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New York, 12:29 AM
Mon Dec 21
16 posts in the last 24 hours

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    Dsmvwl  Admin  Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×
    Image of Ninety-9 Ninety-9
    12/16/09

    In reply to The Google Phone's Alter Ego: A Lame Christmas Bonus
    Lame? A $600+ unlocked smartphone, pre-release. One of the fastest and most advanced smartphones on the market. Much better than my Christmas bonus.

    OK, I can understand if you need the money to buy your kid some toys for Christmas.
     Reply
    Ninety-9 was starred Ninety-9 was unstarred
    Image of Covertghost Covertghost
    12/16/09

    In reply to The Google Phone's Alter Ego: A Lame Christmas Bonus
    That's cute.

    I love when people cry about not getting their bonus.

    The fact that people *expect* a bonus, is just ridiculous and defeats the purpose of a bonus.
     Reply
    NorwoodIsMyHero promoted this comment Covertghost was starred Covertghost was unstarred
    Image of NorwoodIsMyHero NorwoodIsMyHero
    12/16/09

    @Covertghost: I'm pretty sure Google's continued growth probably still warrants a bonus.
     Reply
    NorwoodIsMyHero was starred NorwoodIsMyHero was unstarred
    Image of ExtendedRockyMontage ExtendedRockyMontage
    12/16/09

    @NorwoodIsMyHero: they already got cash bonuses this quarter, I really don't think there will be too many complaints coming from the big G.
     Reply
    NorwoodIsMyHero promoted this comment ExtendedRockyMontage was starred ExtendedRockyMontage was unstarred
    Image of NorwoodIsMyHero NorwoodIsMyHero
    12/17/09

    @ExtendedRockyMontage: Thanks for clarifying. I get a quarterly bonus, and I'd so much rather have that than some pissant Christmas bonus.
     Reply
    NorwoodIsMyHero was starred NorwoodIsMyHero was unstarred
    Image of Crashproof Crashproof
    12/15/09

    In reply to The Google Phone's Alter Ego: A Lame Christmas Bonus
    This is not the year to complain about not getting a bonus. I'm used to generous year-end profit-sharing bonuses from my company, and this year for the first time... no profit, thus no bonus.
     Reply
    Crashproof was starred Crashproof was unstarred
    Image of OMG! Ponies! OMG! Ponies!
    12/15/09

    In reply to The Google Phone's Alter Ego: A Lame Christmas Bonus
    Could be worse.

    You could get a pink slip and an empty box for your personal effects.
     Reply
    OMG! Ponies! was starred OMG! Ponies! was unstarred
    Image of jayhawktrainer jayhawktrainer
    12/15/09

    @OMG! Ponies!: HA! That's exactly what I received today. Add in a walk out by the IT manager and minus the box of course...
     Reply
    OMG! Ponies! promoted this comment jayhawktrainer was starred jayhawktrainer was unstarred
    Image of Woozle Wozzle Woozle Wozzle
    12/15/09

    In reply to The Google Phone's Alter Ego: A Lame Christmas Bonus
    Is this guy serious? He could sell this on ebay for thousands!
     Reply
    frigg promoted this comment Woozle Wozzle was starred Woozle Wozzle was unstarred
    Image of frigg frigg
    12/15/09

    @Woozle Wozzle: I bet they're forbidden in some way from selling the phone on eBay.
     Reply
    frigg was starred frigg was unstarred
    Image of goldaar goldaar
    12/16/09

    @frigg: Correct, you are not allowed to sell the devices, they are serialized. Family members may be given the device. Same thing that happened last year.
     Reply
    frigg promoted this comment goldaar was starred goldaar was unstarred
    Image of Shawn Barney Shawn Barney
    12/15/09

    In reply to The Google Phone's Alter Ego: A Lame Christmas Bonus
    I don't see the big deal here. Yes before Google gave their employees massive bonuses (20 to 30 grand according to the lifehacker article) and getting a phone now seems pitiful but lets bring this into consideration:

    A local steel mill in Northern Ontario recently made record profits due to the demand of steel. As a bonus all the employees were given over $30,000 (the exact amount escapes me). Now the mill is in fear of closing as steel has gone down in price and now people are more anxious to get a paycheque, let alone a bonus.

    A Christmas bonus is a way of the employer of saying "thanks for your hard work." It's not a given, its discretionary. The fact that they are receiving anything is something to feel happy about.

