Elgin Poll Reality Check

Ty · Aug 4, 2016

Coss said:
Now that you mention it; I did write to the people at Skyzmatic (3 times) and asked them point blank; "I saw you presentation; so what makes yours worth $2K when there are so many apps already out that do the exact same functions for a fraction of the cost of your system?"

I have never gotten an answer or any type of reply from them.

There are some things Torque won't do for you that are kind of neat with the Skyzmatic system. "Cameras record on impact and send you video" and the fact that you can check on your car. It'll be integrated which will make it a bit easier than the Torque solution for car metrics but not by a whole lot. Really, Speed, RPM, Temperatures, Fuel gauge, recording while you drive (black box style), and a couple other gauges are all you really need.
For people with bad eyes, Torque can fill the screen with a gauge or two... Think Speed and RPM. You can have several pages and keep the speed/rpm page as your main one. For that matter, Amazon sells a 7" Kindle for about $50. You could, in theory, have a 7" diameter sweeping needle speedometer if you want.

Coss · Aug 4, 2016

Ty said:
There are some things Torque won't do for you that are kind of neat with the Skyzmatic system. "Cameras record on impact and send you video" and the fact that you can check on your car. It'll be integrated which will make it a bit easier than the Torque solution for car metrics but not by a whole lot. Really, Speed, RPM, Temperatures, Fuel gauge, recording while you drive (black box style), and a couple other gauges are all you really need.
For people with bad eyes, Torque can fill the screen with a gauge or two... Think Speed and RPM. You can have several pages and keep the speed/rpm page as your main one. For that matter, Amazon sells a 7" Kindle for about $50. You could, in theory, have a 7" diameter sweeping needle speedometer if you want.

Right, but there are other apps that do what Torque doesn't; ones that you won't use while driving that can do security and broadcast to your phone.
So you might need 3 or 4 apps; but combined, they will still be cheaper than $2K

Truett Collins · Aug 5, 2016

Problems with tech......

Just saw this morning on the AM news where thief's are using lap tops to plug into cars, start them and drive off.......
Think I will bypass all that tech.....never had it when I learned to drive, and don't need it now.

Ty · Aug 5, 2016

Truett Collins said:
Problems with tech......

Just saw this morning on the AM news where thief's are using lap tops to plug into cars, start them and drive off.......
Think I will bypass all that tech.....never had it when I learned to drive, and don't need it now.

Following that logic.... why are you using a computer? The tech I'm talking about simply hears what the car is saying and shows you via a display. NOT having the tech doesn't make the car any safer. If, indeed, thieves can plug in and steal the car, they don't need you to do anything. The mandated OBDII port is all they need. Well, that and whatever electronics the manufacturer puts in.

Look at it this way... You can be scared of tech as "making cars more easily stolen" but I'd say that tech makes them harder to steal. I could start and drive away my 1965 Mustang by simply reaching under the dash, pulling the rubber back off the ignition, picking up the little metal plate that is between the rubber and ignition and putting it in there and turning it. The car would start right up. For about 2 weeks, I had to use this method as I had a key stuck in the ignition that wouldn't turn. OR, I could take two screwdrivers and bypass the solenoid on the right fender well and start the car from under the hood.

My current vehicle won't start without the key nearby... no matter what I try to do. In this respect, tech definitely makes the car harder to steal.

Frim · Aug 5, 2016

Truett Collins said:
Problems with tech......

Just saw this morning on the AM news where thief's are using lap tops to plug into cars, start them and drive off.......
Think I will bypass all that tech.....never had it when I learned to drive, and don't need it now.

I had my laptop hijacked by Support Buddy this past weekend. I could not open the desktop. It had only their logo and a phone number. They
"cleaned my files" for only $179. Afterwards, someone had three failures to open my online banking and got locked out. Yahoo told me to change my password because someone in Russia was try to log on to my email. Support Buddy is now trying to sell be their antivirus software for $190. They call about 3 times per day plus sending emails . I have installed MalwareBites as instructed by our IT, but it looks like everything I ever done online has been compromised. If you should see "Support Buddy", Close your computer and go to get legiamate help.

Ty · Aug 5, 2016

Frim said:
I had my laptop hijacked by Support Buddy this past weekend. I could not open the desktop. It had only their logo and a phone number. They
"cleaned my files" for only $179. Afterwards, someone had three failures to open my online banking and got locked out. Yahoo told me to change my password because someone in Russia was try to log on to my email. Support Buddy is now trying to sell be their antivirus software for $190. They call about 3 times per day plus sending emails . I have installed MalwareBites as instructed by our IT, but it looks like everything I ever done online has been compromised. If you should see "Support Buddy", Close your computer and go to get legiamate help.

