Just Duke - Mostly Tech Ponderings

Remember last year's CES? Remember when Motorola unveiled the Atrix, that could dock with lots of cool accessories including one that could turn it into a laptop? I know I sure got excited!  So in April, 2011 I picked one up at my local AT&T store. Man, it was so cool! I mean it was state of the art! . . . . For about 2 months! Then, some reality set in. First off, was the pricing for these accessories! So I decided to stick with just the phone. Now, as I've stated here before, I am no fan of Moto-blur. But I really like the Atrix. I rooted it and found it to be a decent device. But let's also remember that the Atrix became available in late Febuary, 2011. was replaced by the Atrix 2 in October of that year.  

Now as the Android world turns, more and more Android awesomeness is unveiled. And I've certainly experienced some recent phone lust for devices such as the Galaxy Nexus, the S II, and on and on. But I have a way to go on my contract with AT&T, so its all good . . . . 

Well, Friday, which happens to be 9 months into my two year contract, my Atrix passed away. It got sick about a week ago, requiring a factory wipe, but alas, it didn't kill the cancer. Bad sectors in the internal hard drive . . .  So AT&T is sending me a new one. correct that . . A new Reburbished one. I shouldn't complain, but I will anyway. I've been a loyal customer to AT&T. I've bought several devices outright. I've had some outragous phone bills and I've paid them without complaining. I just expected a break.  And I asked for one!!  What did they offer me to upgrade? Take any Android phone AT&T offers, and whatever the asking price is, add $100 to it. So if Joe NewCustomer can walk in and grab a Galaxy S II for $199, I can upgrade for $299, Same deal on an iPhone. Fair? Maybe . .  I was just hoping for more . . .

A couple of bright spots . .

1. I carried insurance on this device and it's being replaced at no cost to me. I can remember a time when I had a Palm Treo 650 that died. . .  I had to purchase a new one! That hurt! 
2. Come November, AT&T says I can upgrade my refurbed Atrix to something else. Well short of my two year contract with them! 
3. After working with it most of the day Friday, I finally got the phone to boot! WiFi is dead, and occasionally I get some error messages, but the phone portion of the device is working, so for the moment, I'm not entirely phone-less. 

I should have the device here mid-week and can start the process of making it mine. I'm anxious to get my mobile life back! 

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