    Also, I've never heard of the government giving a bonus to their employees (I for one have never been the recipient of one). Bonuses are pretty much a private sector nicety. I want me a phone, something, anything.
     Reply
    Shawn Barney was starred Shawn Barney was unstarred
    Image of ExtendedRockyMontage ExtendedRockyMontage
    12/16/09

    @Shawn Barney: government employees don't get bonuses, ok, but I've got three words for you: "Defined benefit plan." Let's trade, you can have my new phone and I'll work for 20 fewer years before retirement :P
     Reply
    Shawn Barney promoted this comment ExtendedRockyMontage was starred ExtendedRockyMontage was unstarred
    Image of Shawn Barney Shawn Barney
    12/16/09

    @ExtendedRockyMontage: That is true, the benefit package can be lovely. Hey I'll take it; you'll be back to work because you'll be too broke to enjoy retirement ;)
     Reply
    Shawn Barney was starred Shawn Barney was unstarred
    Image of sdsviet sdsviet
    12/15/09

    In reply to The Google Phone's Alter Ego: A Lame Christmas Bonus
    hey if he sells that phone on ebay now, he sure can make back that cash christmas bonus google jipped him out of!
     Reply
    archercc promoted this comment sdsviet was starred sdsviet was unstarred
    Image of archercc archercc
    12/15/09

    @sdsviet: Yeah I would say unless there was some sort of a clause he could probably pop that fucker out for $1000 no taxes....
     Reply
    archercc was starred archercc was unstarred
    Image of tande04 tande04
    12/15/09

    In reply to The Google Phone's Alter Ego: A Lame Christmas Bonus
    I was just wondering about that.

    I remembered how upset everyone was when they did it with the G1 then I was thinking... "Hey isn't it almost Christmas again" wondering if they were going to pull the same thing.

    They did.
     Reply
    tande04 was starred tande04 was unstarred
    Image of Killjoy Killjoy
    12/15/09

    In reply to The Google Phone's Alter Ego: A Lame Christmas Bonus
    "But hey, guys, you'd buy a new phone once a year anyway, right? And since they're unlocked, you can put 'em on any network's monthly plan - well, some of them - and over the course of a year, save hundreds more dollars, right?

    "So that's like a thousand dollar bonus, right? Sort of? Right? C'mon, guys, it's Christmas! Conditional bonuses paid in installments with a small company overhead! That's the Google... hey, sorry everyone, I meant it's the holidays, of course.

    "Just remember to file your testing reports Monday morning, okay? And we'll - hey guys, guys! Slow down here! Let's Do No Evil, okay? I got a phone too, you know."
     Reply
    Killjoy was starred Killjoy was unstarred
    Image of badbob001 badbob001
    12/16/09

    @Killjoy: since you're still paying the monthly bill to the carrier to connect to the free phone, I don't see how it will be 'like a thousand dollars bonus'. You think this phone, or any phone, is worth a thousand dollars? Well, I guess modern game consoles, that costs 1/3 of that, must be made of old parts from pinball machines and cardboard.
     Reply
    Killjoy promoted this comment badbob001 was starred badbob001 was unstarred
    Image of Killjoy Killjoy
    12/16/09

    @badbob001: Some carriers offer the option of no-contract and/or no-subsidized-device plans that cost less than contracted, device-subsidized plans. Assuming the hypothetical Google employee in question establishes a money-saving plan proactively, over the course of a year this reduced cost will count further towards a quasi-bonus initially established at $400 or so worth of free hardware.

    Accordingly, no. I don't think this phone is worth a thousand dollars, nor was that what our fictional Google department head said. Just leave the joke-killing to me, hey? If anyone's suited for it...
     Reply
    Killjoy was starred Killjoy was unstarred
    Image of crashtechdummies crashtechdummies
    12/15/09

    In reply to The Google Phone's Alter Ego: A Lame Christmas Bonus
    Or...instead of putting it in a drawer to sit...he could put it on ebay and make $2000 on it. I think he might find plenty of other people that would love to be in on the ground floor of beta testing a phone that won't hit markets for a loooong time! Bragging rights!
     Reply
    Killjoy promoted this comment John Herrman approved this comment crashtechdummies was starred crashtechdummies was unstarred
    Image of bigPixel bigPixel
    12/15/09

    In reply to The Google Phone's Alter Ego: A Lame Christmas Bonus
    Wait - companies still give "Christmas Bonuses"? What is this concept of which you speak?
     Reply
    OCEntertainment promoted this comment Edited by bigPixel at 12/15/09 7:27 PM bigPixel was starred bigPixel was unstarred
    Image of OCEntertainment OCEntertainment
    12/15/09

    @bigPixel: At my job, I get the privilege of chipping in $10 to buy my bosses a gift card for Christmas. It remains unclear at this point whether I'll even be getting a regular annual review (with raise) for which I am well overdue.