Man, I'm sorry to hear that! I've heard that hijacking people's computer and ransoming them is becoming more common but I never knew anyone who had that happen. Good luck on your climb out of that hole.

AriLea · Aug 5, 2016

Yep, I keep my options to be able to wipe a PC and install from scratch, and I do it whenever anything looks odd.
En-order to do that I have to keep all user files on a separate partition, and 'burn' a backup of anything that I would get upset about losing.
In my worst case I format all partitions and install the OS fresh, bring personal files back from the DVD's.
I also have a file server, but I count that as vulnerable and am willing to wipe it should I need to.

wizard of ahs · Aug 5, 2016

Rob Croson said:
Stop guessing, and projecting, and just start a new poll. Then we'll know.

Coss said:
With maybe some different choices?

I'm pretty sure this is a moot point !
Paul has said on more than one occasion that the Elgin is set in concrete as a tribute to his father.

Ty said:
Screw getting a HUD,
https://www.amazon.com/Professional...e=UTF8&qid=1470316882&sr=8-5&keywords=ELM+327

and then use this app:

Here's a better video using your cell phone:

Exactly .... I have this Bluetooth and a Galaxy 3 tablet to solve this problem for me

Coss · Aug 5, 2016

Truett Collins said:
Problems with tech......

Just saw this morning on the AM news where thief's are using lap tops to plug into cars, start them and drive off.......
Think I will bypass all that tech.....never had it when I learned to drive, and don't need it now.

I've seen that "scare" video before; what they don't tell you is that it was all prearranged, and they already had the special "key code password"
The reality of it happening is not realistic. They use that story and video as a "it could happen" not "it is happening".

Frim said:
I had my laptop hijacked by Support Buddy this past weekend. I could not open the desktop. It had only their logo and a phone number. They
"cleaned my files" for only $179. Afterwards, someone had three failures to open my online banking and got locked out. Yahoo told me to change my password because someone in Russia was try to log on to my email. Support Buddy is now trying to sell be their antivirus software for $190. They call about 3 times per day plus sending emails . I have installed MalwareBites as instructed by our IT, but it looks like everything I ever done online has been compromised. If you should see "Support Buddy", Close your computer and go to get legiamate help.

Sir, you were hit with what they call Ransomware, and there are a lot of different forms of it hitting everywhere.
How did you get Support Buddy?
Let me take a wild guess, it was a link or an attachment in an email. Am I close?

If it was, that was my #1 rule in all of my offices: "don't open attachments or click on links in emails you're not sure about".
If you are unsure; stop; step away from the keyboard; contact IT support before doing anything else.
If you do infect your machine it was an automatic 3 days off without pay, all of your emails and documents and pictures will not be saved.

We'd pick up the machine; take it back to the office, wipe it clean; and do a fresh install from the ground up.

This rule came about because we got tired of end users not listening to instructions.
There were exceptions to the rule (I'm not going into those right now)

Malwarebytes is a good product as long as you have the full not the free version.
And I no longer use any Symantec/Norton products, I found far too many problems with it.
I've been running ESET Endpoint Security for the last 7 years and haven't found anything better for all that it does.

John-b-gone · Aug 5, 2016

Coss said:
I've seen that "scare" video before; what they don't tell you is that it was all prearranged, and they already had the special "key code password"
The reality of it happening is not realistic. They use that story and video as a "it could happen" not "it is happening".

Sir, you were hit with what they call Ransomware, and there are a lot of different forms of it hitting everywhere.
How did you get Support Buddy?
Let me take a wild guess, it was a link or an attachment in an email. Am I close?

If it was, that was my #1 rule in all of my offices: "don't open attachments or click on links in emails you're not sure about".
If you are unsure; stop; step away from the keyboard; contact IT support before doing anything else.
If you do infect your machine it was an automatic 3 days off without pay, all of your emails and documents and pictures will not be saved.

We'd pick up the machine; take it back to the office, wipe it clean; and do a fresh install from the ground up.

This rule came about because we got tired of end users not listening to instructions.
There were exceptions to the rule (I'm not going into those right now)

Malwarebytes is a good product as long as you have the full not the free version.
And I no longer use any Symantec/Norton products, I found far too many problems with it.
I've been running ESET Endpoint Security for the last 7 years and haven't found anything better for all that it does.

This ESET you speak of, does it apply to personal computers as well? I can only find business apps.

Elgin Poll Reality Check

How much extra if at all would you pay for different instruments

Nothing. OK as is.

Up to $300

Up to $600

Up to $900

Up to $1200

Over $1200

Ty

Elio Addict

Coss

Moderator

Truett Collins

Elio Addict

Ty

Elio Addict

Frim

Elio Addict

Ty

Elio Addict

AriLea

Elio Addict

wizard of ahs

Elio Addict

Coss

Moderator

John-b-gone

Elio Addict

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