08-05-2002, 07:38 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Getting the new Pocket PCs...
I really appreciated the huge amount of input on the thread about us signing a CDA with HP. Your opinions reflected some of my own, and you gave me a lot to think about.
One of the reasons I wanted to sign it was to get access to the hardware early on and share my thoughts about it with you. I doubt we'll ever write the 5000 word reviews that PocketNow does, but it's important for me to be informed about the new hardware on the market. The biggest obstacle to that is location: Canada doesn't tend to get new Pocket PCs very quickly, nor can I afford to purchase every one that comes out on the market.
My attempts thus far to get review units from the major OEMs have been fairly unsuccessful, and more to the point, by the time I could possibly get one, it's "old news". Most of the OEMs seem unwilling to cooperate with me or this site (although there are some exceptions). I have access to some of the devices directly from Microsoft, but I just got a Toshiba e570 two months ago, so I'm not exactly bleeding edge in that regard. 
So, I've come up with an idea - it may be a foolish idea, or it may be a brilliant one. You decide. Here it is: a Pocket PC raffle for reviewed devices. When a new device is announced, I'd start the raffle. Buying a ticket would cost $10 to $20, and the number of tickets sold would be restricted to matching the amount needed to buy the device. The goal here is not for me to make money, it's to cover the cost of me buying a device for review purposes. Once the review is done, the device would be randomly given to one of the people who bought a raffle "ticket". At $10 per ticket, the odds would be 1 in 50 to 1 in 80, depending on the overall cost of the device. Or if the tickets were more expensive, say $20 per ticket, the odds would be 1 in 25 to 1 in 40. Not bad odds, eh?
So there you have it. Please let me know what you think! As always, your input helps to guide this site.
UPDATE: Well, the thing I love about you guys is that you're not shy about your opinion! Any lawyers out there in Canada and the USA willing to give me some advice on how to do this? Whether or not we go ahead with it would depend on how complex it is to accomplish legally.
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08-05-2002, 07:48 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 217
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Sounds like a great idea to me!
I don't have the funds to upgrade to the new devices all the time, but having this type of raffle gives me that "chance" that I might win one. With other free contests there may be thousands of entries and these odds are pretty good. Plus we get to read a review from a Pocket PC expert before buying the units ourselves.
Can you sign the unit for me if I win one? You are a celebrity in the Pocket PC world!
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08-05-2002, 07:51 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 390
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$10 would it be only about 35-70 people per round? It's enticing....heh
but why not make it $1-5 bucks and make it one chance in 350 to 700 per round? that is much closer to raffle. I am sure there are more than several thousand PPCT readers out there itching to play the raffle.
If it is done via snail mail payment , well than one dollar a ticket is definitely too much work. I guess than make a ticket that cost $10 but has $1-2 raffle value that can be use for 5-10 rounds.
just an idea.
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08-05-2002, 07:58 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 355
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good idea..
jason-
this is a good idea. i think you should try it out and see how it goes.
here are some "thought starters"
-if not enough people enter, they would then need to either be entered in another one or you'd need to return the money...but a 1 out of 20 / 40 / 50 chance is a no brainer for most.
-if someone enters more than once, as in 25 times or so, there's a very good chance they'll win and get a pda for 1/2 price each time. it doesn't really matter, but you may want to address this from the start, maybe a 5 per person entry.
cheers,
pt
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08-05-2002, 08:02 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 63
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Sign me up. I'm all over this. Interestingly enough I already get most of the latest and greatest devices (as an accessory manufacturer), but I'd love to support the site in this way.
pt brings up a few good points - a 5 entry limit is a good idea.
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08-05-2002, 08:04 PM
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Oracle
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 864
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Re: good idea..
Quote:
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Originally Posted by pt
jason-
this is a good idea. i think you should try it out and see how it goes.
here are some "thought starters"
-if not enough people enter, they would then need to either be entered in another one or you'd need to return the money...but a 1 out of 20 / 40 / 50 chance is a no brainer for most.
-if someone enters more than once, as in 25 times or so, there's a very good chance they'll win and get a pda for 1/2 price each time. it doesn't really matter, but you may want to address this from the start, maybe a 5 per person entry.
cheers,
pt
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No way don't limit it if a person wants to buy up a bunch let them, you will still get the moneyto cover and unless they buy all the chances there is still a huge chance they won't win.
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08-05-2002, 08:09 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 106
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Hey
I think this is a great idea, and I can't wait to start buying rafle tickets!
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08-05-2002, 08:19 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 390
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Now all we need is some nuclear physicist to predict what the distribution of raffle tickets inside the spinning bucket to optimise the minimum dollar that give slightly bigger chance of winning. Remember no randomizer is perfect. Isn't science great? heh heh
cheers.
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08-05-2002, 08:29 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 17
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Since you are in Canada, will the products be available as soon as they are in the US?
Also, don't just limit it to ppc. Try to include accessories and other hardware.
Is the Loox out yet? Why dont you use that or the new PPC phones as a starter.
And how do you plan to do payment, via paypal?
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08-05-2002, 08:34 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 338
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Fabulous idea. A few thoughts:
1. Limit entries to registered Pocket PC thoughts members,
2. Limit the number of tickets purchased per member (you're the boss... set the limit as you see fit.)
3. Allow for payment via Pay Pal
4. Build in some buffer in the ticket price to cover S&H and if there is any money left over, donate it to charity
And finally: Rethink your position on signing the NDA! I want to see and hear your impressions before I spend my money buying one (even if it is in the form of a raffle ticket!)
Looking forward to: a) the first review of a new HP device, or b) the first opportunity to participate in a raffle for some new device! (How can you lose on this deal??!!) 
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