    I'd take a damn Google phone (I don't even care what model) in a heartbeat.
     Reply
    OCEntertainment was starred OCEntertainment was unstarred
    Image of bigPixel bigPixel
    12/16/09

    @OCEntertainment: Agreed. If I didn't like it I'd ebay it to a Gizmodean and that would be my Christmas bonus :-)
     Reply
    bigPixel was starred bigPixel was unstarred
    Image of Monty Monty
    12/15/09

    In reply to The Google Phone's Alter Ego: A Lame Christmas Bonus
    So, essentially he paid a thousand bucks to be a beta tester for Google? I hope they will toss in a free lump of coal to go with it.
     Reply
    Monty was starred Monty was unstarred
    Image of RayKinStL RayKinStL
    12/15/09

    @Monty: This is what is wrong with America. He didn't pay shit to be a tester. He received what is currently one of the hottest phones as a bonus! Google didn't have to give him anything. He gets his salary and that is enough. Google does something nice each year for their employees and dimwits like you spin it into something negative. It's no wonder most companies don't want to give bonuses, even when times are good. All it does it set unrealistic expectations that John Q Public expects you to live up to each and every year.
     Reply
    Monty promoted this comment Edited by RayKinStL at 12/15/09 7:35 PM RayKinStL was starred RayKinStL was unstarred
    Image of Monty Monty
    12/15/09

    @RayKinStL: You are correct, it is a "bonus" and who cares if it is a nice phone or dollars or -- frankly, nothing. In an economy like we have today, having a job is the best gift of all. I was merely continuing the theme of the writing, and I should have just reminded everyone of the depressing times we live in and to put their big boy panties on. First, I need to find mine, though.
     Reply
    Monty was starred Monty was unstarred
    Image of RayKinStL RayKinStL
    12/15/09

    @Monty: Wow, that was very big of you to admit you were wrong in what you said. I commend you sir. Glad to see there are other people on the internet with their head screwed on straight.
     Reply
    RayKinStL was starred RayKinStL was unstarred
    Image of acidrain69 acidrain69
    12/15/09

    In reply to Game Faces Gallery
    Ok, #3 is DK, #6 is some kind of pokemon thing. #8 is maybe Kirby? #11 is megaman, #12 is Pikachu, #13 is Ryu, and #14 is Samus. I'm lost for the rest. #2 might be Bowser. #7 might be Ken
     Reply
    SQLGuru promoted this comment acidrain69 was starred acidrain69 was unstarred
    Image of SQLGuru SQLGuru
    12/15/09

    @acidrain69: #6 is Jigglypuff from Pokemon. #4 E-Honda? #2 I agree would be Bowser. Is #1 Sagat?
     Reply
    SQLGuru was starred SQLGuru was unstarred
    Image of cazzaccio cazzaccio
    12/04/09

    In reply to Apple In 'Advanced' Acquisition Talks With Lala
    Lala's a great business model for music for the era where everyone is constantly connected to the internet, whether it's via a smartphone, WiFi, etc. My guess is that while they only charge 10 cents for each stream, they probably pay a lot less to the labels for the right to stream a song than for the right to let someone download it - so their profit margins are just as high as Apple's, but they rely on the fact that people will buy a ton more music when it's that cheap. Buying Lala might be a great way for Apple to get those deals with the labels without doing the negotiations themselves.
     Reply
    cardboredbox approved this comment cazzaccio was starred cazzaccio was unstarred
    Image of thebigcheese thebigcheese
    12/04/09

    In reply to Apple In 'Advanced' Acquisition Talks With Lala
    This could either be awesome or awful. It will definitely be aw-something. I wish more people would utilize the trading aspect of the service, though... I've got some CDs on my want list still.
     Reply
    Nathan Obbards promoted this comment thebigcheese was starred thebigcheese was unstarred
    Image of Nathan Obbards Nathan Obbards
    12/04/09

    @thebigcheese: My prediction: Apple is finally seeing some of the advantages that the Zune marketplace and Zune Pass have and will soon unroll it's own all you can eat subscription service to iTunes that, like the Zune Pass, allows you to stream music to your device anywhere you are connected to the internet. Your account will sync with your specific songs so, like with the Zune, you can stream it to any computer.
     Reply
    Edited by Nathan Obbards at 12/04/09 4:26 PM Nathan Obbards was starred Nathan Obbards was unstarred
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