The $15 million personal computer

[charlie]

No, it isn't some tricked-out holodeck kit, it's a middleware PC from Blue Hippo.

Blue Hippo is a company that sells PCs by plan for low income folks. Make a down payment, then time payments until a baseline amount is accrued after 13 weeks, and they'll send you a computer.

In 2008, the FTC leaned on BH for unsound practices, namely not shipping computers. A settlement was reached in April, a few million dollars deposited into a redress fund, promises to make timely shipments were made, and regular compliance reports were to be issued.

In the following year, Blue Hippo took in $15 million from customers, and delivered exactly ONE PC.

And that ONE PC was the result of a clerical error, not intent.

Which made the FTC ooooooh sooo mad, they went back to court in April 2009. BH suddenly went on a buying spree, ordering thousands of PCs to cover the backlog. Even then, over 1000 qualifying customers were left out. No customer received a PC within the promised 3-4 week time frame, deliveries averaged 6 months.

Meanwhile, the FTC added further charges, for playing shenanigans with their refund policy. And ignoring the compliance reports order.

6 months later, the FTC has taken all it can stand until it can't stands no more -- contempt charges were lodged against Blue Hippo 2 weeks ago.

"Years of broken promises by BlueHippo have left consumers seeing red," said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz. "We’re putting companies like this on notice: If you mistreat consumers and thumb your nose at the courts, we will hold you accountable."

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/11/bluehippo.shtm

Yer a real tiger, Jon. A veritable maneater.

More here:

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/11/like-taking-candy-computers-from-a-baby-the-poor.ars

Meanwhile, Blue Hippo just keeps on keepin' on. Same as it ever was:

http://www.bluehippo.com/

[RoyGBiv]

1. I remember them ...

There was a television ad at some point ... sounded like a fly-by-night company at the time, but I had no idea. I figured you'd just end up paying about a billion dollars in interest and be harassed the rest of your life about "upgrades."

Nice to know the FTC is on the case. :eyes:

This is what I don't get ... and I guess I don't get it because I don't have the mindset of these assholes.

I could put together a *really nice* system for someone for $500. I've built several for around $300. In general people don't trust me to do it, mostly 'cause I don't have none o' them there flashy teevee ads. I can't make a dime doing this. These idiots that don't even deliver a product, who are being investigated by the FTC ... they'll likely get off and walk away with millions.

The only skill that seems to pay in the modern age is the ability to lie.

[hermetic]

2. Amen to that, bro

My first computer was a used, "handmade" and it lasted for 10 years. I'd sure trust ya, Mr. Biv, and greatly appreciate what you and the others do here. :yourock:

[Fumesucker]

3. Well, Sarah Palin seems to be doing OK..

I put together my last system for a little under $250 by reusing a fair bit of what I already had, I bought parts from Microcenter, ebay, Amazon and Geeks.com.

While it's certainly not state of the art it definitely cooks for the amount of money I put in it, it runs Flightsim X at max realism with a frame rate high enough to look pretty damn smooth except when you are going really fast and really close to the ground, fast and close enough to be suicidal in a "real" plane. :)

Edited for speling.