We got a new car this week.  A Ford Edge.  Sandy chose the color, I chose some of the innards.  We have a lot of learning to do with these newfangled computerized car thingies everywhere.  Even a geek like me can feel overwhelmed at times.  I uploaded a few photos, take a look.  Yes, a lot of it is powered by Microsoft, and I know the drill—My car could possibly give me the Blue Screen of Death or even require weekly updates and antivirus protection—but so far so good, no evidence of any of that stuff.  I haven't heard anything bad about Sync, but I think it's fairly new.  After reading Daemon and Freedom by Daniel Suarez, I know we're taking a risk, but I don't think the world is quite at the “Auto Mate” stage just yet.  The goodies are a blast though, that's for sure.

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Pam   |98.144.74.xxx |03/08/2010 02:43:19 nice car, did you get rid of one of your other cars?

Jim  - PT Cruiser   |SAdministrator |03/08/2010 14:35:08 Yes, we got rid of the PT Cruiser. It developed some major transmission problems.

Jay  - Questions   |65.114.207.xxx |03/08/2010 08:17:22 Just a few techy questions If your airbags are deployed, will your sync say "Edge has encountered a serious error and will now close"? Then after it is repaired, will it say "Edge has recovered from a serious error"? Also, will you have to call India to validate you are the owner before you do any upgrades? How about an anti virus? Is it integrated with the anti theft? If so, do you need to register it yearly or will the built in firewall cover it (I think Norton now offers roadside assistance with a purchase of a 2 year upgrade)? Now, how about upgrades, do they have a "Edge Essentials"? Can you VNC into it and drive it from your home PC? and last... Does it have an XP Emulator?

Jim  - Very Funny   |SAdministrator |03/08/2010 14:13:05 I saw that coming. Actually, I did have to install an update already! I did it last night during the academy awards. It's kinda funny--you have to keep the car running until the update completes. You can be driving or idling... So you could literally have a CRASH when installing the update! So while it's installing, tons of questions just like yours are running through my head, including what if it freezes up? Do I just let the car run forever, until it's out of gas? I sweated it out for a few minutes and it completed, then it even had to reboot after the update! Unfortunately you don't get to watch the reboot, or I'd have a lot more information for you. It only displays "Rebooting" on the screen as it reboots. All went well though, and it completed just fine. One final thing you have to do, that seems like a little much, is bring the device you first plugged into the USB slot containing the update ba...

Jim  - Darn it, ran out of space!   |SAdministrator |03/08/2010 14:15:13 As I was saying.. One final thing you have to do, that seems like a little much, is bring the device you first plugged into the USB slot containing the update back to your computer and upload the results file, just to report your successful update to Microsoft. Why can't it simply use your Bluetooth phone--which it automatically connects to when you start your car--to transfer the results? That's another neat thing it does though--Sandy can get in the car and it will connect to her phone. If I get in, it connects to mine. This enables the hands-free phone, the 911 Assist (same as OnStar), etc. We can even set who is the "Favorite" user--so if we BOTH get in the car together, the phone marked as the favorite gets connected automatically. It can be switched at any time, which the push of a button though.

mahirose  - New Edge   |Registered |03/08/2010 08:47:54 I don't understand what Jay is talking about so that probably means I better not buy a new car. Phew - that's some scary questions Jay. Nevertheless Jimmy and Sandy - Congratulations - that a beautiful car. I wish you much luck with it. My sis Ray is a Ford person and she said the Edge is supposed to be a very economical car. Let me know.

Anonymous   |98.144.96.xxx |03/08/2010 12:34:35 But It's a nice car anyways. It always feels good to have some new wheels.

Wayne   |Registered |03/08/2010 12:36:02 I like my Chrysler cars because of the employee discount.

Wayne   |Registered |03/08/2010 12:38:16 That message from "Anonymous" was me. I didn't know that I wasn't logged in. Sorry.

Wayne  - re: Questions   |Registered |03/08/2010 12:39:54 Jay wrote: Just a few techy questions If your airbags are deployed, will your sync say "Edge has encountered a serious error and will now close"? Then after it is repaired, will it say "Edge has recovered from a serious error"? Also, will you have to call India to validate you are the owner before you do any upgrades? How about an anti virus? Is it integrated with the anti theft? If so, do you need to register it yearly or will the built in firewall cover it (I think Norton now offers roadside assistance with a purchase of a 2 year upgrade)? Now, how about upgrades, do they have a "Edge Essentials"?   Can you VNC into it and drive it from your home PC? and last... Does it have an XP Emulator? Sometimes you may have to drive it in "Safe Mode".

Jim   |SAdministrator |03/08/2010 14:23:52 Wayne, yours beats ALL of Jay's!! Now THAT'S a good one! Yeah, we considered Chrysler, we've always bought AMC's & Chryslers before and gotten good discounts with family members working (or having worked) there. Unfortunately we've been wronged more than once by Palmen Motors though, and it's kind of soured us away from Chryslers. This is our first car that doesn't have that "Kenosha connection".

Wayne   |Registered |03/08/2010 15:45:10 Yea I understand your frustration over Palmen. I don't like the Palmen in Kenosha. I always go to the Palmen in Racine, I think they have better service.

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