.  The other company called but never came out and none of the other companies I call, ever called me back.  I guess it does pay to do your research.

I had an idea of what I wanted, it was rocks or stones.  The man came out and looked over the fireplace carefully and quoted $1500.  Well, I couldn't afford that.  We discuss it for a while and he finally came down to $1200.  I agreed.  We sat down and picked out what type of fireplace I wanted it to look like.

I ended up with Sandstone.  It has a tinge of green in it, which would go with all the colours in my living room.   Prior to this, I didn't have a hearth but I wanted one.  He was able to raise the flat hearth that I had up to about 5 inches and he put two huge sandstones on it for the hearth.  He made the hearth even with the actual inside of the fireplace.  He also did over the inside bricks.  He said I shouldn't use the fireplace as a shredder and to not burn Christmas and other papers in it.  Actually, I don't use it all that much anyway and I do get it cleaned every two years.  He inspected it and said it was pretty clean.

These are pictures of my Santa brick fireplace and as you're looking at it, the large crack
goes up from about the 4th brick over.  I loved these bricks but I need a change. My fireplace guy
said they don't even make these kind of bricks anymore.  Too bad, they are nice with the lines through them.  They look or remind me of Santa bricks.

While he was doing this, I was getting ready to have my wood floors redone & the walls painted.

The light spots are the sandstone beginning to dry and it will brighten right up!

You can see the two huge slabs he put down for the hearth.

This was the artist who brought new life to my fireplace!  He really knew his stuff.

See how lovely the sandstone is and how it brightens up the fireplace.

I really love it!  I'm so happy I did it and you are thinking of changing your fireplace, don't hesitate, you'll love it!!

I loved this colour for many years, but now I want to paint it an antique white.  I placed a colour block up against it and the sandstone came to life!  I'll post his name on an update.  So folks, if you think you WANT to fix your fireplace, I'd recommend doing it.  It will make a big different to your room and your comfort.  Thanks for your time reading my blog.
Debbie

Movie - The Black Knight Arises

I picked the little guy up at day camp, after he returned from a hard, long day at Ross Farm.  He reminded me that I was going to take him to the show to see the Black Knight Arises.  Actually, I was going to take my nephew but he and his family left for home in Toronto today.  I wasn't going to, but then decided, yes I will.  So I surprised him by driving towards the movie theatres.

He asked where we were going and I then said to the movies.  He was excited.  Unfortunately when we arrived at the theatre, it was only about 4:35 pm and the movie didn't start until 6 pm.  We got food stuff and waited.

Finally we went in and picked our seats (not too many there at all since the movie was out for a little while now) and had to watch all the pre-showings, way too many!  Then finally the movie came on.

WELL, I can tell you it wasn't a disappointment!!!!  It was so engrossing that I don't think I blinked for a while.  Little Rialey said his eyes were dry because he couldn't even blink.  The movie was that good.  Really, I didn't expect that it would be that exceptional.  They did it more than justice.  I don't want to give anything away here, but I can tell you I usually can figure out plots in movies, but this movie, I couldn't.   I actually couldn't imagine what was coming next and next then next.  It kept me awake and on my toes.  It was exciting, fast-paced, great acting and action.  I don't think that anyone who is a follower of these types of movies will be disappointed.

I can't wait for more of these movies to come out and I know they will!!  But that's my little secret until you see the movie.

Nite for now!