Plaxo is a handy little tool for Outlook users, particularly those using Outlook on several different machines. It serves to synchronize one’s contact lists and appointments. The service is also handy if you’re friends use it. Once you’re connected, you can easily update your contact information with your pals my merely logging in and making the necessary changes.
At this point, you probably don’t want to know what’s behind door #3 because this service is invaluable and free.
Why then am I upset? Plaxo has a nasty habit of creating multiple entries. I like my friends, but I do not need their information stored in triplicate. But hey, it’s free. I can deal with that.
Today via email they announced, “Kerry, Plaxo just got better!”
I’m listenin’.
. . . Plaxo Address Book Optimizer is one of our recent additions of high-value, low-priced options that extend the power of the free service you’ve been enjoying.
[…]
Easily eliminate duplicate entries in your address book.There are many ways in which redundant data can infiltrate and clutter your electronic address book. Plaxo Address Book Optimizer is the best way to set things straight. Never go cross-eyed again wading through an unnecessarily cluttered address book.
What a bunch of asshats. They got me hooked on free software that they know doesn’t work quite right, and now they want me to pay them to scoop up the mess they left in tightly coiled piles on my lawn.
No thank you.
I’m not about to pay $30/year so that these pricks can give me the logic statements they left out the first time. When two entries have — gee, I dunno — the same name, email address, or phone number, it would be oh too natural to ask the user if the two entries should in fact be one, and if so how should the data be merged. This is a simple concept. I grasp it. You grasp it. It’s so simple, you should be mad that I spelled it out because I just unnecessarily wasted 1 second of your life.
Plaxo and UC suck!
Update: At 7:22 PM someone from Mountain View, CA (corpgw.plaxo.com (66.151.128.22)) used bloglines to find my screed. I’m sure they were pleased.
“tightly coiled piles”? NASTY!!!!!!!!
Point for whomever can name the sitcom, episode, and character from where I derived this line.